1996 Japanese pressing for the 1966 soundtrack with music composed, conducted & played by Herbie Hancock. The music evokes the ambience of swinging London with grooves that create effective bluesy moods on the slow pieces, and funky ones on the up-tempo tracks. Rock fans remember the film and the soundtrack for the inclusion of a rare Yardbirds number, 'Stroll On' (an adaptation of 'The Train Kept A-Rollin'), one of only three songs they recorded with both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page on guitars. The film was directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. Stereo/mono. EMI/Turner Classic Movies.
Soundtrack,Blow-Up,Rock/Pop
Average customer rating:
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Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana , and Miley Cyrus Manufacturer: Disney ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000OYC3L6 Release Date: 2007-06-26 |
Tracks:
- We Got the Party
- Nobody's Perfect
- Make Some Noise
- Rock Star
- Old Blue Jeans
- Life's What You Make It
- One in a Million
- Bigger than Us
- You and Me Together
- True Friend
Tracks:
- See You Again
- East Northumberland High
- Let's Dance
- G.N.O. (Girl's Night Out)
- Right Here
- As I Am
- Start All Over
- Clear
- Good and Broken
- I Miss You
Amazon.com
Tweens aren't often heralded for their good judgment and excellent taste (Heelys--hello), but if any young starlet can redeem them, it's Hannah Montana. On this, the second soundtrack from the Disney Channel series, Miley Cyrus takes her cues from her TV alter ego, who has an alter ego of her own: Disc 1 features Miley as Hannah, hair-tossing pop princess by weekend, likable schoolgirl by weekday (see "Old Blue Jeans" and "True Friends" to get a sense of each episode's un-cloying sweetness). But disc 2 is the start of something new, as her friends over on the High School Musical set might say: Miley sings strictly as her spunky, truth-telling self. This yields a number of pepped-up pop tracks bound to vibrate through the walls of pink bedrooms everywhere--"See You Again" is a boy-centric song instantly relatable to anyone who's ever been in seventh grade and suffered a bout of bashfulness, "East Northumberland High" puts a punk spin on an I'm-just-not-into-you tale, and "Clear" bounces on a reggae beat while canceling any doubt about our heroine's ability to stand up for herself. Like Hannah before her, Miley makes the best of both worlds--this well-worth-it set, by turns rockin' and reflective, is a masterful example. --Tammy La GorceHannah Montana Photos
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Album Description
This 2-disc set features 10 all new Hannah Montana songs from the #1-rated Disney Channel series, as well as a 2nd CD including 10 brand-new original songs by Miley Cyrus!Customer Reviews:
A Review for the Adult Readers.......2007-07-17
For those of you who don't know what the big deal is about, Miley Cyrus sounds like a younger Avril Lavinge, but with more varied musical tastes. Much of her music is straight-forward pop-rock (evoking some of the new Kelly Clarkson), and some of it is decidedly experimental (Latin & Reggae tunes on a couple of tracks). Its evident they wanted to make a record that everybody would love, and yes, I can guarantee that much of this is juvenile and really quite repugnant.
However, if theres one thing that stands out - it's the voice. Miley Cyrus has a raspy, throaty voice that is really unlike most pop-queens. Listening to her voice makes you realize just how thin and boring Lindsay Lohan sounds on record. I think Cyrus has a musical future in front of her - I would just like her to record an album of jazz standards, and it would actually work. Yes, shes that good, but the music isn't exactly groundbreaking.
Listen, theres a market for this. But I must say that for all the hype, Cyrus DOES have something. If you look beyond the insanely pink jackets she wears and the hair extensions that change every day, she has a really unique voice, and you might want to get this just to check that out.
If its any help, this is definitely better than both of Lindsay Lohan's albums.
My students love her.......2007-07-17
Hannah Montana.......2007-07-15
No. 1 With a Bullet. :).......2007-07-13
My family and I thoroughly enjoy this collection. There are twenty songs (ten by Hannah Montana and ten by Miley Cyrus), and the styles represented are quite eclectic. There appears to be a humble maturity occurring in her vocals and in a number of the 'Miley' texts being set to music; indeed, some of them are philosophical, while others are retrospective and (speculatively speaking) apparently prophetic, to a degree. Although the album is enjoyable to hear and digest on its own merits, in the opinion of this writer a number of tracks require repeated listenings in order to grasp some of the more subtle nuances, both musical and textual. Perhaps it is this aspect of the double-CD album that is most impressive: the quality of the work presented here by Miley and her entourage of writers is musically engaging and challenging to the listener.
