Dance [Import]

dance [import]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Taken from the 2003 album 'We Sweat Blood'. The title track is b/w two previously unreleased tracks, 'Sold My Soul' & 'The Return Of Jackie & Judy' (Ramones cover). Bad Taste Records. 2004.

Dance,Danko Jones,5-Inch CD Singles
Good Girl Gone Bad
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • New Look + New Sound = Alright Music
  • This is why it's HOT!!
  • GO RIHANNA!!!
  • Okay, for what it is
  • great
Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna
Manufacturer: Island / Def-Jam
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. My December
  2. It Won't Be Soon Before Long
  3. Because Of You
  4. Double Up
  5. Timbaland Presents Shock Value

ASIN: B000OZ2CZW
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Umbrella feat. JAY-Z
  2. Push Up On Me
  3. Don't Stop The Music
  4. Breakin' Dishes
  5. Shut Up and Drive
  6. Hate That I Love You feat. Ne-Yo
  7. Say It
  8. Sell Me Candy
  9. Lemme Get That
  10. Rehab
  11. Question Existing
  12. Good Girl Gone Bad

Amazon.com

There's a cool new development in summer singles: they no longer need to be sunny. In fact, the wetter the better. "Umbrella," the first single off Rihanna's ragingly good third album, may be her strongest ditty yet, and that's saying something considering her run of past summer chartbusters. More stylish than "S.O.S." (from A Girl Like Me) and more interesting than "Pon de Replay" (from Music of the Sun), "Umbrella" barrels forward with big, brawny drums and a hot but haunted-sounding vocal. From there, the upbeat numbers chug forth like chilled pina colada mix into a blender: "Breakin' Dishes" trades skillfully on a recent vogue for man-directed venom, and "Shut Up and Drive" borrows "S.O.S."-style from the '80s New Order song "Blue Monday." Both are irresistible. So, too, are a couple of late tracks. "Rehab" and "Lemme Get That," both produced by Timbaland, prove that being an island girl is no barrier to holding one's own amid a sizzling stew of urban beats. In fact, it's a boon--one that'll register with pop music fans instantly. -Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

Multi-platinum, award-winning SRP/Def Jam recording artist -and CoverGirl spokesperson - Rihanna has taken over the charts with her # 1 smash single "Umbrella" (featuring JAY-Z) and her chart topping album GOOD GIRL GONE BAD. Rihanna's third album release in less than two years, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD is the follow-up to 2006's platinum A Girl Like Me, with the back-to-back #1 hits, "S.O.S." and "Unfaithful"; and her gold debut from 2005, Music Of the Sun, featuring the worldwide smash, "Pon De Replay." GOOD GIRL GONE BAD boasts the production skills of Timabland, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Stargate, and the team of Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (responsible for "S.O.S." and "Pon De Replay"), as well as songwriting contributions from Justin Timberlake and Ne-Yo, among others.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars New Look + New Sound = Alright Music.......2007-07-20

Rihanna definitely made the effort to step up to a more mature sound on this album. The new sound is not half bad either. However, alot of the tracks sound rushed and like no effort was put into them. The beats are solid and there are some memorable lyrics as well. Overall, Id say this cd is worth lending an ear to. Her other 2 are better, though. Hot Tracks: Umbrella, Rehab, Good Girl Gone Bad

5 out of 5 stars This is why it's HOT!!.......2007-07-16

This CD is fresh and energeitic all the way through. It's truly made for those who want to dance. R&B artist take note, Rihanna has tapped a flavor of music that's rocking the spot.

5 out of 5 stars GO RIHANNA!!!.......2007-07-10

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF HER BEST ALBUMS. SHE REALLY SHOWS HER VERSITILITY ON THIS ONE. I CAN LISTEN TO ALMOST THE ENTIRE ALBUM AND WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT YOU KNOW ITS WORTH GETTING

4 out of 5 stars Okay, for what it is.......2007-07-09

I listened to this at work and heard it quite a few times over the course of around 5 days. It annoyed some of my workmates and others didn't mind it - I quite enjoyed some of the music on this album, which is undoubtedly well produced. I imagine that it would sound quite good played up loud at a party or in a club.

