Music

Average customer rating:

Mediocre at Best
Slightly disappointed
1st listen: disappointing. 2nd listen: I guess I'll keep it. 3rd listen: WHOA!
Please enter a name for my review
Solid.

Liberation Transmission
Lostprophets
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Welsh Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Start Something
The Fake Sound of Progress
One X
Don't You Fake It
Louder Now

ASIN: B000FQJP28
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

Everyday Combat
A Town Called Hypocrisy
The New Transmission
Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)
Can' Stop, Gotta Date With Hate
Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)
Everybody's Screaming!!!
Broken Hearts, Torn Up Letters And The Story Of A Lonely Girl
4:AM Forever
For All These Times Son, For All These Times
Heaven For The Weather, Hell For The Company
Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances And Messed Up Chances)

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre at Best.......2007-04-22

Although not a huge fan of the Lostprophets, I bought this album for my girlfriend as a Christmas gift. I've listened to it several times and I must say it's not the best music in the world. Although there are several good songs "rooftops" the rest of the CD just seems to be the same track with the same exact screaming over and over again. Hard to enjoy and like.

Slightly disappointed.......2007-04-13

There are many alternative/punk rock bands that for some reason contain a certain sound that appeals to the masses. I grew tired and searched for something more daring and expermential and I found the Lostphrophets "Start Something" Cd.

I was very excited to hear that the Lostprophets was coming out with a new Cd. When I listened to it though, I was slightly disappointed. They traded in that unique sound that seemed hardcore without excessive sreaming and heavy metal for a more pop culture sound. Something that would more appeal to the masses, to be placed on the radio more.

The Lostprophets changed their sound to get more famous. To get more money. I'm not saying I'm mad a them, or look down on the them, I'm just disappointed that the Lostprophets would fall to the glamour.

1st listen: disappointing. 2nd listen: I guess I'll keep it. 3rd listen: WHOA! .......2007-01-06

As the title of the review dictates, my personal enjoyment of Liberation Transmission was far from immediate. I bought it for $3.99 without having heard any of the songs except Rooftops, and then after listening to it twice one day I decided it wasn't quite as good as the non-emo style of Start Something and Fake Sound of Progress but at least was worth keeping in my collection for a few stand-out tracks. But then I listened to the album once more on my MP3 player yesterday and I was absolutely astonished by how awesome it was; far better than I had given it credit for after the first two listens, and I would now in fact call it one of the finer releases of 2006. Unlike the Hawthorne Heights or Simple Plan brand of emo, this album has a good degree of sophistication lyrically and instrumentally which is not at all shameful to be a fan of. Some of the songs even have guitar progressions that adopt a style similar to that of Bloc Party or The Bravery, such as the awesome track "Heaven fro the Weather, Hell for the Company". Speaking of song titles, that's the only real downside to the album; lengthy track names similar to the ones used by Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy are corny on occasion and will likely not aid the Lostprophets in getting the respect they deserve for this phenomenal album. Still, track titles do nothing to mar the musical content of the tracks, which is of the finest quality. My favorite song on here would definitely have to be "The New Transmission", which probably is a hit too for all I know since I did after all hear it playing in a mall one time. This song has a particularly catchy and noisy riff in the background, a great energetic chorus where the guy yells "faaaaaaaaaaade out", and simply an awesome flow to the melody which may tempt you to head-bang depending on your age. "The New Transmission" is probably one of my Top 100 favorite tracks of all time, closely followed in greatness by "Heaven for the Weather, Hell for the Company", "Rooftops", and "A Town Called Hypocrisy". As I recall there were about five other tracks I liked extremely also; my MP3 player was in my pocket when the songs were playing though and thus I don't know all the names of them. I do know however that this is one amazing CD; technically flawless. I really can no longer say I want the band to return to the style of Start Something or the album before it, but don't get me wrong; I do like those albums a lot and wouldn't be completely heartbroken if they returned to that style for their next release. Overall I'd say that Liberation Transmission is a solid five star album, and one that certainly deserves more than a single listen if you weren't impressed with it the first time. Highly recommended!

Please enter a name for my review.......2007-01-02

I don't know Lostprophets, but I just heard this album at their offical website. After listening to it, this is what I have to say about this band....

