Joji [Import]

Product Description:
Japanese pressing of 2004 album from alt-country act featuring Ned Oldham (brother of Will Oldham). Human Highway.

Joji,Anomoanon,3d,Folk,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Japanese Taiko Interesting New Drum Sounds Amazing Japanese drumming...! One of the best Taiko collections I've heard

Japanese Taiko Manufacturer: Arc Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Drums of Tokyo Japanese Drums Big Bang Tataku: The Best of Kodo, Vol. 2 (1994-1999) Kodo - One Earth Tour Special (Bonus CD) ASIN: B0002IQCDO Release Date: 2004-06-29

Tracks:

1. Harvest
2. Pageant
3. Haru - Ichiban
4. Musashi Mai Uchi
5. Hokkai II
6. Chido-Setsu
7. Suisei - Hanabi (Comet - Fire Works - Shooting Star)
8. Heart Beat
9. Yuki Jizoh (An Old Tale)

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Taiko.......2007-01-11

I was first introduced to this throught a PBS program about taiko in America. Taiko is nothing but pure hardcore drumming. These aren't a bunch of guys sitting on their --- tapping out rhythms. They're beating the crap out of these drums. I'm sure there are youtube videos out there, it's a must if you've never seen how they play them.

This is my first taiko cd. As the other reviews said, the first song is the best, it is absolutly intense. The whole cd is great though. If you work out, this is a perfect cd to listen to while doing so. If you can sit still while listening to this, I'd be very surprised. Buy it, you won't regret it!

Interesting New Drum Sounds.......2006-05-15

I play an African Djembe, and am always looking to find new styles of drumming to incorporate into my playing. I'd been wanting to buy a Taiko CD, and picked this one at random. The first song is absolutely amazingly rockin'. I've listened to the CD twice, and while the first song leaps out and grabs you, I didn't find the rest of the CD to have that same crazy energy. Don't get me wrong - the rest of the CD is enjoyable, but the first song just blows the rest of the disc away.

Edited to add: So I've been listening to this CD for a while. I'm really not very crazy about it. The first time I heard the first song I really liked it, but it got old really fast. The selection of percussive instruments on this CD just bores me. There's just not enough variety for me - but then again, I'm used to listening to a lot of African music where you have djuns, sangbans, djembes, bells - all with a wide variety of different ways to play them. All in all, I suppose that this is still a good cd, but it's just not for me.

Amazing Japanese drumming...!.......2004-09-27

Another fine album by one of the major stars of the modern taiko drumming scene... Hirota's innovative compositions are audacious and ambitious; the skill and precision with which his ensemble perform them is nothing short of amazing. There are modernizations and meter shifts that may be questionable -- depending on your personal tastes or inclinations -- but for taiko fans, even those who prefer a more traditional style, this disc is a must. This is the music being played at its highest and most challenging level... Recommended!

One of the best Taiko collections I've heard.......2004-09-04

This is without a doubt one of the BEST taiko CD's ever. We put this on (to test a new subwoofer) and the sound of the drums was clear, the contrasting sticks and bells came through sharp and defined. The rhythms are surprisingly jazzy and modern.

There are nine cuts on this CD: the first seems VERY long but it's actually shy of 8 minutes--some are longer, 9:31 and 10:46 . The first cut Harvest is by far the best, though I like the almost 11 minute Heart Beat a lot as well.

The thundering big drums have traditional rhythms, but merge into melodic "songs" of a more modern nature. The drums are of varying sizes and tuned to different tones, and there is auxiliary percussion (sticks on the drum frame and some other percussion as well) but the Taiko dominate.


I find Taiko very energizing and I play this CD to lift my mood, especially if doing household tasks. If you like percussion, this is absolutely a must-have cd. We were VERY impressed.

Average customer rating:

The Devil's Toothpick Manufacturer: Kudu ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000236T Release Date: 1994-11-28

Tracks:

1. Theme Form The Devil's Toothpick (Yemanja) - Klyde Jones/Kenia/Chris Hunter/Jamie Lawrence
2. Demon Dance - Donald Harrison/Joji Hirota
3. Afoxe - Kenia/Donald Harrison/Romero Lubambo/Ted Rosenthal/Jay Rowe/Francisco Centeno/Portinho/Cafe
4. Satelite Express - Joji Hirota
5. Samba - Kenia/Donald Harrison/Romero Lubambo/Ted Rosenthal/Jay Rowe/Francisco Centeno/Portinho/Cafe
6. A Raca Humana - Gilberto Gil/Ernie Watts/Marlon Graves/Kenny Kirkland/Robert Sadin/Victor Bailey/Cafe/Frank Colon
7. Ballad - Kenia/Romero Lubambo
8. Glazed - Jim Beard/Mark Ledford/Mino Cinelu
9. Trio Electrico - Donald Harrison/Romero Lubambo/Cafe
10. Lament - Romero Lubambo/Cafe
11. Bossa Nova - Donald Harrison/Romero Lubambo/Cafe
12. Malaysian Image - Joji Hirota
13. Calypso - Donald Harrison/Romero Lubambo
14. Batucada - Larry Coryell/Billy Cobham/Monica Millet/Indio/Tiao Oliveira/Edfran/August Conceicao/Leonardo
15. Samba Reggae - Kenia/Carole Sylvan/Donald Harrison/Jay Rowe/Ronald Jenkins/Marlon Graves/Romero Lubambo

Average customer rating:

Secret Geometry; Music For Piano And Electronic Tape Manufacturer: Composers Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000005TXM Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

1. Synchronisms No. 6
2. Fantasy
3. Secret Geometry: I Variations
4. Secret Geometry: II Nocturne
5. Secret Geometry: III Toccata
6. Reflections
7. Towards 'The Midnight Sun'

Average customer rating: Interesting for Sondheim Fans enjoyable. a score that deserves an operatic treatment Avoid You want the 1976 Original Broadway Cast album, not this one

Pacific Overtures (1987 English National Opera Cast) Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sondheim, Stephen | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Pacific Overtures (1976 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000003ESS Release Date: 1989-06-02

Tracks:

1. Pacific Overatures: Prologue
2. Pacific Overatures: The Advantages OF Floating In The Middle Of The Sea
3. Pacific Overatures: There Is No Other Way (Tamate's Dance)
4. Pacific Overatures: Four Black Dragons
5. Pacific Overatures: Chrysanthemum Tea
6. Pacific Overatures: Poems
7. Pacific Overatures: Welcome To Kanagawa
8. Pacific Overatures: Someone In A Tree
9. Pacific Overatures: Please Hello
10. Pacific Overatures: A Bowler Hat
11. Pacific Overatures: Pretty Lady
12. Pacific Overatures: Next

Customer Reviews:

Interesting for Sondheim Fans.......2005-06-06

For those who love the Bway show and have hoped to hear it with the voice qualities it was written for, this recording is a treat. In addition, all of the orchestral music is included, using a full opera house orchestra, while the Bway cast recording edits and uses a Bway pit orchestration. Not to mention that this recording contains a much more complete version of "Kanagawa".

However be warned, the sound engineering is abysmal - it's a full dialog rcording and the dialog can't be heard - it sounds as though they are talking at the very back of a big room. Which I guess they were. The percussion is also not balanced to the rest of the orchestra. However, the silver lining to this one is that the cast are opera-singer actors, no one is a very good actor, so the loss of the dialog is no big deal.

enjoyable. a score that deserves an operatic treatment.......2001-12-20

this is a fantastic show with many standout songs. i prefer this recording to the OBC recording b/c i really believe that the lyrical score falls naturally into the operatic realm and that broadway singers don't generally have the vocal power to do it justice. i usually don't prefer opera singers in broadway shows, but i think that in this case it works extremely well, with the long, lyrical lines of songs like, "is there no other way" and "poems" really benefitting from the stronger voices.

Avoid.......2001-04-23

This is not the real thing. This was a production by English National opera with opera voices not show voices. It doesn't even begin to sound right. For an ignored work, the ENO production appeared oddly soon after the excellent provincial production at Wythenshawe Forum in south Manchester, UK. Were ENO influenced in their choice by the Manchester show? It seemed so at the time and the ENO production was a very pale evening by comparison. This CD shows why! Avoid. The Original Broadway cast recording is the best going, though it's not at all perfect. Why is this excellent work, full of terrific music and visuals, so ignored?? Too expensive to stage?

You want the 1976 Original Broadway Cast album, not this one.......2000-09-26

"Pacific Overtures" is the political euphemism used by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 when Japan was persuaded to open up trade relations because of the display of naval power put on by the United States. The clash of cultures as the "Floating Kingdom" was forced to end centuries of enforced isolation is the subject of this unique musical, which dramatizes Perry's expedition to Japan. The original Broadway cast of "Pacific Overtures" was entirely Asian or Asian-American. It is this casting commitment that makes "Pacific Overtures" a rare musical to see in performance, which is a shame because of not only its presentation of history but because of its imaginative use of Kabuki.