The tunes on this double CD set, like those included on the initial soundtrack release, are again cleverly written. Among the genres and styles covered are ballads ("One In a Million" and "Make Some Noise"), rock, techno-pop, and a smidge of hip-hop, as well as songs containing both Spanish ("Let's Dance") and reggae ("Clear") elements. There are also some tracks (e.g. "Old Blue Jeans" and "See You Again," among others) which incorporate slightly more complex harmonies--harmonies that should keep those whom are musically inclined engaged and attentive. Among the ballads represented, it is pleasing to note that not all are about the all-too-common subject of love (e.g., "Make Some Noise").
Some semi-technical musical aspects:
The transition (from Hannah to Miley) I spoke of when reviewing her first album is deliberate on this stylistically-diverse collection. The new 'Hannah' tunes are as energetic and forward-moving as any of the power-rockish songs on the first album, while the cuts recorded by Miley continue to be imaginative and thought-provoking musically, especially with regard to the harmonic progressions being used. The melodies contain a relatively balanced mix of conjunct and disjunct movement, with some being diatonic (e.g., "Start All Over") and others encompassing more angular intervals (such as with the pronounced agogic accents that articulate the opening of "Life's What You Make It"). Particularly engaging and memorable to this listener, at least, is the unfolding locrian-esque ascending melodic line (built upon the third degree of the mode in which the tune resides) of "Start All Over" and the rhythmic movement accompanying the embedded pair of descending perfect fourths (F-C and C-G) included in the instrumental and vocal opening to "Life's What You Make It."
There is a decidedly less preponderant use of E major on this album, with keys such as C-sharp minor ("Nobody's Perfect"), G major ("Life's What You Make It"), A major ("Right Here"), A minor ("See You Again"), C major ("Clear"), G minor ("East Northumberland High"), and F-sharp minor ("Let's Dance") being used. {It must be noted that it was for me difficult to determine the precise key a given tune was written in as the tracks often sound a half step higher or lower depending upon the medium (DVD player, radio, or television) or format (CD or DVD) being used. But the relative, if not the absolute, pitch of the keys used is extremely varied.} The 'signature' E major framework is not entirely absent, however, as it is used on a couple of songs, one of which is "Bigger Than Us," a tune first heard by this writer performed in a different iteration (and in a different style and tempo) by Billy Ray Cyrus on the hit television show, "Hannah Montana." Speaking of which, another of the tunes on the 'Hannah' portion of this most recent effort, "Rock Star," is a trademark song of hers stylistically, and is sure to make its way to the television series as have several others to date.
As was the case with her first album, I again noticed--and appreciated--how different the vocal timbre of Miley Cyrus can be depending on the key being employed. Significantly, there are a few times where she cautiously extends her vocal range upward, and in so doing continues to attack her notes with excellent intonation and with what I perceive to be a modicum of ease. I am still hopeful that we will one day hear a more extensive (and melodically protracted) use of her lower range; the vocal quality is markedly different and may lend itself to a plethora of styles not yet represented on either of her first two albums.
The performances of "Nobody's Perfect" (the melody was heard initially as the "Bone Dance" on the television show, albeit with a different and more script-specific text) and "Life's What You Make It" are particularly engaging. It seems to me that both tunes (with a nod to "Make Some Noise" in 6/8 meter, and the harmonically compelling "Old Blue Jeans") are among the most imaginative and ambitious of any performed by Hannah thus far. Interestingly, "Make Some Noise" is the second tune of Miss Montana to use the barcarolle-like 6/8 meter; the first being the jointly-performed (with her father) "I Learned From You," the final cut to grace her premiere album, and a song which is interesting for its well-positioned use of syncopation at the level of the sixteenth note. {N.B.: The songs by Miley are perhaps even more ambitious than those of Hannah Montana, with such gems as "See You Again," the dark (dare I say sardonic?) "East Northumberland High," and the somewhat flamenco-esque "Let's Dance" residing within and/or flirting tenuously with the minor mode; tangental cuts such as "Right Here" and the reggae-like "Clear" employ the unlikely melodic interval (performed vocally) of the ascending major seventh(!), while another track, "We Got the Party," includes a couple of well-placed blues notes that provide a degree of melodic variety.} Curiously, and yet refreshingly, Miss Cyrus in some of the repeated sections of the pointedly melancholic "See You Again" chooses to vacillate between the raised (and eventually lowered) leading tone degree. The tension produced by the (albeit protracted, depending on one's musical memory) cross-relationship makes the tune somewhat modally ambiguous. Combined with her judiciously placed upward and downward slurring occurring on several of the phrases, and with the performance of the beginnings and endings of these segments being spot on with regard to pitch, the result tends to drive the music forward with a measured tenacity, which in the opinion of this writer is one mark of musicality occurring on the album. It is also noteworthy to mention that the first three tracks on the final CD--"See You Again," "East Northumberland High," and "Let's Dance"--each occupy a minor mode sound world.