This band was OK, but too much of punk, and I usually listen to punk. Songs "Everday Combat" and "Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" were the best tracks in this album. And song "4 AM Forever" had a guitar solo. Lostprofets is just OK, but great. Sometimes they can get a little boring, since their songs are usually long, like song "Always All Way", a soft track. But I will advice you not to spend your money on this.

Solid........2006-12-27

Browsing through a few other reviews, it seems important to note here that I am a heterosexual male, and thus don't care how dreamy the boys in the band look (if I even bothered to look at the band, I would slightly resent them for it), and actually like them because of the music they make.

Having been in love with Start Something, I was expecting big things from Liberation Transmition. It's a solid album, but less my style than the previous album.

Perhaps a bit overproduced, it isn't quite as heavy as Start Something. To the band's credit, it legitimately sounds different from Start Something, but unfortunately for me, I enjoy it less.

Still worth owning, though. I would give it about 3.7 out of 5 stars. It has a lot of style and I like most of the album, but I confess to liking the first track, Everyday Combat, more than pretty much other song on the CD. I do rather dislike the first single, Rooftops/title track, howeever.

For whatever it's worth, this review was written by someone who actually pays money for music.

Average customer rating:

Liberation
Talib Kweli & Madlib
Manufacturer: Blacksmith
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Talib Kweli The Beautiful Mix Tape Vol. 2 The Struggle Continues Mixtape CD
The Return of the Magnificent
Talib Kweli presents The Beautiful Mix CD: Hosted by Dave Chappelle [Mixtape]
Talib Kweli:Brooklyn Tennessee (Mixtape)
Hip-Hop Lives

ASIN: B000ODMVEG
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Album Description

This was a free download issued by the label late last year and was so popular that Blacksmith decided to issue it as an official CD album! 1 The Show 2 Funny Money 3 Time Is Right 4 Engine Runnin (f. Consequence) 5 Over The Counter 6 The Function (f. Strong Arm Steady) 7 Happy Home (f. Candice Anderson) 8 Soul Music 9 What Can I Do

Average customer rating:

Truly awesome, but dynamics needed.
Keeping melodic death metal alive and taking it to the next level!!

Liberation = Termination
Mors Principium Est
Manufacturer: Listenable Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Fiction
Above the Weeping World
Stuck Here on Snakes Way
The Hinderers
A New Disease Is Born

ASIN: B000MM1ET2
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Tracks:

Orsus
The Oppressed Will Rise
The Animal Within
Finality
Cleansing Rain
Forgotten
Sinners Defeat
The Distance
It Is Done
Terminal Liberation
Lost Beyond Retrieval

Customer Reviews:

Truly awesome, but dynamics needed........2007-05-17

Some of the technical metal bands anymore think that dynamic means that the music is constantly complex, but complication gets repetative to a listener. This band would be much better with a few slower riffs or... just anything different. From a musicianship standpoint, however, this is amazing.

Keeping melodic death metal alive and taking it to the next level!!.......2007-04-28

How these guys aren't more popular I just don't understand! Simply put, this cd is completely amazing! If you are one of the many people out there that miss the good old days of In Flames and Soilwork, when they didn't write sing-a-longs, then this is exactly the cd you need to have!! Think all the catchiness of Clayman, the great melodies and guitar solos of The Chainheart Machine, and the epicness of Colony. Now make that 10 times faster and intense!! Yes, the guitar playing and drums on this cd are insanely fast! And not that this band is simply rehashing other bands. They definitely create their own style. They add the Gothenburg sound with almost Industrial style keyboards. There is a lot of keyboard elements on the cd, which only adds to the depth of the songs. Did I mention guitar solos? Now it is not the best guitar playing you will ever find, but it is pretty darn great and catchy. I live for twin leads! Most of the songs have twin lead solos, which make them sound that much more juicy! Finiality would be the best example of this! Album highlight is Sinner's Defeat! So if you are looking for some great melodic death, that surprisingly isn't from Sweden, then this is the best you'll find! I wish more bands were keeping with this style, instead of going in a more mainstream direction. Don't get me wrong, I do love Come Clarity by In Flames, but this style of the melo death genre is just so much better! Also check out Mors Principium Est's previous cd "The Unborn". Can't figure out if I like this one or The Unborn better, they're both amazing!

