Realistic [Import]

Product Description:
Never one to rest on her laurels, Mary, a prolific songwriter, began working on the album after the release of 2003’s 'Piano Creeps' a collection of atmospheric and evocative compositions penned with her partner Billy Cote. While some of the songs on 'Realistic' are inspired by the birth of their son Roman, quite a lot of the material was composed after Mary was diagnosed, and successfully treated, for breast cancer in Autumn 2003. One of the album’s most endearing qualities is its human warmth. Every word and every note is heartfelt, but it never enters the realm of self pity. The album also includes a song called ‘Lonely Boy’ which Mary wrote after the death of Elliot Smith, her favourite contemporary songwriter. Cooking Vinyl. 2005.

Realistic,Mary Lorson,Saint Low,Cooking Vinyl,Country,Pop

Average customer rating: Impossibly delicate and beautiful All Right

Realistic Mary Lorson & Saint Low Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Saint Low Tricks for Dawn Tragic Magic Hello June Fool Ladyland ASIN: B000CQO15W Release Date: 2006-02-07

Tracks:

1. Wait For The Sun
2. Realistic
3. Spider
4. Born Knowing
5. Dangerous
6. Walking Man
7. Lonely Boy
8. Out Of Your Mind
9. These Days
10. Ties That Bind
11. Serenade
12. Brand New Spring

Album Description

Singer/songwriter Mary Lorson is most known for her role in the indie rock outfit Madder Rose, the New York band she has fronted since 1990. In 1997, however, Lorson opted for a solo side, and three years later she assembled Saint Low and the band issued a self-titled release later that summer. Mary, a prolific songwriter, began working on her 8th release, Realistic, after the release of 2003's "Piano Creeps" a collection of atmospheric and evocative compositions penned with her partner Billy Cote. Whilst some of the songs on "Realistic" are inspired by the birth of their son Roman, quite a lot of the material was composed after Mary was diagnosed, and successfully treated, for breast cancer in Autumn 2003.

One of the album's most endearing qualities is its human warmth. Every word and every note is heartfelt, but it never enters the realm of self-pity. The songs are frequently uplifting, lyrically charming and flow with such sincerity that it's impossible not to be touched by them.

"Life provided me with an abundance of material this time around," quips Mary. "Musically I wanted it to be warm and rich, with some real infectious pop elements." Lyrically, there are quite a few other influences at work. The album includes a song called Lonely Boy' which Mary wrote after the death of Elliot Smith, her favourite contemporary songwriter.

In addition to the attention Lorson receives from the still active Madder Rose fans, the last couple of years have also seen Mary's songs receiving extra attention on TV and in films. Her music has been played on the shows Alias, Felicity, and The Real World, and is included in the upcoming Fox pilot Still Life.

Customer Reviews:

Impossibly delicate and beautiful.......2006-07-16

Mary Lorson's voice is sweet without being saccharin. One keeps expecting the voice to break, or to hear a glotteral stop, or some flaw because she is trying to be too earnest, or perhaps to drop too far into non-singing talkiness that modern folksingers tend to use when they have too many lyrics to fit in (which I don't like). She comes close to the last flaw in track 5, Dangerous, but otherwise keeps the lyrics, well, lyrical.

In places, especially track 2 "realistic", she sounds a lot like Suzanne Vega both in voice and song structure. "Realistic" could have come right off Vega's "Solitude Standing".

The music is quite listenable, perfect for relaxed listening or perhaps kicking back with (adult) friends. But the real star is Lorson's voice. It is something of an enigma, it's hard to pin down what it is that is so pleasent, because the intellect is saying things like "it's too sweet, too thin, not enough oomph". It threatens to be like Liv Tyler's speaking voice - completely without power and forgettable (except for the fact that it is so nondescript). And yet there's...something. She is like a french horn playing solo against a full orchestra - unassuming, almost drowned out by everything else, soft and non-prepossesing, but somehow so beautiful that the lack of actual strength can't keep that horn from being heard.

No, that's not right. Her voice is pretty and seems to take a lot of air to wind. She sounds like a voice on the open ocean, sweet but completely consumed by open space as soon as the sound leaves her lips.

This might be more of a production quality, certainly there are ways to process a voice to give it more 'oomph'. But I, for one, am glad they didn't do that, because it would remove what is unique and beautiful about Mary's voice.

I must deduct a star because there are some stinkers on the album, like the aforementioned "Dangerous". Besides, my standards are pretty high - 5 stars means "a classic", and while this album is very good (and your friends are sure to ask you who this is when you play the album), it is not a classic.