Some of the song lyrics struck me as being a little silly, but that didn't bother me too much.

I don't think I'd listen to this album very often, but if I had a lot of guests over for a party, I'd consider playing it if people looked like they may want to dance.

5 out of 5 stars great.......2007-07-09

i love this cd its really different form her last two, it shows she's really matured. its def an buyer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We Are the Night
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • JUST ENOUGH GOOD COLLABORATIONS TO MAKE IT DECENT (3.4 stars)
  • They conquer the night!!!
  • Modern midnight album
We Are the Night
The Chemical Brothers
Manufacturer: Astralwerks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Trip-HopTrip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The Mix-Up
  2. Icky Thump
  3. Zeitgeist
  4. Do It Again
  5. Our Love to Admire

ASIN: B000OV129I
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

  1. No Path To Follow
  2. We Are The Night
  3. All Rights Reversed (The Klaxons)
  4. Saturate
  5. Do It Again (Ali Love)
  6. Das Spiegal
  7. The Salmon Dance (Fatlip)
  8. Burst Generator
  9. A Modern Midnight Conversation
  10. Battle Scars (Willie Mason)
  11. Harpoons
  12. The Pills Won't Help You Now (Midlake)

Amazon.com

One can never accuse the Chemical Brothers of consistency. We Are the Night continues their eclectic electronica approach even though the big-beat groove of the title track remains their digital calling card. Spotted with a minimalist keyboard pattern, vocal non sequiturs, and sampled sound effects, the infectious groove of "We Are the Night" eventually evolves into the monotone-chanted dance chorus of "We are the night skies/We are the bright lies," recalling Brian Eno circa Here Come the Warm Jets. However, for every catchy electro-dance, there's a tune that leaves you scratching your head. What to make of the novelty song "The Salmon Dance" is anybody's guess, though you might find some illumination in a salmon recipe on their Web site. With fractured nursery-rhyme lyrics that are sung like an off-color Sesame Street rap, it will drive you up the wall--or at least toward the skip button. Then there's Midlake singing the trancey ballad "The Pills Won't Help You Now," making the Chemical Brothers sound like a sci-fi version of Coldplay. Retro-analog synthesizers dominate, with the electro-grooves of "Das Spiegel," "Burst Generator," and "Saturate," which builds on a Kraftwerk-forged metal framework coupled with storming sampled drums. The circuits of '70s techno-pop artist the Normal are re-soldered on "Do It Again." With Ali Love singing the title-track chorus, it's built to be a summertime anthem akin to Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)," albeit robotically chilled. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars JUST ENOUGH GOOD COLLABORATIONS TO MAKE IT DECENT (3.4 stars).......2007-07-20

On their 6th studio album (not counting the singles release), The Chems rope in another roster of interesting guests and with their help, they nudge We Are the Night into a slightly "above average" electronic record. But just slightly. The lead single (Do It Again) which was, in my opinion, very premature to the album's street date, did little to peak interest (here in the states) in We Are the Night. Most critics and fans, including yours truely, found it good but very so-so, and gave it likewise reviews. Upon hearing the rest of the album, it's clear why Do It Again was the lead single... it's simply one of the better songs found on We Are the Night.

The collaborations are king here. The interesting guests they roped in, deliver some of the better tracks on We Are the Night, they also represent some of the worst as well. The best of which has to be the chaotic pounding beat of All Rights Reversed, it features the uber-talented Klaxons and their brand of indie rave-rock. This amazing tune will definitely go down as one of the better things the Chems have ever put out, and this is mostly because of the Klaxons imput. I rank it right there with Setting Sun (featuring Noel Gallagher) and Out of Control (featuring Bernard Summer) expect a single in the near future. Another zinger is the albums closer, a chilled out stunner titled, The Pills Won't Help You Now. It features Tim Smith from Midlake (another great band) and reminds me of other more shoegaze fare (Mercury Rev and Beth Orton collaborations) of past albums. Now once we've moved past the Klaxons and Midlake contributions is were the record gets kinda dicey. The song The Salmon Dance, could be the worst thing they've done. Featuring a terribly childish rap from Fatlip, it's a song better suited for an r-rated kids show than a Chemical Brothers record. The song is so bad you will jumping to press the skip button for sure. If you make past that, then you are left with some very mediocre songs inbetwen the collaborations. Saturate (track 4) ends up being pretty darn good set up for Do It Again, while Das Spiegel sounds like a spacey Orbital copy (Middle of Nowhere era), Harpoons is a boring filler track, and Burst Generator fails to burst into anything that exciting.