Average customer rating:

Hypnotically grooving...Si Se Puede...
Where is my CD?
funky raw uptempo time-to-dance music
SLAMMING
oh yeah! I've been searching for this for years!!!

Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Manufacturer: Ninja Tune
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Who Is This America?
Talkatif
Security
The Best Best of Fela Kuti
Open & Close/Afrodisiac

ASIN: B00005B379
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

Si, Se Puede
Dirt And Blood
Battle Of The Species
N.E.S.T.A. (Never Ever Submit To Authority)
Musicawi Silt (Live)
Uprising
El Machete
World War IV (Live)

Amazon.com

Owing as much to James Brown and Tito Puente as to Fela Kuti, Antibalas, the multiracial 14-piece Brooklyn collective named after the Spanish word for "bulletproof," are far from straight Afro Beat revivalists. Instead, Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 lays New York's rich musical heritage of jazz, funk, and Latin groove over Afro Beat's polyrhythms to spectacular effect, resulting in a raw selection of driving ghetto funk. Despite tracks being mostly instrumental and nearly 10 minutes long, the relentless onslaught of rasping horns, African chants, strutting bass, and frantic percussion mean there's nothing dull about these eight phenomenal tunes. The collection's explosive Afro/Latin/American collision may earmark it as a party album, but there is a deeper motivation to their music. Hear the cries of war in the tenor sax breaks of "Dirt & Blood" and "World War IV"'s denouncement of American foreign policy; Antibalas's unreserved '70s grooves come with unreserved passion and politics. With all the ingredients of the golden age of funk, Liberation Afro Beat, Vol. 1 is a modern classic that matches (beat for socially aware beat) the best the era had to offer. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews:

Hypnotically grooving...Si Se Puede..........2006-04-07

This is my favorite album by Antibalas. That is not to say the other subsequent releases are of lesser quality. Every one of there albums is a solid release and each one shows growth. This album has less vocals. The production is not as slick. I just have a preference for the more raw sounding drums. The lp's loose grooves build much like their Forebearer- Fela's music and the stacked horns are just a force to be reckoned with. Along with Afrobeat you can hear the musical influences of salsa and tijuana brass. Worth seeing live!!! If you don't at least tap a foot when listening to this you may need to check for a pulse.

Where is my CD?.......2005-09-24

I ordered this item on August 26th and it is now September 24th. Where is the CD??????!!!!

funky raw uptempo time-to-dance music .......2005-02-21

This is a quality album. All the songs are top-notch. The recording quality is so-so on the album in general... some of the mixes sounds flat and are less polished than Antibalas' other albums but I have some great speakers so most people probably won't notice it.

I'd definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes afrobeat or Antibalas' music. I'd also recommend "ASAP: the Afrobeat Sudan Aid Project"... there's a great uptempo live version of "Uprising" by Antibalas on it, as well as some other brilliant afrobeat acts like Tony Allen, Akoya, and Dele Sosimi. You can check it out at modiba.net

SLAMMING.......2003-11-23

These guys not only advance Fela's legacy creatively, they blow up the party. Try it, guaranteed you'll have some very happy feet.

oh yeah! I've been searching for this for years!!!.......2003-04-22

As described on the cd-cover, "Antibalas is a diverse cooperative of music makers in Brooklyn, dedicated to making original revolutionary afrobeat music inspired by the chief priest Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as well as other visionary artists."
Some of their songs are also published on the "Africafunk"-cds and other afrobeat-samplers.
How to define their style? Of course, sometimes they sound like Fela Kuti, a bit less Afro and a bit more Jazz. The 4 horns varying from "bigband-like" to deepest funk. 5 Congaplayers & Drummers will make you dancing & shaking. Guitars are super-funky, the organ & the bassline will blow your mind away.
Tracks 5-8 recorded live at the Jazz Café, London.
If you like JB, Matata, Mandrill, Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango, Peter King etc, you have to buy this funky, groovy masterpiece!!! If you wanna buy only one CD in 2003, go an buy this one! I'm just too happy I did so!