All Right.......2006-03-24

Typical for the female singer-songwriter genre these days, this cd by Mary Lorson and Saint Low will get virtually no airplay, no buzz, and little in the way of for-profit sales. Yet the thousands of folks who opt for more mediocre fare by talentless musicians will have missed a gem.

Plaintive, melodic, heartfelt, and varied, REALISTIC is a tremendous accomplishment with virtually no missteps. Not exactly "piano music" its driven piano and atmospheric guitar ballads and slice-of-the-heart torches emotionally affect the listener and draw them in completely.

Lyrically diverse (first and second person narrative interspersed wonderfully) and at times emotionally bare, Lorson creates sound and wordscapes that soothe yet challenge the listener. This is not Starbucks music (good thing, that).

"Roman, Roman, I promise, we really will try...and what we can't fix we'll paint shiny and bright...What the left hand can do to the right...But you need to know everything's fine... Do you want to bite?"

From "Ties that Bind", perhaps my favorite song on the disc. As you can see, I'm not a professional music reviewer. I just know what I like, and what has staying power. This disc does, and so does Ms. Lorson.

Awesome. Add a star.

Average customer rating: Unpolished but Still an Amazing album Ivy Has Definitely Come Off to a Great Start with Realistic Maybe the best debut of the 90's Add another star... IVYS FIRST "Realistic" LACKS "Apartment LIFE"

Realistic Ivy Manufacturer: Seed ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Long Distance Lately In the Clear Apartment Life This Is Where We Live ASIN: B00000G2PN Release Date: 1995-02-14

Tracks:

1. Get Enough
2. No Guarantee
3. Decay
4. 15 Seconds
5. Everyday
6. Point Of View
7. Don't Believe A Word
8. Beautiful
9. Shallow
10. In The Shadows
11. Dying Star
12. Over

Amazon.com

Before opening up their sound to horns and the occasional muted hip-hop beat, Ivy placed their delicacy in the context of flurries of strummed chords and other indie-rock verities. Dominique Durand's wistfulness is already at full power, though the Paris native's lyrics are less fully developed than they would be on Realistic's follow-up, Apartment Life. Often swirly enough ("Don't Believe a Word") to get the denizens of Dawson's Creek spinning on the dance floor, Realistic is also as emotionally compelling as the best pop has always been. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Unpolished but Still an Amazing album.......2002-02-14

On the whole this album is ruff around the edges. Yet that is the beauty of this album in that the music matches the words perfectly. They took a simple aproch of just doing what they do best and it works. In some ways it is like they were trying to rectreat what they sound like on stage, at that time. There are places were it could have been done better, but in some ways if things were added to the song that would detrack from what they were trying to do and say. Also on this album you can hear a or get an idea of the direction they wanted to go and did. This is one of their best albums, and I'll take the Pepsi challenge anyday on my review.

Ivy Has Definitely Come Off to a Great Start with Realistic.......2000-06-09

I got this album after hearing someone in a record store play some of it over the loudspeakers upon having asked what group I was hearing months later I bought it and was just as impressed as I expected to be. Ivy's music is quite catchy, melodic and relaxing! Unlike alot of the thoughtless trash they deluge you with with in much of today's music Ivy has a sound that is uncommonly beautiful and rare. In short if you love catchy, Melodic groups like for example "The Cardigans" like I do and hate heavy and gloomy music you'll definitely love Ivy.

Maybe the best debut of the 90's.......2000-06-07

Gangly garage-rock guitar riffs, breathy French-accented female vocals, catchy tunes with insightful lyrics that capture the exuberance as well a good measure of the angst of youth. "In the Shadows", "No Guarantee", "Point of View", "Don't Believe a Word"--songs like these deserve better praise than I can possibly jot down here. You must listen for yourself! One of the top CD's of the 90's, I think. Their follow-up, "Apartment Life", though very good, falls into a safer pop groove. I'm looking for their third one to be the first great album of the new millenium.

Add another star..........2000-02-01

Here's yet another album that's been overlooked and underplayed. Although I'm not a huge devotee of the breathy girlie voice so common in today's music, Dominique Durand manages to pull off some pretty girlie vocals that don't stand in the way of her charming lyrics, but rather make you like them even more. This is a great cd, and had this been the day of the tape deck, I would have worn it out by now. Once you buy Realistic, go out and buy Apartment Life - it's even better....