Although I have given a cursory review of "Nobody's Perfect" elsewhere, it is important to reiterate that the tune is performed remarkably well, with Miss Montana's stage presence and accompanying rhythmic synchronizations (hand gestures and choreography) augmenting an already intriguing piece of writing. The track may interest those who enjoy relatively uncommon chord progressions in pop music. It begins and ends in C-sharp minor, but meanders effortlessly through a B minor/D major framework, eventually gravitating toward E major. The combination and succession of pitch centers--and especially the harmonic tension created between the opening and closing key of C-sharp minor and the B minor/D major/G(!) major constructs within which the second major section of this work vacillates--provides a stark yet musically engaging contrast.
I continue to appreciate the image Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus has thus far portrayed as well. As a father of several children (including four daughters, each of whom loves her music), it is gratifying to see a positive role model (with talent to burn) coming out of the Disney stable. I and my family wish her all the best in the years to come.
A Very Good Second Album .......2007-07-10
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Once
Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Columbia ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PFU7OO Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Falling Slowly
- If You Want Me
- Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
- When Your Minds Made Up
- Lies
- Gold
- The Hill
- Fallen from the Sky
- Leave
- Trying to Pull Myself Away
- All the Way Down
- Once
- Say It to Me Now
Amazon.com
Even those allergic to musicals may be won over by Once, a tender-hearted Irish romance with songs by Czech Republic-born Markéta Irglová and Frames frontman Glen Hansard. (The film's director, John Carney, actually used to play bass in the group.) The trick here is that Irglová and Hansard also play the leads; because their characters are shown busking, writing music, or rehearsing, the songs are smoothly integrated in the film. The overall acoustic mood won't surprise fans of the Frames--some tracks ("Say It to Me," "When Your Mind's Made Up") have even popped up on the band's albums, though the arrangements are more pared-down here, befitting the scruffy, street-musician setting. Being the lesser-known entity, Irglová feels like a revelation; she sounds a bit like a folkie Björk on "If You Want Me," and her song "The Hill" is downright heartbreaking. Irglová and Hansard had already made the 2006 album The Swell Seasontogether, so their collaboration here feels really organic--they sound particularly good together on the title track, for instance. Now that's the kind of magic you want from musicals. --Elisabeth VincentelliCustomer Reviews:
WoW!!!.......2007-07-19
Once.......2007-07-19
Fabulous follow-up to the film.......2007-07-19
Every song is gorgeous. Both the male and female vocals are filled with emotion. (Maybe more than some people would be comfortable with.) You might have to see the film to really appreciate all of the lyrics and soulful renditions. But several of the songs would make my playlist any day.
Stunningly original.
awesome.......2007-07-15
Once.......2007-07-13
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Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)
Manufacturer: New Line Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PUAID4 Release Date: 2007-07-10 |
Tracks:
- "GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE" - Nikki Blonsky
- "THE NICEST KIDS IN TOWN" - James Marsden
- "IT TAKES TWO" - Zac Efron
- "(THE LEGEND OF) MISS BALTIMORE CRABS" - Michelle Pfeiffer
- "I CAN HEAR THE BELLS" - Nikki Blonsky
- "LADIES' CHOICE" - Zac Efron
- "THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN" - Brittany Snow
- "WELCOME TO THE 60's" - Nikki Blonsky & John Travolta
- "RUN AND TELL THAT" - Elijah Kelley
- "BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL" - Queen Latifah
- "BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL reprise" - John Travolta & Michelle Pfeiffer
- "(YOU'RE) TIMELESS TO ME" - John Travolta & Christopher Walken
- "I KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN" - Queen Latifah
- "WITHOUT LOVE" - Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley & Amanda Bynes
- "(IT'S) HAIRSPRAY" - James Marsden
- "YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT" - Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes,
- "COME SO FAR (GOT SO FAR TO GO)" - Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac
- "COOTIES" - Aimee Allen
- "MAMA, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW" - Nikki Blonsky, Marissa Jaret Winokur & Rikki Lake
Amazon.com
What fun! This soundtrack of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical overflows with glossy, ol' fashioned '60s-style pep. It won't win any awards for innovation, but it may well be one of the most feel-good releases of the year. While not quite as super-energetic as the original Broadway cast, the new crew ain't too shabby: Nikki Blonsky delivers as Tracy Turnblad and Zac Efron (High School Musical) makes for a devoted boyfriend, and the supporting cast gleefully embraces the show's silly-but-generous spirit. John Travolta (who gets to utter the particularly ironic line "it's been years since someone asked me to dance") goes drag as Tracy's mom, Edna, while Michelle Pfeiffer's slight stiffness is appropriate for her uptight character, especially on the cha-cha "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs." After Mama Morton in Chicago, Queen Latifah puts in another brassy turn as Motormouth Maybelle ("Big, Blonde and Beautiful," which is then reprised by Travolta and Pfeiffer). The show's authors, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, have written three new numbers for the movie: the rollicking (and first single) "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl in Town" and "Come So Far." In addition, the CD also includes two tracks that aren't in the film but were in the show: "Cooties," sung by Aimee Allen, and "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," sung by all three Tracy Turnblads: Blonsky, Ricki Lake (from the source movie) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (from the original Broadway cast). --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
The Hairspray soundtrack will feature 17 songs from the film, including three original numbers that were created specifically for the film version of the hit Broadway musical - "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl In Town," and "Come So Far." Also featured on the soundtrack are the songs "Good Morning Baltimore," "Welcome to the `60s," "Nicest Kids In Town," and "You Can't Stop The Beat." The songs are performed by cast members John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Elijah Kelley among others.The Hairspray soundtrack is produced by Marc Shaiman and features music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. It features tracks mixed by Ed Cherney (Rolling Stones, Bette Midler) and Peter Mokran (Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera).