Average customer rating:

Mediocre Record from a Mediocre Band.
GREAT CD TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION
this cd kicks ***
love this CD
GREAT CD....DEfinatly worth your money

That's Business
Home Grown
Manufacturer: Liberation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ska Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Third Wave Ska | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ska General | Ska | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Ska | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Kings of Pop
EP Phone Home
Connection
Making Friends
Blink 182

ASIN: B000008UOL
Release Date: 1995-10-31

Tracks:

Get A Job
The Hearing Song
She Said...
My Friends Suck
Alternative Girl
Wanna-Be
Surfer Girl
Ubotherme
Face In The Crowd
I Hate Myself
One Night Stand
Impotency
Worthless
Employer's Market
S.F.L.B.

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre Record from a Mediocre Band........2003-12-17

This is a listenable album, but it didn't win any records, and it didn't deserve to. This is a basic start by Home Grown, the recording quality is poor, which is probably its best atribute (making it sound like an older punk record), and the songs arn't really that catchy. "Surfer Girl" is easily the albums best track, but it sounds too raw and unfinnished, almost as though it was rushed in order to get on the album, this song is, however, brought to justice on the bands second record "Act Your Age." If you are planning to buy a Home Grown record I suggest "King's of Pop," an all together much better record, but be warned the voices of the band's two vocalists become intolerable after a few listens!

GREAT CD TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION.......2003-01-18

That's business is one of the best albums I have. Before I bought this cd, I wanted to get Act Your Age first because I heard it was great. So I went to Sam Goody's and they didn't have it. They had That's Business, so I decided to give this album a try first. I am so glad I did. This is a very talented band. Song after song is a hit. One of the best punk/ska albums you can buy. Get a job, The Hearing Song, She Said, Alternative Girl, and Wanna-Be are great songs to start out the cd. But the stand out song on this cd is Surfer Girl. Its very different from all the others. The music to the song is written very well, including the stuck-in-the-head lyrics. After Surfer Girl, the cd keeps it up with its ska fast paced songs like Ubotherme, and Face In The Crowd. There are absolutely no filler songs on this album. But there are some weak songs that don't do as good as the rest like One Night Stand, Employers Market, and S.F.L.B. This is long album too but not too long to get bored with it. The bonus track at the end of S.F.L.B. is worth listening to. Its all instrumental but very awesome. Well, I guess that's my review. I hope you will consider to buy this cd. You will be very happy you did. Rock on.

this cd kicks ***.......2001-04-30

This is the best punk/pop cd you will ever listen to. The lyrics are catchy ,and the music rocks. SOngs like "Surfer Girl" and "My friends suck" rule. This cd is totally worth your money.

love this CD.......2000-03-14

this is a great CD. Not only are these guys great musicians, but they are hilarious as well. Also, check out all of their other CD's

GREAT CD....DEfinatly worth your money.......1999-10-15

This is an awesome CD. These guys are absolutley hilarious. They write really good (not to mention totally original)lyrics about being a teenage guy. All the songs on this CD are great, esp. "Surfer Girl," "The Hearing Song," "Get a Job," and "Alternative Girl." Buy this now!! If you don't like Home Grown there is something wrong with you....

Average customer rating:

Defies Nomenclature, Or Title
Politics aside, an impressive but flawed album
Not Haden's best work by a long shot.
Even Better Live
Politics Aside

Not in Our Name
Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Liberation Music Orchestra
Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
Land of the Sun
Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert
I Have the Room Above Her

ASIN: B000A1CS68
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Tracks:

Not In Our Name
This Is Not America
Blue Anthem
America The Beautiful (Medley): America The Beautiful/Lift Every Voice And Sing/Skies Of America
Amazing Grace
Goin' Home (From The Largo Of The New World Symphony)
Throughout
Adagio (From Adagio For Strings)

Amazon.com

Charlie Haden's first album as a leader was 1969's Liberation Music Orchestra, and the bassist has been revisiting the project ever since. The concept of the project is to take a big band and record songs devoted to issues of human rights and political liberation, whether expressed in original compositions or revolutionary anthems from Spain, South Africa and Latin America. Not in Our Name is devoted to American music and current political tensions. Once again, it is arranged by pianist Carla Bley, who initially created the band's distinctive sound; an impassioned, often dissonant lyricism combining a village brass band, a frequent Spanish tinge, free jazz and folk music. Propelled by drummer Matt Wilson, the band ranges here from classical themes (Barber's "Adagio for Strings" and Dvorak's "Goin' Home") to songs by Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell (his "Throughout" is highlighted by the contrasting tenor saxophones of Chris Cheek and Tony Malaby) to the traditional "Amazing Grace," a feature for Haden's soulful, melodic bass. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Defies Nomenclature, Or Title.......2006-10-02

What I can say is good, good Jazz, with a good deal of "Protest", in the music. The swagger, and sway of the music leads one in one direction, and then "Bam" it goes off in another. "Amazing Grace" has to be the one tune that is most surprising, but it satisfies.