IVYS FIRST "Realistic" LACKS "Apartment LIFE".......1999-10-26

If you are interested in buying an Ivy CD than buy "Apartment Life", definitely their best CD so far..and definitely underappreciated...."Realistic" is the beginning of what came in "Apartment Life"....It is a good CD but not as polished as the latter....Still if you are an Ivy fan than buy this CD because it is still good, just not as great as "Apartment Life"...the songs tend to run into each other kind of sounding the same....but again it is a good CD, just not great.

Average customer rating: Unpolished but Still an Amazing album Ivy Has Definitely Come Off to a Great Start with Realistic Maybe the best debut of the 90's Add another star... IVYS FIRST "Realistic" LACKS "Apartment LIFE"

Realistic Ivy Manufacturer: Atlantic/Seed -- a.D.a. -- ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie & Lo Fi | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Long Distance Lately In the Clear Apartment Life This Is Where We Live ASIN: B000005WWZ Release Date: 1995-02-13

Tracks:

1. Get Enough
2. No Guarantee
3. Decay
4. 15 Seconds
5. Everyday
6. Point Of View
7. Don't Believe A Word
8. Beautiful
9. Shallow
10. In The Shadows
11. Dying Star
12. Over

Amazon.com

Before opening up their sound to horns and the occasional muted hip-hop beat, Ivy placed their delicacy in the context of flurries of strummed chords and other indie-rock verities. Dominique Durand's wistfulness is already at full power, though the Paris native's lyrics are less fully developed than they would be on Realistic's follow-up, Apartment Life. Often swirly enough ("Don't Believe a Word") to get the denizens of Dawson's Creek spinning on the dance floor, Realistic is also as emotionally compelling as the best pop has always been. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Unpolished but Still an Amazing album.......2002-02-14

On the whole this album is ruff around the edges. Yet that is the beauty of this album in that the music matches the words perfectly. They took a simple aproch of just doing what they do best and it works. In some ways it is like they were trying to rectreat what they sound like on stage, at that time. There are places were it could have been done better, but in some ways if things were added to the song that would detrack from what they were trying to do and say. Also on this album you can hear a or get an idea of the direction they wanted to go and did. This is one of their best albums, and I'll take the Pepsi challenge anyday on my review.

Ivy Has Definitely Come Off to a Great Start with Realistic.......2000-06-09

I got this album after hearing someone in a record store play some of it over the loudspeakers upon having asked what group I was hearing months later I bought it and was just as impressed as I expected to be. Ivy's music is quite catchy, melodic and relaxing! Unlike alot of the thoughtless trash they deluge you with with in much of today's music Ivy has a sound that is uncommonly beautiful and rare. In short if you love catchy, Melodic groups like for example "The Cardigans" like I do and hate heavy and gloomy music you'll definitely love Ivy.

Maybe the best debut of the 90's.......2000-06-07

Gangly garage-rock guitar riffs, breathy French-accented female vocals, catchy tunes with insightful lyrics that capture the exuberance as well a good measure of the angst of youth. "In the Shadows", "No Guarantee", "Point of View", "Don't Believe a Word"--songs like these deserve better praise than I can possibly jot down here. You must listen for yourself! One of the top CD's of the 90's, I think. Their follow-up, "Apartment Life", though very good, falls into a safer pop groove. I'm looking for their third one to be the first great album of the new millenium.

Add another star..........2000-02-01

Here's yet another album that's been overlooked and underplayed. Although I'm not a huge devotee of the breathy girlie voice so common in today's music, Dominique Durand manages to pull off some pretty girlie vocals that don't stand in the way of her charming lyrics, but rather make you like them even more. This is a great cd, and had this been the day of the tape deck, I would have worn it out by now. Once you buy Realistic, go out and buy Apartment Life - it's even better....

IVYS FIRST "Realistic" LACKS "Apartment LIFE".......1999-10-26

If you are interested in buying an Ivy CD than buy "Apartment Life", definitely their best CD so far..and definitely underappreciated...."Realistic" is the beginning of what came in "Apartment Life"....It is a good CD but not as polished as the latter....Still if you are an Ivy fan than buy this CD because it is still good, just not as great as "Apartment Life"...the songs tend to run into each other kind of sounding the same....but again it is a good CD, just not great.