You might recall the controversy on Broadway when Jonathan Pryce came over from England to play the Engineer in the Broadway production of "Miss Saigon." Pryce had created the role in England but there were complaints about an occidental playing an oriental (althought the character was half-French). So while I was rather surprised to discover this non-Asian cast recording of "Pacific Overtures," I realized it was understandable, not only because the British place less emphasis on such things but also because this is English National Opera cast. In opera it is the voice that matters and not appearances, which is why you end up with singers the size of offensive linemen who are twice the age of their characters.

On the one hand I find it very commendable that this show was produced in England, since the casting requirements make it difficult if not impossible to perform in most places. But if you want a CD by which to remember the show you should purchase the original Broadway cast album and enjoy the original performances (especially Mako as the Reciter).

I do not want to make this sound like an argument for political correctness, because I really do believe it is more a question of preserving the intergirty of the original production, which was a wonderful attempt to bring something different to the American musical stage. If had the opportunity to see "Pacific Overture" in performance with a non-oriental cast I will certainly do so, because I would dearly love to see this show. But I would feel that I had missed out on the true experience.

Average customer rating:

Sonor Ensemble Manufacturer: Composers Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000005TW4 Release Date: 1994-06-13

Tracks:

1. Double Concerto
2. Prometheus
3. Mutterings
4. Not Only Night

Average customer rating: i painted a tree The lush factor matters... Modern arrangements of traditional Japanese themes Modern arrangements with an ancient Japanese texture Deep, brooding, and magical

The Gate Joji Hirota Manufacturer: Real World ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000JXM4 Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

1. Reminicscences II
2. Esashi Oiwake
3. Hiten, Ryu And The Pageants Compete
4. Komori Uta
5. Profoundly
6. Kokiriko Melody
7. Hokkai
8. Lullaby From Takeda
9. The Gate

Customer Reviews:

i painted a tree.......2006-06-16

"The Gate" by Joji Hirota has recently become one of my most favorite works. The tempo is storied; just as one finds bits of sound, notes, a respite to linger upon, perhaps a rest. Perhaps likeable, enjoyable. I look forward to seeing the inspiration, and very soon!

The lush factor matters..........2001-04-21

- It is Zamfir done right?

Well, its definitely more than that. I could imagine this gracing the aural side of an Akira Kurosawa film. Too bad we're not going to see that. :(

I have to admit that it was "Reminiscences II" that initially grabbed my attention and shut my eyes in tranquility when I first previewed this cd at a local Borders bookstore. (after a tedious search of cd misses)

There's something so beautiful about coupling traditional Asian music with lush orchestration and strings and this is done well on "The Gate".

Check out the Three Seasons soundtrack or David Parsons' Ngaio Gamelan cd for more of this sort of bliss. Maybe you'd get into Putomayo's "Music from the Tea Lands" as well.

I rated this cd 3 stars because contrary to the publicist's opinion, I feel that the drum tracks in the middle break the trance. They would have sounded better near the end.

But considering how penetrating the other tracks are, the flow of the journey would have been most tranquil without them.

After getting beyond the first track, I found the real gem to be "Esashi Oiwake". I say this because it touches me in the same way that vocals on the Three Seasons soundtrack manage to command humility and serenity.

Overall, this is a very nice addition to my collection of alleviating music.

Modern arrangements of traditional Japanese themes.......2000-02-23

"The Gate" is simply extraordinary. Hirota is equally at home with flutes, strings, and drums, and it shows. Intoxicating, powerful drumming fills the spaces between the orchestral string and flute pieces, and his plaintive, lonely voice can be heard atop a several of the tracks.

A spirit of tradition and an ancient feel persists throughout the disc, despite the modern arrangements and high-quality production.

A definite highlight is "Komori Uta," a old lullaby sung as a duet with Joji and an 8-year-old child. Beautiful.

Highly recommended.

Modern arrangements with an ancient Japanese texture.......2000-02-11

"The Gate" is an unique and beautiful tapestry. Peaceful but melancholic flutes & strings balance against powerful, intoxicating drums of celebration. On some tacks, Hirota's plaintive voice lifts the music to another level.

The lullaby Komori Uta (Track #4) is a duet with Hirota himself and an 8-year-old child, with awesomely beautiful results.

Highly recommended.

Deep, brooding, and magical.......2000-02-09

Beautiful Japanese melodies for flute and orchestra. The vocal and flute pieces are very emotional.