No playing around, just good solid Jazz music, with a throw back of 60s protest knitted into to a rhythmic persona that is so pleasing to the Jazz lovers ear. Then Mr. Haden and Company get really deep with "This Is Not America" is in itself a reawakening for most Americans, when one looks behind the music, or reads between the lines.

Next there is some "Homage" paid to Classical Music with their rendition of "Adagio (From Adagio For Strings)" for those somewhat unfamiliar with Jazz, but happen to be lovers of Classical Music, will love this selection, or not.

All in all this CD is some of Mr. Haden's best work, and I hope his productions will just continue to improve, and improve. The universe is the limit, and good Jazz is limitless.

Give "Not In Our Name" a good listen, and see what you feel. This CD has good feelings.

Politics aside, an impressive but flawed album.......2006-07-05

To judge this CD purely on the basis of the political message it contains is an under-analysis and entirely misses the point of the record. Whatever side one is approaching this from, one cannot deny that Haden's intention is to use music for unity rather than to highlight his side of the divide.

Having said that, the CD suffers from a couple of song choices which are too obvious and are the clear result of a risk that didnt pay off. When choosing to record such songs as 'America the Beautiful', 'Amazing Grace' and 'Adagio for Strings', one must either have something exceptional up one's sleeve, or be prepared to accept the heavy burden of instinctive juxtaposition with the thousands of versions previously recorded. 'Adagio for Strings' is a success, and the latter parts of the 'America the Beautiful' medley also, but 'Amazing Grace' (while containing some worthy moments) and 'America the Beautiful' itself are far too unremarkable for me.

The recording deserves four stars because it offers more than these failed risks. The title track, the Metheny/Mays/Bowie composition 'This is not America' and the Bill Frisell composition 'Throughtout' are exceptional arrangements and performances, with 'Blue Anthem' and 'Goin' Home' following just behind them.

A record worth purchasing if found at a decent price, but I would be surprised if it beat the first LMO album to the top of your favourites.

Not Haden's best work by a long shot........2006-02-04

Charlie Haden is one of those musicians who thinks that calling a piece "Ode to Che" makes him a revolutionary; well, good for him. But if you're expeciting the kind of firey music and rhetoric that chacacterized pieces like Mingus' "Fable or Faubus", or "Cell Block F", forget it. As with Haden's previous Liberation Orchestra pieces, the only political about this music is the names of the pieces. Otherwise it's just music.

Charie Haden has always been at his best as part of a small ensemble; consider, for example, his duets with Pat Methany, or his work with Ornette in the 60s, and with Egberto Gismonti and Jan Garbarek in the 1980s. He's also usually at his best when someone else is calling the tunes. As the leader of a large ensemble, though, his music never seems to rise above the mundane.

The music on "Not In Our Name" never seems to rise above the level of merely competant. There's nothing terribly original or terribly exciting, especially given the revolutionary rhetoric accompanying it. As a fan of his since the early Ornette days, I have to say I was pretty disappointed.

Even Better Live.......2005-12-22

Just got back from San Francisco where he played at Yoshi's. The music was fabulous. Definitely worth the price of admission.

Politics Aside.......2005-12-19

In a way, it's unfortunate that this recording has a political base. Because of this, what evolves here might be viewed, by some, as merely an attempt at political statement which they may not necessarily appreciate. For anyone adverse to political pronouncements not necessary to their liking (the title, itself, may turn some off), the opportunity to experience some truly beautiful, engrossing music may be missed.

Listen to this music. It is truly beautiful, from beginning to end, compelling, and exemplary of what an incredible talent Charlie Haden is, both as a conceptualist and musician.