In the end, We Are the Night is a very spotty record. An ep containing All Rights Reversed, Saturate, Do It Again, and The Pills... would have made an all around better release. As long as Tom and Ed continue to keep their friends in the studio, we can look forward to some nice joint ventures under the Chemicals moniker in the years to come. We Are the Night has just enough good collaborations make it decent, but its a far cry from the Block Rockin Beats of years past.

5 out of 5 stars They conquer the night!!!.......2007-07-17

English dance/electronica duo Chemical Brothers are back with their best album yet. "We are the night" has already topped the UK album charts, and though more accessible than much of their past work, it is still edgy and avant-garde.

After a brief intro "No path to follow", we get a stomping number with swirling synths, the title track, largely instrumental apart from vocodered voices proclaiming "We are the night" (and a few other things) every so often.

The haunting, pulsing "All rights reversed" features The Klaxons on vocals, and is followed by the excellent throbbing techno instrumental "Saturate", one of my favourites.

Lead off single, the hypnotic drone of "Do it again" featuring Ali Love is already a UK top 20 hit. This song just keeps getting better each time I hear it. "Das Spiegel" is an effects laden instrumental that sounds like a journey through space. "The salmon dance" featuring Fatlip is a funky number with humorous spoken lyrics describing a salmon dance step, alongside a narrative on the salmon's breeding habits.

"Burst generator" is another superb instrumental with raging guitars set to a stomping beat. "A modern midnight conversation" is a lovely groovy largely instrumental piece with a chorus sung in falsetto. "Battle scars" (featuring Willy Mason) wouldn't be amiss on a Gorillaz album.

"Harpoons" is a warbling psychedelic percussion free instrumental, and closing is the album's lone ballad, the dreamy, trippy "The Pills Won't Help You Know" (featuring Midlake) which is simply lovely.

Definitely up there with LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of silver" and Groove Armada's "Soundboy rock" as best dance CD of the year.

4 out of 5 stars Modern midnight album.......2007-07-17

I have no idea what the Chemical Brothers are doing in "We Are The Night."

Not that it's necessarily a bad thing. Though some of their songs simply don't mesh together well, the British electronic duo do a pretty fair job with their grimy acid beats and crazy acid-alien-spy style. And it's worth the price just to hear their delicious collaborations with Midlake and the Klaxons.

It opens with a strange rumbling grunting sound, like a robot hellhound sniffing out a trail. Then we get some mournful voices telling us that "there's no path to follow."

Oh, forget that. The action begins in the spaceship hums, electronic twiddlings (as if from a control panel), and a heavy driving beat that blossoms into a solid, danceable tune speckled with samples. It ends up sounding like James Bond on acid, and no, that is not a bad thing at all.

From there, the Chemical Brothers collaborate with the Klaxons in the eerie, clattery "All Rights Reserved," and launch into a swirl of equally energetic songs: tribal electrobeats, retro fuzz pop, eruptions of tornado synth in fun electropop, tightly woven beats, and a dense weaving of keyboard and ringing guitar. It finishes on a high note with "The Pills Won't Help You Know," a collaboration with Midlake -- a dreamy, hazy, fuzzy, sunny little tune that is drowsily winning.

In a nutshell, "We Are the Night" sounds like the soundtrack to a psychedelic spy caper, with a few aliens thrown in for good measure. The Chemical Brothers has their lax moments -- "The Salmon Dance" with Fatlip is a tumble down the stairs -- but the majority of the songs achieve just what they're meant to.

