Slow Wonder [Import]

Product Description
Japanese pressing of the New Pornographers leader's 2004 solo album debut, scheduled to include bonus material. Matador. 2004.

Slow Wonder,a.C. Newman,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Slow Wonder Indeed A Slightly Different Newman than the NP's A distinctive, introspective gem About 95% as good as a New Porgraphers album, which is saying a lot Not in love with it yet

The Slow Wonder A.C. Newman Manufacturer: Matador Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | 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: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood The Crane Wife Set Yourself on Fire Blacklisted The Meadowlands ASIN: B0001ZMCWS Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

1. Miracle Drug
2. Drink To Me, Babe, Then
3. On The Table
4. Most Of Us Prizefighters
5. The Battle For The Straight Time
6. Secretarial
7. Come Crash
8. Better Than Most
9. The Cloud Prayer
10. The Town Halo
11. 35 In The Shade

Album Description

This is the solo debut by the The New Pornographers leader. Newman is a classic, if eccentric, songwriter, part of a lineage that includes Ray Davies, Harry Nilsson, Colin Blunstone, Dave Edmunds, Andy Partridge, Ben Folds, and Britt Daniel. The results are predictably stunning--a smart singer-songwriter pop record with a beautifully open and uplifting feel combined with lyrics that subvert and twist the sunny vibe. "The Slow Wonder" runs the gamut from ballads to frisky guitar numbers to Graham Parkeresque late '70s production quirks.

Customer Reviews:

Slow Wonder Indeed.......2006-11-12

When I picked this up, I was excited because I thought that it would be a departure from the New Pornagraphers, and I was excited to hear what Carl Newman had up his sleeve. Upon the first listen I was disappointed, it sounded like a rehash of the New Pornagraphers without Neko Case's fabulous voice, or Dan Bejar's experimentation. It did not listen to it again for some time.

Then something magical happened. I put it into rotation on my ipod and gave the songs a second listen. The slowly infected my conciousness and I gave the entire album another listen. I was not disappointed, but I still wasn't overly thrilled. However, the more I listened, the more it became something I had to listen to. Now, it may have become a 'desert island' album for me. (Although, given that scenario I hope I have my ipod and my solar charger!)

This album lives up to its name. It is a 'Slow Wonder'. Slow to appreciate, but a wonder to behold.

A Slightly Different Newman than the NP's.......2006-07-26

Where this one fits: The Slow Wonder follows the New Pornographers' Mass Romantic and Electric Version, but precedes Twin Cinema. It is the transition from the frenetic power-pop of the first two NP albums and the deeper, more timeless quality of their latest. Without the burden of the NP "sound" to live up to, Newman stretches, writes ballads and Pink Floyd-y space out songs (though always concise), and if anything gets more Pet Sounds-like in his musical arrangements (the gorgeous trumpet on "Come Crash," the driving, rhythmic cello on "Town Halo").

Newman is, quite obviously, very prolific and his batting average is stunningly high. It's okay with me if he mixes in solo albums with his NP output, using them as places to experiment with new kinds of songs that he thinks maybe his NP fans won't cotton to.

But this album is full of hits, just as melodic and with just as many "how does he do that?" high-wire assemblages of melody, rhythm and arrangement as the NP delivers. If you like the New Pornographers, you'll be joyous at hearing "On the Table," "Mystery Drug," "Secretarial" and my favorite "The Town Halo." A.C. Newman is rapidly becoming the most valuable pop artist on the planet, a keeper of the great tradition of pop/rock songwriters that has nearly died out.

A distinctive, introspective gem.......2006-06-13

If you love the New Pornographers (Newman is their unannounced band leader) but would occassionally like something a bit more introspective and chilled out then this could very well be what you're after.

Carl Newman has a way with a melodic hook and a pop reference that is utterly unique.

Without fail, my response to his work goes something like this: First listen - everything seems pleasantly hard to grasp, but there are one or two songs (always different for each listener) that instantly hooks you. For me, on this album it was - 'The Battle for Straight Time'.

Next step - play that song to death. While drilling this track, you accidently hear other tracks from the album again - "damn, that's catchy, why didn't I notice that before? - possibly better than my favorite track". And so it goes on, and on, and on... Eventually, you're in raptures and you've even learnt how to hear music a little differently.