Average customer rating:

Dave Douglas' Best
Strange Liberation or Strange Brew?
Dave in Miles mode
Enjoyable, but not his best
Homage to Miles

Strange Liberation
Dave Douglas
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Freak In
Soul on Soul
Charms of the Night Sky
The Infinite
Critical Mass

ASIN: B00016XNGQ
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Tracks:

Under A Different Story
Strange Liberation
Skeeter-Ism
Just Say This
Seventeen
Mountains From The Train
Rock Of Billy
The Frisell Dream
Passing Through
Jones
Catalyst

Amazon.com

He may deny it, but trumpeter Dave Douglas is straight out of Miles Davis. Nothing aurally illustrates that influence more clearly than this small-combo recording with Uri Caine on Fender Rhodes piano, drummer Clarence Penn, bassist James Genus, and bass clarinetist-saxophonist Chris Potter. Douglas has recorded a number of ambitious projects over the years--from Middle-Eastern-inspired compositions to hip-hop-oriented works--but in this tried-and-true format, he extends and elaborates on the mid-'60s sounds of Davis's Miles in the Sky and Filles de Kilimanjaro. Like that of the Prince of Darkness, Douglas's trumpet beams with the same bravura, backed by Caine's Herbie Hancock-style keyboard, Penn's moody and martial drumming, and Genus's rock-steady bass on the uptempo "Seventeen," the Wayne Shorter-like title track, and the bluesy "Rock of Billy." Throw the twilight-toned twang of Bill Frisell's guitar into this mix, and you've got a CD that shows how to deftly blend the electric with the acoustic, resulting in a fusion that declares it roots and points the way to the future. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Dave Douglas' Best.......2006-04-26

Some people claim that this album is not breaking new ground and therefore it is not a great album. I completely disagree. The album has great song writing and amazing performances from the musicians. While it doesn't offer some instrumentation that has never been tried before, it does feature Dave writing songs with Bill Frisell in mind which results in a wide array of interesting tunes. Frisell Dream has a sort of etheral spaciness while Rock of Billy featuers a hill billy rocabillia groove. Both of these moods plus many more that are present on the album are things you might expect on a Bill Frisell album. Skeeterism was based off of his young son's interpretations of Blue Monk on a toy piano. This is one of the best albums of the past few years.

Strange Liberation or Strange Brew?.......2004-06-11

I've listened to this album a lot since it came out earlier this year and I still can't make up my mind. Is it great or just good? What make it enjoyable for me are Dave Douglas's playful and complex compositions, Bill Frisell's twangy guitar playing, and Uri Caine on the Fender Rhodes. (If there is any more satisfying work on this instrument since Herbie Hancock in the early 1970s, I'd like to know.) But taken as a whole the aesthetic choices on this album seem oddly inconsistent. There are noticeable echoes from middle and late 60s Miles, but the influence of Bill Frisell is even stronger, and I think I hear things from other greats as well, including Wynton Marsalis, Clifford Brown, and John McLaughlin. (Huh? you ask. That's my reaction too.) It is a tribute to the strength of the trumpet playing by Douglas, Caine's keyboard work, and Chris Potter on the tenor sax that Frisell's intensely unique electric guitar does not take over, especially since some of the compositions were written by Douglas with Frisell in mind, but, unlike any Frisell album I've heard, the variation in style and tone on this album leaves me feeling off-balance and dissatisfied. If this is liberation, it is a strange liberation indeed.

Dave in Miles mode.......2004-04-28

I've got to admit, I'm a little puzzled by the direction Dave Douglas has been moving in lately. I originally got into his playing through John Zorn's Masada, and his own highly original groups Tiny Bell Trio and Charms Of The Night Sky. It is noteworthy that in the liner notes to the 2000 album 'A Thousand Evenings' by the latter band Douglas wrote about the futility of reliving Miles classics such as 'Birth Of The Cool', 'Kind Of Blue' and 'Filles de Kilimanjaro'.

And yet here, just a few years later we see him very much in Miles mode, in not just this album but also the previous two ('Freak In' and 'The Infinite'). Now of course there's no denying that this album is good, the tunes are good, the players are all amazing, but it's just so *safe*. We know these guys can play the hell out of bop tunes - that's why we've been so thrilled to hear Douglas mixing it up with Balkan rhythms, or accordion and violin, or pianist Uri Caine arranging music by Mahler and Bach.