There's some drum machines and electric guitars cycling in there. But most of it is some really earthy acid beats -- sharp and flexible, synth lashings, and a few that are soft little stretches of gentle, pastoral tinkliness. They also weave some songs with sci-fi-ish samples, like what sounds like alarms going off, and a spaceship landing.

And they avoid the typical techno trap of just taking a beat and repeating it endlessly. To keep the dancefloor beats and tribal stuff from sounding like your average boring techno, they twist it into ripples, trickles, fuzz, static squeals and some brilliantly eerie vocals ("We are the nighttime/we are the bright eyes/we are the right time...").

If there's a real problem with "We Are the Night," it's that the album isn't very cohesive. Several of the songs have the same feel, but most of the collaborations don't fit in with the pure Chemical Brothers stuff. I'm the first to admit a deep love for "The Pills Won't Help You Know," but it doesn't fit.

The Chemical Brothers trip over their own feet occasionally, but despite some songs not fitting in, it still is a pretty decent electronic album. Do it again.
FutureSex / LoveSounds
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • JUSTIN IS HOT AND HIS MUSIC HOTTER!!!
  • Best one yet!
  • Very nice
  • Perfect for Nickelodeon?
  • What's all the hype about?
FutureSex / LoveSounds
Justin Timberlake
Manufacturer: Jive
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Back to Basics
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ASIN: B000H305U0
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

  1. Future Sex/Love Sound
  2. SexyBack
  3. Sexy Ladies
  4. My Love
  5. Love Stoned
  6. What Goes Around
  7. Chop Me Up
  8. Damn Girl
  9. Summer Love
  10. Until The End Of Time
  11. Losing My Way
  12. All Over Again (Another Song)

Amazon.com

One spin of FutureSex/LoveSounds and it's hard to believe that Justin Timberlake was ever a boy-band barnstormer--no modern-day male artist beats him when it comes to single-minded self assurance or suavity. "SexyBack," the inescapable summer sizzler of a first single off this short and thrillingly unwholesome disc, makes that clear on its own: If there was ever any question about whether sexy was in need of reviving--a doubtful proposition at best, given the sheer volume of JT's gyrating counterparts--he lays it to rest instantly over a small but insistent Timbaland-concocted beat. On that track, Timberlake's appeal is his sweet but newly thuggish-sounding voice--here's a good kid gone bad, and he's determined to convince us of it not only by tossing a few well-timed mother****ers our way but also with such lyrics as "I'll let you whip me if I misbehave." The rest of FutureSex will feel familiar to anyone who picked up 2002's brilliantly funk-flecked Justified: "Love Stoned/I Think She Knows Me," shifts from Michael Jackson-esque paranoid trilling to pulsating guitar rock; "Chop Me Up," a collaboration with Three 6 Mafia and Timbaland, gives up the grit rap-style but still manages to recall both Prince and Stevie Wonder; "My Love," with T.I., mines classic Timberlake territory with meltaway lyrics like "I can see us holding hands walking on the beach/Our clothes in the sand"; and the straight-up but groovy lament "Losing My Way" asks, searchingly, what may be the silliest question a squeal-inducing pop star has ever posed: "Can anybody out there feel me?" Rest assured, JT: we feel every past-, present-, and future-sexy verse. --Tammy La Gorce

Amazon.com

Come Along with JT through his own groovin' universe of FutureSex/LoveSounds, co-written by Justin Timberlake and produced by Justin Timberlake, JAWBreakers, Timbaland, will.i.am, and Rick Rubin, among others. Guest artists include TI, Three Six Mafia, and Hezekiah Walker. Obviously, there is no shortage of talent.

More from JT & Friends


Justified, Justin Timberlake


No Strings Attached, 'N Sync


Celebrity, 'N Sync


Justified: The Videos (DVD)


Justin Timberlake: Live From London (DVD)


Edison Force (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars JUSTIN IS HOT AND HIS MUSIC HOTTER!!!.......2007-07-06

I must say that I was very surprised that the whole CD was unbelievable... not just tracks Sexy Back and What Goes Around that is now being played in most radio stations. Every song was amazing, with great lyrics and jammin' beats. It just underlines and reiterates the incredible artistic tales of this dude. I will say that this is my first CD from him as I have bought only single tracks in the past - and definitely will not be the last. Thanks Justin, for a totally kickin' and rockin' album. LOOOOOOOVE it. Definitely blasting this on the way to Vegas!