Sixteen years after the release of the original film, New Line Cinema is bringing a feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Hairspray to life. Featuring new and original material based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, the comedy features a remarkable collection of talent including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago), and director Adam Shankman (Bringing Down The House). The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).
Customer Reviews:
This is an excellent soundtrack.......2007-07-18
Very good attempt at one of my favorites........2007-07-17
p.s: i also love the fact they let Ricki Lake onto the soundtrack in number 19 "mama i'm a big girl now"
YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT.......2007-07-17
I refuse to compare the Broadway Cast with the Soundtrack Cast because they each stand on their own dancing feet and each makes you feel as high as Tracy Turnblads hair-do. And who could have know John Travolta would make his 3rd or fourth movie comeback playing a two-ton woman named Edna Turnblad. The photos make it look like he swallowed a volkswagon but I can't wait to see him in the movie.
The CD starts with the jubilant "Good Morning Baltimore" and the finale is the driving.pulsing "You Can't Stop The Beat" and sandwiched in-between is a raft of tasty morsels like Blonskys(Tracey) "I Can Hear The Bells' "Welcome to The Sixties" "Without Love" and the afore-mentioned "Good Morning Baltimore" and "You Can'tstop The Beat"
Zac Efron playing Traceys love interest Link Larkin shines on "It takes Two" and a new rocker written for the film "Ladies Choice" and Queen Latifah soars on her big number "I Know Where I'm Going"
Although John Travoltas role has not much singing he and Christopher Walken duet on the charmingly off-beat "You're Timeless To Me"
"Hairspray" is fun,it rocks,it rolls,and to be cliche-it just darn well makes you feel good.
Fantabulous!.......2007-07-17
In this instance, I feel there is no need to scan the entire track list. There are tracks that are much more enjoyable than others. Along with that, there are vocal performances that are bland and those that are killer. Not to degrade anybody, but performances by Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfeifer, and Travolta aren't nearly as invigorating as electrifiying performances by Queen Latifah (who sound's extraordinary), the ever maturing Zac Efron (the boy's got some pipes) and even newcomer Nikki Blonsky. James Mardsen isn't bad, but he doesn't have the same vocal power as Queen or the shockingly good Efron. I'll admit it, the kid has talent, even if I'm sick of seeing him on the cover of every tween, teen, and kiddy-pop magazine (not that I read them!!!)
"Good Morning Baltimore" is a strong opener by Blonsky while Efron's "It Takes Two" is simply beautiful, particularly with his lovely, in tune falsetto C# at the end. "Ladies' Choice" is energized while Queen Latifah sounds even sassier than she did in CHICAGO with the great "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful". She lends her vocals to my personal favorite of the soundtrack, the gospel-jazz tinged "I Know Where I've Been", perhaps the best vocal of the entire album. "Without Love" is another track featuring strong vocals by Efron (the show-stealer clearly on this track), while Marsden lends some sensational vocals on "It's Hairspray". Perhaps the unchallenged theme of HAIRSPRAY is the ambitious, ensemble performance "You Can't Stop The Beat", which is indeed excellent. "Mama, I'm A Big Girl" isn't my favorite of favorites, but it is fun as well, particularly with the added plug for Ricki ("go Ricki, go Ricki"). Tracks such as "The Legend of Ms. Baltimore Crabs" or "You're Timeless To Me" fall flat, which I couldn't really say about DREAMGIRLS soundtrack. All in all though, I think this is a fantastic listen and I am definitely a softy for musicals. Go Zac & Queen!!! 4 stars.
Love the Broadway Cast recording? Give this a second chance..........2007-07-14
If, like me, you're a fan of the stage production and the Broadway Cast recording, then you have to remember -- like I came to -- that this is the soundtrack to a movie (re-)adaptation.