So anyway, on to special guest Bill Frisell... the prospect of these guys (two of my favourite musicians) making an album together a few years ago would have been one of the most exciting things imaginable. Now, they seem to be settling down, making pretty pleasant music without the danger we once knew from them. Like I said before, the playing is still great and all, but just a bit predictable, not a lot of sparks there.

It's not all *that* predictable though - for example they try out a 50s rock thing, which for my money doesn't really work. Apart from the awful name ('Rock Of Billy') it also just puts the vibe of the album out of whack for six minutes. The piece that follows, however, 'The Frisell Dream', is fantastic, one of my favourite Dave Douglas compositions in a long while. It is a little bit cluttered though, and I have to wonder, on this track as well as others, whether the six-piece band is so necessary (despite the players' obvious talents).

Enjoyable, but not his best.......2004-03-29

I basically agree with mark21765. It's a great album with excellent playing from everyone, but it's not very adventurous. Indeed, it sounds a bit like Miles' quintet. It's Frisell's guitar playing that makes it a bit unique. I love Frisell. I somehow like Douglas' more daring and interesting projects. I love Uri Caine, too, but his own projects are much more fun and exciting. I can't say anything bad about this album, it's excellent, but I was expecting a little more creativity from Douglas.

Homage to Miles.......2004-02-20

I'm writing this review because I've noticed that there are a few total Dave Douglas junkies who post on Amazon who are, in my view, a little hyperbolic. If I were browsing for an CD to try, I'm not sure I would find the rave reviews totally helpful. I myself can't say I'm a Dave Douglas fanatic, although I enjoy his CD's very much.
For me, the most striking thing about this new album is that it so directly mimics Miles Davis' sound from the Miles Smiles or Miles in the Sky era. As a longtime jazz listener, I'd say it's not that common to hear one serious artist so overtly pay homage to another. But I swear, if you close your eyes there are moments when you think you're listening to Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Miles et. al. And, of course, Bill Frisell, only adds to the illusion. Curiously, this is the second album in a row where Dave Douglas has paid homage to a specific era of Miles' music - the last one sounding almost dead-on like On the Corner or Live at the Filmore (if you have checked out Freak-In, and liked fusion jazz from the 70s, you should definitely get it. It's been in my CD changer continuously for almost a year).

I wouldn't give the album five stars in part because it is derivative. On my favorite Dave Douglas work, he's working with a more original sound. But the playing is absolutely wonderful. The tracks are varied. They swing beautifully. If you like that Miles sound from the late 60s you should definitely pick this up. If you don't own Miles Smiles and Nefretiti, you should buy them first since they are canonical, as Dave Douglas clearly agrees.

Average customer rating:

20 year wait

Darkroom
Angels
Manufacturer: Liberation Music Oz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Night Attack
Two Minute Warning
Face to Face
Watch the Red
Howling

ASIN: B000BZPS1A
Release Date: 2006-07-17

Tracks:

No Secrets
Poor Baby
Wasted Sleepless Nights/Dark Room
Face the Day
Night Comes Early
Alexander
Moment
I'm Scared
Devil's Gate
Back on You
Alexander [Early Take]
Hot Shit
Hard Sell
Staring Voices
I'm Scared
Face the Day [Single Edit]
Public Enemy
Into the Heat

Album Description

In 1980 the Angels set their sights on the rest of the world - the Angels signed a five year deal with CBS/Epic world wide and released 'Dark Room', more hard driving, energetic rock with apocalyptic lyrics - 'No Secrets', 'Face The Day'. To avoid confusion with a similarly named group, for the rest of the world they changed their name to Angel City. They hit the world stages with almost the impact of AC/DC. Legend has it they were kicked off a Kinks tour for being "too good", and that they were a major influence on the next generation of American rock bands, in particular Guns n' Roses and Motley Crue. Featuring an amazing nine bonus tracks! Liberation.

Album Details

In 1980 the Angels Set their Sights on the Rest of the World - the Angels Signed a Five Year Deal with CBS/EPIC World Wide and Released 'dark Room', More Hard Driving, Energetic Rock with Apocalyptic Lyrics - 'no Secrets', 'face the Day'. To Avoid Confusion with a Similarly Named Group, for the Rest of the World They Changed their Name to Angel City. They Hit the World Stages with Almost the Impact of Ac/Dc. Those Years on Australian Stages Left American Audiences Stunned. Legend Has it They were Kicked off a Kinks Tour for Being "Too Good", and that They were a Major Influence on the Next Generation of American Rock Bands, in Particular Guns N'roses and Motley Crue. Featuring an Amazing Nine Bonus Tracks!