4 out of 5 stars Best one yet!.......2007-07-05

This is Justin's best CD. His sound is blended well with Timbaland and other artists. Good funky, r & b, and hip hop sounds.

5 out of 5 stars Very nice.......2007-07-03

When I first got the CD as a gift, I only listened to the songs I had heard on the radio. One day I decided to sit down and listen to the entire thing. With the exception of maybe two songs, I love the CD. Second time was much better than the first. Good job!!

1 out of 5 stars Perfect for Nickelodeon?.......2007-06-26

I am shocked that the author of this explicit album hosted the Nickelodeon Kids Awards. This is inexcusable, and a huge failing for the network. Kids listen to TV more than they ever did their parents, and what is this teaching them? I am 22 years old and I know that when I watched Nickelodeon ten years ago they never would have allowed such a person to host the awards.

2 out of 5 stars What's all the hype about?.......2007-06-08

Boring is the only way to describe this over produced and over hyped album.
Loose
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • All around Fun
  • dissapointing
  • Very Happy with my Purchase
  • I really like it.
  • Loose
Loose
Nelly Furtado
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. FutureSex / LoveSounds
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ASIN: B000FII324
Release Date: 2006-06-20

Tracks:

  1. Afraid
  2. Maneater
  3. Promiscuous
  4. Glow
  5. Showtime
  6. No Hay Igual
  7. Te Busque
  8. Say It Right
  9. Do It
  10. In God's Hands
  11. Wait For You
  12. All Good Things (Come To An End)
  13. Te Busque (Spanish Version)

Amazon.com

The buzz for Nelly Furtado's Loose began before the music was even recorded, with the announcement that legendary hip-hop knob-twirler Timbaland (Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake) would act as co-producer. The question on fans' minds: what would it sound like when a hip-hop kingpin collaborated with an artist who culls inspiration not just from pop music, but also her own Portuguese roots?

As it turns out, Loose incorporates a number of different styles along its journey, but is--surprisingly--primarily divided between '80s-influenced electronica and latin-infused pop. This disc is very different from Furtado's previous CDs, a fact immediately evident from track one, the new wave-affected "Afraid." A strong opener, the song is the beginning of a 1-2-3 punch of uptempo, infectious dance floor beats. The second cut, "Maneater," also proves to be incredibly catchy, but the verses and keyboard sound too much like they were plucked from electroclash artist Peaches' tree, and originality is lost. The perfect summer pop song follows, the massive hit "Promiscuous," which features clever interplay between Furtado and Timbaland on their sassy duet. From that point, Loose oscillates between the Miami-affected sounds of R&B, Latino pop, and reggaeton ("Showtime," "Te Busque," and "No Hay Igual" respectively) and the aforementioned '80s vibe ("Glow," "Do It"). Fans will hear Furtado at her vocal best on "Say It Right" and "In God's Hands"--two of the most lyrically compelling tracks on the disc. --Denise Sheppard

Album Description

In preparation for her new album, Loose, NELLY FURTADO tried out collaborations with a who's who of producers, and she tried to create a music more of the body than the mind. A prime example of the latter is first single "PROMISCUOUS," a duet with Loose producer TIMBALAND, known far and wide for his groundbreaking work with, among others, MISSY ELLIOTT, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and AALIYAH.

It stands to reason that gold and multiplatinum certifications (for 2003's Folklore and 2000's Whoa, Nelly!, respectively), a pair of Top 10 singles ("I'm Like a Bird" and "Turn Off the Light"), and a Grammy Award (for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance), to name just a few accomplishments, would afford a certain level of confidence. But nothing has inspired Furtado to throw caution to the wind more than motherhood. "Motherhood makes you fearless," she says. "The album is very youthful-sounding," Furtado continues, "and I think that's partly due to the presence of this two-year-old in my life. I was with her all day every day and then I'd go to the studio at night, and I think that translated into a playful energy I feel onstage but that hasn't really been heard on my records."