You might, initially, be annoyed by the changes in the lyrics of certain songs, the addition of certain songs, the removal of "The Big Dollhouse", and the change in the order of songs. I still trying to get the putting of "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now" at the end (since it was early on in the stage production)!
I think the movie is going to be great. But you can't compare the stage production and the movie directly -- it's really not fair, because they're entirely different mediums, and perhaps, more or less, aimed at different audiences (i.e., the movie is more for the masses).
You might need to listen to the CD a couple of times before you get into it. I'm on my third go-round now, and it's growing on me with every go (except for the song "Cooties"!).
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Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Duncan Sheik , Steven Sater , Skylar Astin , Lilli Cooper , John Gallagher Jr. , Gideon Glick , Jonathan Groff , Brian Johnson , Lea Michele , and Lauren Pritchard Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000J3FBFC Release Date: 2006-12-12 |
Tracks:
- Mamma Who Bore Me
- Mamma Who Bore Me (Reprise)
- All That's Known
- The B*tch of Living
- My Junk
- Touch Me
- The Word of Your Body
- The Dark I Know Well
- And Then There Were None
- The Mirror-Blue Night
- I Believe
- Don't Do Sadness
- Blue Wind
- The Guilty Ones
- Left Behind
- Totally F*ucked
- The Word of Your Body (Reprise)
- Whispering
- Those You've Known
- The Song of Purple Summer
Amazon.com
Who would have thought that Duncan Sheik would succeed where Paul Simon and Randy Newman failed, successfully transitioning from the pop-rock world to the Broadway stage? With Spring Awakening, Sheik and book writer/lyricist Steven Slater (who had already worked on Sheik's 2001 album Phantom Moon) have created a thoroughly exciting show that incorporates a contemporary art-indie idiom (including a small rock band instead of an orchestra) into a dramatic musical-theater context. The unlikely setting is that of a Frank Wedekind adaptation, but as it turns out, teenage angst is perennial, whether it's in contemporary America or in a 1891 German boarding school. Songs such as "The Bitch of Living" ("with nothing going on, asking just what went wrong"), "The Word of Your Body," "I Don't Do Sadness," and "Totally Fucked" ("You're fucked if you speak your mind and you know you will") resonate with the rage, frustration, confusion, excitement, joy, anger, and of course budding lust of those hormone-driven years. The show is greatly enhanced by its youthful cast members (they're all pretty close in age to their characters), who sing their hearts out. --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
Decca Broadway presents the cast recording for the acclaimed new Broadway production, SPRING AWAKENING. Written by pop music composer Duncan Sheik and playwright/lyricist Steven Sater, the musical explores emotional earthquakes in the lives of teenagers.SPRING AWAKENING is based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 drama, which was scandalous in its day for addressing sex violence and suicide. The story, dialogue and costumes suggest the 19th Century, and are perfectly wedded to a beautiful alternative pop music score by Grammy® nominated singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik. The creative team also includes Tony® Award Winning director Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones.
Customer Reviews:
I Love Phoebe Strole's as Ilse!.......2007-07-14
what a great album........2007-07-13
Interesting concept for the stage.......2007-07-13
Great show, great soundtrack.......2007-07-13
Great new musical.......2007-07-13
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High School Musical 2
Original Soundtrack Manufacturer: Disney ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000QCTGIE Release Date: 2007-08-14 |
Tracks:
- What Time Is It
- Fabulous
- Work This Out
- You Are the Music in Me
- I Don't Dance
- You Are the Music in Me (Sharpay Version)
- Gotta Go My Own Way
- Bet On It
- Everyday
- All For One
- BONUS TRACK: HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A
Album Description
High School Musical 2 is the follow up to the Music Phenomenon of 2006! Featuring the #1 hit single "What Time Is It"
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Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Manufacturer: Manhattan Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000PC1QKQ Release Date: 2007-06-05 |
Tracks:
- Overture
- Wide Open Spaces
- What Kind Of Man?
- Thinking Of Him
- The Woman's Dead
- Show People
- Coffee Shop Nights
- In the Same Boat
- I Miss the Music
- Thataway!