This album has a variety of laid back, edgy, insanely catchy riffs and progressions.

Although he draws on a subconscious library of pop music references that are detailed and eclectic, he is able to turn the songs into personal statements.

They're always ever so slightly twisted to make them unique to Newman's particular style of presentation. He also has a great way of processing and altering his vocals to fit each song perfectly.

At the moment, I can't stop listening to 'The Town Halo' (a new millenium take on T-Rex), and the beautiful, dispassionately powerful 'Come Crash' but I'm sure tomorrow I'll be rotating two different tunes from this album.

It is an altogether more personal and soul baring outing than anything he does with the New Porno's. In that sense it's a legitimate exercise as a solo album.

Music this literate and melodic doesn't come along often. I hope Newman continues to grow and explore. There's no limit to what he might discover.

About 95% as good as a New Porgraphers album, which is saying a lot.......2006-04-23

Carl Newman has been the creative core of two truly great bands, the late, great Zumpano and his current band, The New Pornographers. The latter is one of the most amazing acts of recent years, a band whose members were active in other bands but were recruited to be in what could be considered an indie rock super group. There is simply not another alternative band in the world with the instrumental chops and overall professionalism that grace The New Pornographers. While the writing credits for the Pornographers is left somewhat vague, everyone pretty much knows that Carl Newman is the main songwriter, as well as guitarist and co-lead singer (though there is no question The New Pornographers would be even better if Newman gave the full time singing duties to Neko Case, one of the truly great voices around).

Is this solo project as good as a New Pornographer project? By no conceivable means. On the one hand Newman has saved most of his best material for those albums and on the other THE SLOW WONDER, while performed with extreme competency, does not possess the level of musicianship that make the Pornographer albums so musically astonishing. If you listen to any of the three Pornographer albums and then this one, you will instantly be struck by how much simpler and less complex THE SLOW WONDER is. Not that it is simple compared to other performers. It is just that his band already has about the best group of musicians around, capable of astonishing virtuosity, and the people playing here aren't quite as sharp.

Nonetheless, THE SLOW WONDER pretty much proves who the heart of The New Pornographers is, if there had been any doubt. The album radiates with the great pop songs and amazing hooks that permeates the three Pornographer albums. "On the Table" has very nearly the wall-of-sound aura that graces most Pornographer songs and possesses all of the hooks. Same with "The Battle for Straight Time," which seems incapable of progressing more than a few measures without injecting fresh hooks. And I really love the weirdly unexpected guitar line that comes after Newman offers Christine a floor to crash on in "Come Crash."

One thing this album certainly does is make clear that Carl Newman is one of the truly great pop songwriters working today. In fact, the only person I would definitely rate above him would be Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, and even then I'm not sure that Murdoch today is better than Newman today (6 years ago is a different matter). It also whets one's appetite for anything Newman does, whether with the Pornographers or on a solo project. He has in his various bands and now on this album produced as strong a body of work as anyone in music. The man is a force.

Not in love with it yet.......2006-02-25

I bought this cd because I had recently discovered the New Pornographers and loved them immediately. A friend also made me a mix cd with the first track, "Miracle Drug", which I really got hooked on. Now that I have The Slow Wonder, "Miracle Drug" is still the only track that really grabs me. It could be that the rest of the album just hasn't grown on me yet, but I'm definitely not as excited about it as I thought I would be.

Average customer rating: vintage Hugh Martin score a complete delight

Love from Judy Original London Cast Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wish You Were Here/Paint Your Wagon (Original London Cast) and Bonus Tracks Inside U.S.A./The Band Wagon Life Upon the Wicked Stage The Likes of US Face the Music (2007 Encores! Cast Recording) ASIN: B0001BRQ96 Release Date: 2005-08-09

Tracks:

1. Introduction/Mardi Gras/I Never Dream When I'm Asleep/A Touch Of Voodoo - Adelaide Hall
2. Love From Judy/Daddy Longlegs/What Do I See In You/Here We Are - Johnny Brandon
3. Go And Get Your Old Banjo/Kind To Animals/I Ain't Gonna Marry - Adelaide Hall
4. My True Love/Dum-Dum-Dum/Love From Judy - Jean Carson
5. Bonus Track: A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Bill Lowe
6. Bonus Track: Hug Me A Hug - Bill Lowe
7. Bonus Track: Barrels And Barrels Of Roses - Jean Carson
8. Bonus Track: Slow Coach - Johnny Brandon & Orchestra
9. Bonus Track: Oodles Of Noodles - Johnny Brandon & Orchestra
10. Bonus Track: Painting The Clouds With Sunshine - Johnny Brandon & Orchestra
11. Bonus Track: One For The Wonder - Johnny Brandon & Orchestra
12. Bonus Track: The Glow Worm - Johnny Brandon & Orchestra
13. Bonus Track: I'll Be Hangin' Around - Johnny Brandon
14. Bonus Track: Vanity - Adelaide Hall
15. Bonus Track: How Many Times - Adelaide Hall
16. Bonus Track: 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Part 1 - David Hughes
17. Bonus Track: 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Part 2 - Gary Miller
18. Bonus Track: 'Peter Pan' - Part 1 - Gilbert Harding
19. Bonus Track: 'Peter Pan' - Part 2 - Hermione Gingold
20. Bonus Track: Dancing With Someone - June Whitfield
21. Bonus Track: Seven Lonely Days - June Whitfield
22. Bonus Track: Bye Bye Baby - June Whitfield
23. Bonus Track: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - June Whitfield
24. Bonus Track: I Ain't Gonna Marry - Eve Boswell & Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

vintage Hugh Martin score a complete delight.......2004-12-23

LOVE FROM JUDY, based on Jean Webster's novel 'Daddy Long Legs', is pure vintage Hugh Martin. The show never made it to Broadway, instead enjoying a sold-out London season and an extensive provincial tour.

Jean Carson played Jerusha Abbott, an orphan at the John Grier Home who is mysteriously supported by a never-named benefactor. June Whitfield, Johnny Brandon, Adelaide Hall and Bill O'Connor round out the strong leading cast. Barbara Windsor played one of the orphans (for some interesting backstage reminisces about LOVE FROM JUDY check out Barbara Windsor's autobiography 'All of Me').

The Hugh Martin-Jack Gray score is quite lovely from what is featured on this disc (the recordings were originally designed to fit 4 sides of a set of 78's). LOVE FROM JUDY runs a scant 20 minutes, so the disc has been filled out with extensive bonus material.

We get Jean Carson singing "A Kiss to Build a Dream On", "Hug Me a Hug" and "Barrels and Barrels of Roses" (on the 2 former tracks she's joined by her then-husband Bill Lowe); Johnny Brandon singing 5 numbers including his mega-hit "Glow Worm"; and Adelaide Hall singing 2 great numbers. June Whitfield sings 5 numbers including two songs from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES!

There are also selections from the Frank Loesser score of HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN; and a full-cast presentation of numbers from Disney's PETER PAN (both feature Jean Carson and Johnny Brandon).

Average customer rating: An antidote to Pop Christmas Music A refreshing change. Decent in moderation... This CD contains some rare gems! Mining an American heritage

American Christmas Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Classical Instrumental | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Sing We Noel A Renaissance Christmas / Cohen, Boston Camerata A Baroque Christmas English Medieval Christmas Medieval Christmas ASIN: B000000SM1 Release Date: 1993-09-07

Tracks:

1. I. Prepare The Way: Watchman Of Zion
2. I. Prepare The Way: Kingsbridge
3. I. Prepare The Way: Bozrah
4. I. Prepare The Way: Baptismal Anthem
5. II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Christmas Hymn
6. II. A Virgin Unspotted: A Virgin Most Pure - A Virgin Unspotted
7. II. A Virgin Unspotted: Boston
8. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Heavenly Courtier
9. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: Pretty Home
10. III. Lo, The Bridegroom: The Midnight Cry
11. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Wayfaring Stranger
12. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Slow Traveller
13. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: I Wonder As I Wander
14. IV. I Wonder As I Wander: Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child
15. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Lovely Vine
16. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Adeste Fideles
17. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Still Water
18. V. Shepherds Rejoice: While Shepherds Watched (Folksong)
19. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Sherburne
20. V. Shepherds Rejoice: Shepherds Rejoice
21. VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment
22. VI. Light Of The World: Fulfilment
23. VI. Light Of The World: Hush My Babe, Lie Still And Slumber
24. VI. Light Of The World: Jesus The Light Of The World
25. VI. Light Of The World: Joy To The World

Customer Reviews:

An antidote to Pop Christmas Music.......2007-01-11

I happened to hear this in an mp3 newsgroup and immediately bought it for my folks and several other people. It is an incredible performance and unlike anything usually heard around Christmas . I listen to Classical music all day while working and yet I've never heard this before . Everyone who received it loved it.