Customer Reviews:

20 year wait.......2006-08-19

Was a big fan of this album when it was released in 1980 and have been trying to get a copy of the CD for 20 years.

This re-released version has 7 of the original 9 songs from the US version of Angel City Darkroom. Unfortunately one of the missing songs is "Ivory Stairs" with the other song being "Straightjacket".

The other 11 tracks are for the most part forgettable. Still I would recommend it to anyone that was a fan of the original album.

Average customer rating:

Karsh Kale on his way to the peek of musical perfection
Whale sounds
you've got to be kidding me!
Add to cart!
Simply Awesome

Liberation
Karsh Kale
Manufacturer: Six Degrees
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Six Degrees Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Realize
Broken English
Midival Times
Redesign: Realize Remixed
Midival Punditz

ASIN: B000099T17
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

Liberation
Instinct
Analog Mood Swings
Milan
Break of Dawn
Dirty Fellow
Letting Go
GK_
Cinematic Reprise
Epic

Album Description

Liberation is the evolution of a musical journey started centuries ago. Producer/musician/composer Karsh Kale maps out the sonic terrain of Asian-American music for the 21st century. Kale's latest features his band, Realize and special guests Zakir Hussain, Bill Laswell and the Madras Chamber Orchestra.

Critical praise for Karsh Kale's Realize:

"Realize deftly weaves together variant eras and cultures - and that's what revolution is all about." -SF Weekly

"...sonically sumptuous." -Washington Post

"I found in Realize the emotional impact of music that can unite listeners - Eastern, Western, or somewhere in between." -San Francisco Bay Guardian

Customer Reviews:

Karsh Kale on his way to the peek of musical perfection.......2007-02-20

As others have stated, this is "intelligent music." I have to say that this album is well organized and you can see the themes revisited here and there on tracks, but at the same time not over doing it. Kale always does an amazing job blending the classical with the modern. Since I've been exposed to a variety of Asian Underground music already, I would recommend those new to the genre to hear his first album before listening to this one.
By far this is my favorite Karsh Kale album yet!

Whale sounds.......2006-04-17

This music is pretty intelligent, but not very interesting. The forgettable melodies hardly connect with the complex rhythm lines; on only one or two occasions on the cd satisfying harmonies come across.

I bought this together with Nitin Sawhney's "Beyond Skin", which is an incomparably better cd - Sawhney plugs in nicely with earlier work from Portishead, Hooverphonic, and even the Roots. Karsh Kale however, seems to pay tribute to Jean Michel Jarre's "Waiting for Cousteau".

During yoga, my teacher wallpapers her lesson with a whale sounds-cd. When I do yoga at home, Karsh Kale is a neat substitute for that.

you've got to be kidding me!.......2006-02-10

sorry this might be harsh but on my initial listen i knew this was something i didn't want. its got that "over the top" produced feel to it. lots of neat effects and great sound but nothing much else. its not a real deep listening experience. its cliche. the fusion just went a bit too far here. after repeated listens it just went completely flat. this would make a wonderful sound track for disney's aladdin.

i'll gladly trade this cd for any of the thornton and ramzy cd's.

Add to cart!.......2006-01-13

I agree with the other reviewer stating that this is Karsh Kale's best. This is truly a beautiful, uplifting album. I can play this CD all night and not get sick of the beats, rhythms, and soothing orchestra, synths, and vocals. My favorites are Milan, Break of Dawn, and Epic. Buy this now and enjoy the journey... you won't be disappointed.

Simply Awesome.......2005-12-27

The soundscapes, melodies and pounding rhythms...With so much attitude.....This guy is unstoppable

Average customer rating:

Liberation
Mya
Manufacturer: Universal Music Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Good Girl Gone Bad
Ms. Kelly
Curtis
Insomniac
Ain't Nothin' Like Me

ASIN: B000RRUS80
Release Date: 2007-09-18

Music:

Music