- The Man Is Dead
- He Did It
- In the Same Boat
- It's a Business
- Kansasland
- Medley: Thinking Of Him/I Miss the Music
- A Tough Act To Follow
- In the Same Boat
- In the Same Boat
- Show People
- Wide Open Spaces
- A Tough Act To Follow
Amazon.com
Sadly, Curtains is the final entry in the long and fruitful partnership of lyricist Fred Ebb (who died in September 2004) and composer John Kander. While the show doesn't reach the heights of the team's previous masterpieces, such as Cabaret and Chicago, it's certainly a lot better than, say, their middling 1997 offering Steel Pier. Deliberately old-fashioned (it even features a real overture, something that's fast becoming a rarity), Curtains is a whodunit rolled into a musical--or vice versa. Set in 1959 Boston, it takes place backstage at a singing-and-dancing Western corker titled Robbin Hood. Someone gets killed, and a show tunes-crazy homicide detective (David Hyde Pierce) is called in. The plot is just a pretext for a series of very entertaining, characteristically brass-heavy songs that may not have the bite of old Kander and Ebb but are still very catchy. Above all, Curtains is (both thematically and stylistically) a love letter to old-school showbiz, and it's delivered on a silver platter by a cast of pros that includes the aforementioned Hyde Pierce, Kander and Ebb habituée Karen Ziemba, endearing Jason Danieley and, a notch above the rest, Debra Monk. Unsurprisingly, she chews the scenery and spits it right back in a pair of rowdy numbers: "Show People" and "It's a Business." --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
Curtains is an entertaining play within a play, as well as a "whodunit" new musical comedy featuring one of the last scores by legendary, Tony Award-winning songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). Starring David Hyde Pierce (Spamalot, "Frasier") and Debra Monk, the Curtains original Broadway cast album is produced by nine-time Grammy Award-winner Jay David Saks.Customer Reviews:
David Hyde Pierce does Sherlock Holmes in a musical........2007-07-19
A Tough Act To Follow.......2007-07-18
Isn't it great to have an other show by Kander and Ebb who have giver us such
pleasure in the past. The cast are perfect not one dud in the whole pack.
I can thoroughly recommend this show to everyone with a love of musical theatre
JUST WHAT A BROADWAY MUSICAL SHOULD BE!!.......2007-07-17
CURTAINS is likable but not special........2007-07-15
The Last Kander and Ebb.......2007-07-13
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La Vie en Rose: La Mome
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000MEYIBG Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Heaven Have A Mercy
- Milord
- Rien De Rien
- La Foule
- Cri Du Coeur
- La Vie En Rose (English version)
- Padam Padam
- Mon Dieu
- L'Hymne A L'Amour
- Mon Manege A Moi
- Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
- L'Eveil
- Mon Legionnaire (piano solo)
- Lisieux
- La Mort De Leplee ("Mon Legionnaire")
- Apparition
- L'ABC
- L'Arrestation ("Mon Legionnaire")
- L'Idylle
- Derniere Nuit
- Mon Homme (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
- Les Momes De La Cloche (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
- Les Hiboux (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
- Fascination (interpreted by Maya Barsoni)
- Il M'a Vue Nue (interpreted by Mistinguett)
- La Poupee
- Vie En Rose (accordeon)
Amazon.com
As befits the soundtrack of a music biopic, most of the heavy lifting here is done by the movie's subject: iconic French singer Edith Piaf. She was the Gallic Judy Garland, a natural performer who overcame one personal tragedy after another and was never more alive than on stage, forging an uncommon bond with both material and audience. Since actress Marion Cotillard lip-synchs in the film, the first 11 tracks on the CD are by Piaf herself, and give a good overview of her biggest hits (though we get the English version of the title track) and her feverish, ultra-dramatic style. But Piaf wasn't only a tragedienne of song: Her lighter side is represented by "Rien de Rien" and "Mon Manège à Moi," which she infuses with wonderful flair. Tracks 12-20 are made up of Christopher Gunning's richly symphonic original score (check out "La Mort de Leplée"). The last third of the album offers Piaf without Piaf, with contemporary singers Jil Aigrot and Maya Barsoni performing her songs (apparently because the originals' poor sound quality meant they would have stuck out in the movie). Watch out, however, for Mistinguett's hilarious "Il m'a vu nue," a slice of French music-hall history preserved in amber. --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
Official motion picture soundtrack to the film La Vie En Rose, the dramatic real-life story of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, starring Marion Cotillard and Gerard Depardieu. This release contains 27 tracks featuring 11 of Piaf's most popular songs remastered including "La Vie En Rose", "Hymne A L'amour" "Milord" and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien", plus the original score by Christopher Gunning.Customer Reviews:
La Vie en Rose.......2007-07-06
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Manufacturer: Warner Bros/Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000OLGCHA Release Date: 2007-07-10 |
Tracks:
- Fireworks
- Professor Umbridge
- Another Story
- Dementors in the Underpass
- Dumbledore's Army
- The Hall of Prophecies
- Possession
- The Room of Requirement
- The Kiss
- A Journey to Hogwarts
- The Sirius Deception
- Death of Sirius
- Umbridge Spoils a Beautiful Morning
- Darkness Takes Over
- The Ministry of Magic
- The Sacking of Trelawny
- Flight of the Order of the Phoenix
- Loved Ones and Leaving