A refreshing change........2006-11-25

While some tracks may be a bit tedious, there are some real gems here - enough to make you wonder why they remain mostly forgotten. The performaces are spectacular.

Decent in moderation..........2003-12-26

A note to non-early music fanatics (as, contrary to the Mr. Cohen's notes, this CD mainly attracts early music fans):

This album is decent provided you don't listen to the entire CD in one sitting. It is a nice break from the run-of-the-mill Christmas music, whether it be of the "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" or "Jingle Bell Rock" variety. However, the arrangements become tedious after a while. There are only so many open-fifths one can hear... Most people will find themselves gritting their teeth 2/3 through the disc. The non-early music fanatic would do well to listen to several tracks at a time.

The classical enthusiast will not be pleased with Mr. Cohen's notes as he tends to disdain most "classical" music as pompous, "stuff shirt" nonsense. He seems to believe that the music on this disc is FAR better than that of, say, Handel's Messiah, simply because it is the music of lower/middle class (18/19th Century) America. He laments the Europe's influence on American music; after all, we should not be following the horrible examples set by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, etc. Good four part writing, where--gasp--the tenor parts are not constantly following the sopranos?? And--Beautiful, full, varied instrumentation?! Counterpoint?!?! Hpmh!...what unmitigated gall! What sheer snobbery!

...Please don't misunderstand me. I respect both Mr. Cohen's expertise (his sentiment is a different matter) and this music, and I do agree that the music presented on "American Christmas" is an enjoyable break from "Santa Claus is comin' to town. And, yes, SOME of this music deserves more credit than it is given nowadays (it sure beats anything sung or written by Britney Spears...) But lets be realistic: Handel's Messiah this is not.

So, with that said, buy this CD... and remember, extreme moderation is the key to enjoying this album; if this sort of music was played as often as that oh-so-awful "music of reindeer," as Mr. Cohen puts it, you (provided that "you" are not an early music fanatic or Mr. Cohen) would find yourself desperately longing for the return of "Santa Claus is comin' to town."

This CD contains some rare gems!.......2003-08-16

There are many delightfully refreshing tracks on this CD. While I'm not a fan of soloists, there are many tracks with a chorus. Many of these selections have a real Civil War-era sound to them. I especially like track 18: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, done in the form of a round. I've become addicted to track 24. This is a CD for all seasons.

Mining an American heritage.......2003-01-07

The Boston Camerata is the foremost group dedicated to early music performance in the country ... This recording is one of my favorites, and it always gets heavy rotation around the holidays. The tunes are all American, taken from 18th and 19th-century sources, and definitely remind modern audiences of the religious heart of Christmas. Some of the tunes are familiar ('Joy To The World'), and some have unfamiliar texts ('The Watchman' and the evocative words sung to 'Adeste Fidelis'). Many of the tracks feature the beautiful harmonies of the shape-note traditions. The performances are, of course, stunning. Don't miss the terrific liner notes by Joel Cohen, calling Americans to reclaim our musical heritage from the classical and ethno-musicologists.

Average customer rating:

Amanda Lynn Amanda Lynn Manufacturer: Amanda Lynn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAK1KC Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

1. Catch Me I'm Falling
2. Hemlock Trail
3. I'll Be There
4. Crazy for You
5. I Gave You a Rose
6. I'm Not Standin' in Line
7. Love Like Theirs
8. Love on a Moonlit Night
9. You'll See
10. Last Call

Average customer rating:

Slow Wonder ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0001W8IZ6 Release Date: 2004-05-25

Album Description

Japanese pressing of the New Pornographers leader's 2004 solo album debut, scheduled to include bonus material. Matador. 2004.

Average customer rating:

Wheels Of Wonder Kevin McDermott Orchestra Manufacturer: Island Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000RWFALA

Product Description

3-track UK CD single on Island, 1990. Contains Wheels Of Wonder/Slow Boat (live)/Pleasant Valley Sunday.

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