Average customer rating: More brilliant pianism from this versitile artist.

Asia Piano Avantgarde: Japan, Vol. 1 Manufacturer: MD&G Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Eleventh Finger Toshio Hosokawa: Birds Fragments Preludes to a Revolution Unsuk Chin: Akrostichon-Wortspiel Dalbavie: Color ASIN: B000EQIOC6 Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

1. Nacht Klange
2. Music For Piano No.2
3. Aphorismen II For Einen Pianisten
4. 1st
5. 2nd
6. 1st
7. 2nd
8. Music For Piano No.4 For David Tudor
9. High Window
10. Music For Piano No.7
11. Cosmos Haptic

Customer Reviews:

More brilliant pianism from this versitile artist........2006-08-12

Steffen Schleiemacher has emerged as one of the key proponents of 20th Century piano, particularly avant garde piano. More than that, his playing is so brilliant and beautiful that he brings out the best of any score that he essays, so he not only brings unjustly neglected repertoire to light but does so with incomparable skill and dedication. This wonderful selection of works by Japanese composers includes works not only written during the height of avant garde experimentalism (late '50's - 1970's) but also has much more recent works which show that the adventurous spirit still thrives among Japan's top composers. I am pleased to note that this disc is "Volume One" of a series devoted to the avant garde piano of Japan, so I eagerly await the second volume, and hope that there will be more after it as well. Meanwhile there is another disc of Asian piano in the series, devoted to works by Indonesian composers, which I have not heard as yet. It is sure to be just as topnotch as this flawless recording. Bravo, Schleiermacher!!!

Average customer rating: Beautiful

Red Ribbon Guo Yue & Joji Hirota Manufacturer: Riverboat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music China | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music China | Far East | Compilations | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000008490 Release Date: 2000-06-03

Tracks:

1. Goodbye Again
2. Beginning
3. Little Bird
4. Red Ribbon
5. Misty Lake
6. Pneuma (Exhalation)
7. Mountain Path
8. Element
9. Himalayas

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2002-08-21

I heard this a few years back and unfortunatly had to return the CD to its owner. Unbelievably beautiful music. This is the kind of music that you thank your lucky stars you ran across. Thank god I could find a copy for my self.

Don't pass this up.

Average customer rating: Percussion, Japanese-style

Taiko to Tabla Manufacturer: Arc Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B0002BO17A Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

1. Kokiriko-Bushi
2. Pageant II
3. First Thoughts
4. Hisho
5. M'Bira Dream
6. Korvai on Chennais Sandy Shore
7. Invocation, From Past to Present
8. Seventh Element of Glaciers
9. Chappa Chappa Ki-Da-Ta-Ka
10. Solan-Bushi

Customer Reviews:

Percussion, Japanese-style.......2004-09-14

The opening cut of "Taiko to Tabla" is very traditional folk singing "Kokiriko Bushi" as sung by Hirota. The rest of the CD is drumming rather like Taiko, but including such percussion as cybals, gongs, bells, sampled sounds, and of course tabla and those booming big Japanese taiko drums. This is a good percussion CD, but it's also very Japanese-sounding despite the mix of cultures.

Average customer rating:

Joji Anomoanon Manufacturer: Temporary Residence ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Anomoanon ASIN: B00065TZM8 Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

1. Down And Brown
2. Leap Alone
3. Mr. Train
4. Green Sea
5. After Than Before
6. Wedding Song
7. Nowhere
8. Bird Child

Album Description

Hailing from the same rural Kentucky town that birthed fellow longhairs My Morning Jacket, The Anomoanon's music synthesizes backwoods folk and arena-ready anthems that combine Ned Oldham's familiar croon with the acoustic textures of Led Zeppelin and inspirational dirge of Crazy Horse into a sound that seems so natural, one wonders if this record wasn't just waiting around for these guys to discover it. Saying that this is the band's most accomplished recording is downright redundant, since it's also one of the finest of its kind by anyone. In a sea of glorified bar bands posing as hipster revivalists, Joji finds The Anomoanon dropping from the sky and landing on both feet with a rhythmic stomp that will rattle every bone in your body.

Music Album:

1. Lay Me Down [Original recording remastered]
2. Love Songs And Other Stories
3. Moonlight
4. Naa-Niami
5. Names
6. Omens [Live]
7. Open
8. Paper Flowers [Import]
9. Parlour Games [Import]
10. Passover Songs for Kids (Karaoke)

Music Album