Amazon.com
For its fifth cinematic installment, the Harry Potter franchise gets a new composer as England's Nicholas Hooper (a usual collaborator of new director David Yates) succeeds Patrick Doyle and John Williams. The screeching electric guitar that suddenly irrupts on the very first track, "Fireworks," lets the listener know that all is not quiet on the Hogwarts front. The kiddies are growing up, evil is spreading: which is worse?! But actually this modern sonic touch is deceiving: Hooper works within an old-school format and mostly sticks to tried-and-true effects. His score is best when it goes for tension and unease, particularly in its use of low, rumbling tones: A choir starts by humming in a menacing manner in "Dementors in the Underpass"; the sound at the beginning of "The Death of Sirius" feels as if it's being belched out from some deep, dark, scary place, creating an effective atmosphere of dread. Elsewhere, the beginning of "Possession" feels as if it belongs in a J-horror movie, and then the track becomes deceptively calm before the storm hits again. Keen listeners will recognize Williams' "Hedwig's Theme" in "Another Story," but mostly Hooper is his own man. Just like the overall series, which gets darker and darker as it goes along, this CD makes for a rather brooding listening experience--the pizzicato violins on "Umbridge Spoils a Beautiful Morning" provide one of the few jaunty touches. --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
Featuring a colorful and inspiring score by Nicholas Hooper, the soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix takes the movie-goer to the next level of magical enchantment right along with Harry and his friends.Customer Reviews:
Out Of Order.......2007-07-20
The music is ok, could use more of the original themes to suit me though, I guess don't mess with success.
If anyone has a better order to these tracks (the order they are in the movie) please list it - that would be nice.
Best of the Franchise.......2007-07-19
Quality Work.......2007-07-19
Hooper Rises to the Challange.......2007-07-18
The Umbridge theme is, yes, annoying, but that is its intention. It is, however, well written and beautifully played by strong and confident strings, accompanied by accentuating chords in the brass, giving it an almost humourous touch. The Possession theme is emotional and features throughout the soundtrack in different forms. Chords are what makes this piece effective; dissonant chords and intervals cause uneasiness and there are many moments where the music does not go where we expect it to. Other themes include the frantic racing cues for the Department of Mysteries, and even these cues are thematic. If you listen carefully, the chord progression of these cues are based on the Possession theme, which I think is extremely clever. There are also cues such as the final minute of the piece titled 'Sirius Deception' and also Dumbledore's Army and the Room of Requirement which add a fresh tone to the CD. Although the writing is simple, is it cleverly constructed and fits in perfectly with the actual viewing of the film.
All in all, this soundtrack is suitable for anyone who will listen to it seriously and will be prepared to allow some time for it to sink in. Although it is not music you really play in the background while doing something, it does make an enjoyable experience to listen to when really concentrating and perhaps even analysing.
Welcome to Hogwarts Nicholas Hooper!.......2007-07-18
There is always a sense of foreboding when one learns that a new film score composer has been assigned to an established series where we have already become accustomed to themes and motifs that have illuminated beloved characters and places. Indeed, that music becomes as endearing if not necessary as the actors, the characters, and settings themselves. Thus when it became known that John Williams would not continue to score the Harry Potter series we raised an eyebrow with Patrick Doyle when he took on "The Goblet of Fire," but all proved well enough. When it was announced that yet another, and a less known, composer had been signed to score "The Order of the Phoenix" some nervousness had to be expected. Indeed, this writer put off picking up the soundtrack until after the film had been released and happily viewed. We are most happy to sigh in great relief that once again Harry Potter is in capable musical hands. Welcome to Hogwarts Nicholas Hooper. Of course there is the inclusion of Williams' "Hedwig's Theme," but from that onward this score belongs to Hooper and it is delightful on both the screen and the soundtrack recording. Hooper has ably given new musical wonder and delight to Hogwarts while also serving up a necessary musical sense of dread as the story drifts into darkness. But Hooper always seems cognizant that above all this music must remind us of the wide-eyed wonder that is Harry Potter's world even though the music also reminds us that there are dark and troubling times ahead. One might take some issue with the order of the musical cuts on this album, but Hooper knew what he was doing for it all comes together. The decision to open with music from a great scene well into the film, "Fireworks," is backed up by the immediate realization that this piece works wonderfully well as something of an opening overture: hold on, this is where we are going! His theme for Professor Umbridge captures all of her moods from almost comedic to downright sinister. And there is an abundance of momentary musical gems throughout (note especially the brief but wonderful "Flight of the Order of the Phoenix"). Indeed, welcome to Hogwarts Mr. Hooper, and we hope you stay around for the remaining films. Ably produced and packaged by Warner Bros.