Average customer rating: Classic Ivy, well made

Realistic Ivy Manufacturer: Unfiltered ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Apartment Life Lately Long Distance In the Clear Bee Season ASIN: B0000AYLJ6 Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

1. Get Enough
2. No Guarantee
3. Decay
4. 15 Seconds
5. Everyday
6. Point Of View
7. Don't Believe A Word
8. Beautiful
9. Shallow
10. In The Shadows
11. Dying Star
12. Over

Album Description

Ivy shines again on this full-length of melodic pop, with "Get Enough" snagging the band's first Melody Maker Single Of The Week. Originally released, 1994. Re-issued by Unfiltered Records, 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Ivy, well made.......2005-01-11

I first discovered Ivy after hearing 'Apartment Life' and loved it, even if some people said the guitars riffs weren't original. Ivy has a delightfull pop appeal to them.

I was biased to believe this album wouldn't be as good as their other work since it's now 11yrs old but surprisingly if they had released it today, I wouldn't have even suspected it was older material. Ivy's sound hasn't changed much, and in this case it's a good thing.

If you loved Apt Life, then get 'Realistic' as I would call it the sister album, same exact style, 90% as good as the original.

Average customer rating:

Big Screen Sound Big Screen Sound Manufacturer: Realistic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B000JWBQ0M

Product Description

Song list: 1. 20th Century Fox Cinemascope Fanfare 2. From "The Empire Strikes Back" (John Williams): a. The Imperial March, and b. Yoda's Theme 3. From "North By Northwest" Main Title 4. From "The Adventures of Robin Hood": a. Main Title (March of the Merry Men), and b. Ambush in Sherwood 5. From "Star Wars": a. Princess Leia's Theme, and b. Here They Come 6. From "Brainstorm" Michael's Gift to Karen 7. From "First Men on the Moon" Main Title 8. From "Dr. Stranglove" The Bomb Run 9. "Hedda" Main Title 10. From "Return of the Jedi" a. Parade of the Ewok, and b. Darth Vader's Death 11. From "King's Row" Finale

Average customer rating:

Babble on Manufacturer: Say Word Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA34TC Release Date: 2004-08-03

Tracks:

1. Genesis 11
2. Skit #1 They Call Me Mr. Gibs
3. Issues of Today
4. Urban Rhapsody
5. Roll Call
6. Shepherd's Theory - Second2Last feat. Masauko and Maya Azucena
7. Skit #2 Bade Fliped the #!%* Out
8. Wisdom
9. Intro What Is Fame - Julian Schnabel, Second2Last
10. Poetry Aint - Second2Last feat. Mrk Drk Fthr
11. Sunflower Kids - Second2Last feat. Alexis Hightower
12. Fantastic 4
13. Space Travel - Second2Last feat. Spade 1
14. Skit #3 Who Loves You Baby
15. Love Poem #9 - Second2Last feat. Frank and Somi
16. Sweetness
17. Skit #4 Oh No Curtis No!
18. Profanity's Nation - Second2Last feat. Maya Azucena
19. The Last Poem

Average customer rating: Subtle, tasteful and aurally fascinating!!! Electronic recycled radio headf**k-fest muzak.

Maidenhead Realistic Manufacturer: Seeland Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000038YZ Release Date: 1998-01-27

Tracks:

1. Startup Sound
2. SQ-80 Buzz
3. Handicap Bathroom
4. Mother's Maidenhead
5. Speaker Placement Test
6. Allied Electronics
7. Radio Document
8. Special Effects Amplifier
9. Mouse Up Engine
10. Smells Like Teen Disco
11. Indecision Test
12. Blip Filter
13. StickyMeat 44kHZ
14. Guitar Masturbator
15. Happy Gone
16. 4-Track Demo Drama
17. ...Quit Sound

Customer Reviews:

Subtle, tasteful and aurally fascinating!!!.......1998-12-02

In the Seeland tradition, Realistic brings you pop-culture-aware, experimental music that is at once interesting and entertaining. Dance-oriented beats accompany ecclectic sample-collages throughout -- and did I mention those wacky song titles? Highlights of the disc include "Radio Document" -- its disjointed, sampled dialogue and FM radio channel-scanning effect are reminiscent of the work of Canadian experimentalist Dan Lander. "Smells Like Teen Disco" would be a "four-on-the-floor" dance hit if it weren't for the fact the the beat keeps disappearing, and then it's over before it really starts! "Guitar Masturbator" is a noisy funk affair -- sounds like something off of the Beastie Boys Ill Communication but with a vocoded singer. "Handicap Bathroom" is a dubby, quirky bit of digital datum -- subtle, tasteful and aurally fascinating. This last description goes for the whole disc really. Fans of past Seeland releases won't be disappointed with Maidenhead. Really, I promise!

Splendid Magazine, May 1998

Electronic recycled radio headf**k-fest muzak........1998-12-02

Coming to you from Columbus Ohio is "Maidenhead", the debut CD from Realistic. "Maidenhead" is a left-brain collection of sticky sounds from life, layered and synchronized with unusual mechanical music and assorted other weird-a** stuff. Realistic fuses complex digital sound collage and distorted pop melodies around textured plastic rhythms creating a big ol' mess. 50-minutes of dynamic headphone bliss with full color interactive packing options.

Average customer rating:

Mason: String quartet No1; Double concerto for horn & trombone Manufacturer: Bridge ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Virelais | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000003GJ3 Release Date: 1994-03-22

Tracks:

1. Str Qt No.1: Part 1. Perambulation - The Arditti Qt
2. Str Qt No.1: Part 2. Fast Travelling - The Arditti Qt
3. Str Qt No.1: Part 3. Observing (Standing Still) - The Arditti Qt
4. Str Qt No.1: Part 4. Observing (Travelling Fast) - The Arditti Qt
5. Str Qt No.1: Part 5. Returning - The Arditti Qt
6. Double Con: 1. Determined 1/4nt=104 - Michael Thompson/David Purser
7. Double Con: 2. Scherzo Notturno, Trio Diurno, Scherzo Reprise Square Root Of Double - Michael Thompson/David Purser
8. Double Con: 3.Molto Adagio - Michael Thompson/David Purser
9. Double Con: 4. Determined 1/4=104 - Michael Thompson/David Purser
10. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 1. Partial Baffles - Christine Whittlesey
11. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 2. Ah...Never On The Drumhead - Christine Whittlesey
12. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 3. Whiffling Seesaw Rhythms - Christine Whittlesey
13. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 4. Metallurgical Rules - Christine Whittlesey
14. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 5. Aahk Pit-It-It Skaaak! - Christine Whittlesey
15. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 6. Temporary Deviations - Christine Whittlesey
16. Self-Referential Songs And Realistic Virelais: 7. Del Penicille Qui C'est Escrit - Christine Whittlesey

Album Description

The English composer, Benedict Mason, has been called "one of the major talents in music today" by the critic Julian Anderson. The three works recorded on this disc introduce the work of a startlingly original voice. Mason's music incorporates a huge range of expression- from commonplace to the sublime. Barriers between tonality and non-tonality are swept aside easily by the force of Mason's musical argument, his broadly inclusive vision calling to mind such visionaries as Janacek, Mahler and Ives. Indeed, ghosts of Beethoven, Stravinsky, Ives and even Elgar occasionally haunt the discourse of Mason's surreal landscape, projecting a brilliantly refractory sub-text, the music's surface always alive with humor and highly detailed invention. The virtuosic performances on this disc are ample testimony to the high esteem in which Benedict Mason is held by his English and German colleagues- members of three of Europe's leading contemporary ensembles.

Average customer rating:

Other People's Stuff Manufacturer: Realistic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAE9GE Release Date: 2003-12-02

Average customer rating:

Chronicles of a Hustler Real Drama Manufacturer: Realistic Records Inc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0007ZSH62 Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

1. Welcome
2. Do Em' Bad
3. Get It! Get It!
4. Video
5. No Trouble
6. Take Heed
7. A Time for Everything
8. Back in da' Game
9. My Ho
10. Hustler's Anthem
11. It's You
12. Knockin at the Door
13. Always Something There
14. Ghetto Streets

Product Description

"Chronicles" is Real Drama's own story, about the daily life of a hustler and what makes him or breaks him. "A Hustler don't fold," he says. "We mold and adjust to any situation - and fold that which is becoming a conflict in your life. Everything is a lesson learned." Some rappers' lyrics substitute fantasy for reality, says Real Drama. "It's like they've jumped off the basis of talking about reality. Of course kids want to emulate that lifestyle - to have this and have that. I thought I wanted that, too, until I got caught up in it. I want my music to say, "Hey, you don't want to go through this."

Music Album:

1. S&M Communion Bread
2. Sincerely
3. Sisters
4. Small Worlds: The Crowell Collection 1978-1995 [Import]
5. Someday We'll Look Back/I Love Dixie Blues [Import]
6. Southbound
7. Southern Rock: Country Style
8. Souvenirs: 25 of the Best [Import]
9. Take It to the Limit
10. Telewacker

Music Album