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Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000P0J02E Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Hoist the Colours
- Singapore
- At Wit's End
- Multiple Jacks
- Up Is Down
- I See Dead People In Boats
- The Brethren Court
- Parlay
- Calypso
- What Shall We Die For
- I Don't Think Now Is the Best Time
- One Day
- Drink Up Me Hearties
Amazon.com
The music for this third chapter in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is a traditional, efficient action score that, due to the film's setting, occasionally incorporates light Asian touches. The popularity of Hans "Long John" Zimmer (all the credits in the CD's liner notes include pirate-themed nicknames, like the roll call in a Simpsons Halloween episode) isn't in doubt--he sure is one in-demand composer--but afficionados are divided about his artistic worth, and this score isn't about to reconcile them. Some think that Zimmer relies too much on his stable of composers and sticks to tried-and-true recipes; others admire his capacity to weave themes in and out of cues, creating a whole made of subtly interrelated parts. At World's End feeds both camps: Seven of his collaborators are credited with writing "additional music," and the album feels by-the-numbers at times; but those inclined to listen very closely will be rewarded by the way Zimmer sneaks in bits of two main melodies (especially variations on the first track, a pirate theme titled "Hoist the Colours" and cowritten by director Gore Verbinski) throughout. The use of electronics is so light as to be almost undetectable, which will please fans of a more organic orchestral sound. --Elisabeth VincentelliCustomer Reviews:
Wow.......2007-07-17
Movie Soundtrack Review.......2007-07-16
Get on the freeway, roll down the windows and DRIVE!.......2007-07-16
If you gotta' travel the road to work, school, etc.
or you gotta' run errands or you are just in the
mood to GO -
Well, get in the car, get on the road, stick in this CD,
roll the windows all the way down, turn up the sound,
and DRIVE!
Have a ball!
AHOY!.......2007-07-14
Pirates Of The Caribbean:At World's End CD.......2007-07-13
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Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Ronald Melrose , Ken Dow , Anik Oulianine , Stephanie Cummins , Deborah Hurwitz , Kevin Dow , Joe Payne , Larry Saltzman , Dave Spier , Bill Hayes , Randall Andos , Bob Milikan , Debra Shufelt , Maxine Roach , Belinda Whitney , Cenovia Cummins , Eric de Gioia , Louise Owen , Robin Zeh , Sarah Schwartz , Shinwon Kim , Christian Hoff , Daniel Reichard , Donnie Kehr , Erica Piccininni , J. Robert Spencer , Jennifer Naimo , John Lloyd Young , Sara Schmidt , Tituss Burgess , Steve Orich , and Bob Gaudio Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000BFH2QY Release Date: 2005-11-01 |
Tracks:
- Ces Soirees la'
- Early Years Medley
- Cry For Me
- Backups Medley
- Sherry
- Big Girls Don't Cry
- Walk Like A Man
- December, 1963
- My Boyfriend's Back
- My Eyes Adored You
- Dawn (Go Away)
- Big Man In Town
- Dialog: A Little Trouble
- Beggin'
- Dialog: See How You Handle It
- Medley Listen Listen
- c'mon marianne
- Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
- Working My Way Back To You
- Fallen Angel
Amazon.com
Although it squarely falls in the "jukebox musical" category, Jersey Boys doesn¹t try to integrate its songs in an artificial plotline. The show tells the story of the early-1960s group the Four Seasons, and the musical numbers tend to be introduced in context, as when songwriter Bob Gaudio comes up with a tune, or the quartet performs a show. This allows Jersey Boys to flow better than some of ill-fated peers, and the actors can shine without having to bend backward to accommodate an inane book. The show's most (only) daring move is to start with a hip-hop-tinged French-language version of "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," an actual hit in France in 2000. After that it's all VH1-biopic territory, but it's done with so much flair, taste and energy that the ride's a fun one. The Four Seasons had enough hits ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," etc.) to easily fill an evening at the theater, so it's left to the cast to do right by them. And it does, particularly John Lloyd Young as the band¹s star lead, Frankie Valli. Young hits all the falsetto notes and brings real freshness to the part. His "Can¹t Take My Eyes Off You," a second-act peak, is signed, sealed and delivered with a star's acumen. --Elisabeth VincentelliAlbum Description
Recounting the rich history and reliving the timeless sounds of the phenomenal Frankie Vallie & The 4 Seasons, the new Broadway musical Jersey Boys answers the musical-and philosophical question, "How did four would-be wise guys from Newark, NJ, become one of the greatest chart-topping successes in pop music history?" Jersey Boys celebrates legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi who, as the 4 seasons, wrote their own songs, invented their own identity, and sold 175 million records worldwide-all before they were 30.Customer Reviews:
Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast).......2007-07-19
Jersey Boys.......2007-07-08
Like being there.......2007-07-05
A step back in musical time.......2007-07-05
Great music, but missing too much.......2007-07-04
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