Starting with her longtime production team of Track & Field, she also knew she wanted to check out a variety of producers. "Working with new producers," she hazards, "is like trying on new clothes - you never know what you look good in until you try it on. And sometimes they will see something in you that neither you nor anyone else could see." So she traveled with her daughter from Toronto to London to work with NELLEE HOOPER; to Los Angeles to work with LESTER MENDEZ (who produced, "Te Busque," her moving duet with JUANES) and RICK NOWELS (co-writer and producer of the gorgeous ballad "In God's Hands"); and to Miami to work with PHARRELL WILLIAMS and SCOTT STORCH and finally, TIMBALAND.

Indeed, the raw, lighting-in-a-bottle spontaneity of the collaborative process is at the heart of Loose. "This record shows who I am in a jam-type environment, where I really feel the excitement of the creativity flowing," Furtado reveals. "It's who I am at my most artistic. I live for that, and I'm very grateful to be able to share it."

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars All around Fun.......2007-07-17

This cd is perfect to let loose to. Put this on when you're getting ready for a night of fun and partying, or when you're looking to make a boring household chore like washing the dishes a little more bearable.

2 out of 5 stars dissapointing.......2007-07-12

The cd cover of mine came broke. I'm a tad upset about it but it's not bad enough to ask for a refund.

good cd though

5 out of 5 stars Very Happy with my Purchase.......2007-06-27

I really have enjoy this cd thank you for getting it to me so quickly

4 out of 5 stars I really like it........2007-06-20

I have a couple of friends I frequently ride around with, and unfortunately for me they are big into R&B, rap, and hip-hop which I'm not particularly fond of personally. But they like to crank their music in the car and I'm forced to grin and bear it.

Then one day "Promiscuous" started up and I realized I actually quite liked it. I'm big into 80s music, and the chorus has that 80s synth sound to it which caught my attention.

I own Nelly's first CD, and I enjoy it still, but I, like some other reviewers, had kind of lost interest in her with her change in "image" and turn toward hip-hop. So when I realized I liked one of her new songs I blindly went out and bought the new CD. I popped it in the car player and listened to it all the way home. It has remained in my player since.

I've come to the realization that if I keep turning my nose up at things, I'm gonna miss out on some good music. This CD is very good. Obvious favorites are the singles "Promiscuous" and "Say It Right", but the real jewels for me are "Te Busque" "Afraid" "In God's Hands" and "All Good Things". They are Lyrically beautiful as well as just being plain good.

I seriously recommend anyone with reservations to give it a listen all the way through before rushing to judge.

4 out of 5 stars Loose.......2007-06-10

I'm rather new to Nelly Furtado music. I've heard songs on the radio, but this is the first CD. Other than a couple songs that aren't my type, little too hip hop, it's a really nice CD. She has a fantastic voice!
Cinco De Mowo!
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Holy Smoke!!
  • Mocean Worker will Move ya...
  • Once again people..MOWO! delivers a HUGE HELPING of some good times!
  • Dial M for Motion
Cinco De Mowo!
Mocean Worker
Manufacturer: Mowo!,Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ElectronicaElectronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Enter the Mowo!
  2. Mixed Emotional Features
  3. Aural & Hearty
  4. We Are the Night
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ASIN: B000QEILQK
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

  1. Shake Ya Boogie
  2. Tickle It
  3. Ole Baby
  4. Que Bom
  5. Reykjavik (featuring Rahsaan Roland Kirk)
  6. Changes (featuring Herb Alpert)
  7. I Got You (featuring Morley)
  8. Sis Boom Bah! (featuring Rahsaan Roland Kirk)
  9. Brown Liquor (featuring Marcus Miller)
  10. Les & Eddie
  11. Son of Sanford
  12. Pretty
  13. Songnumber 3

Album Description

On the fifth album of his career, appropriately titled Cinco De MOWO!, Mocean Worker, (pronounced Motion Worker) has concocted the quintessential feel-good summer album of 2007. The opening number, quite simply, says it best: "Shake Ya Boogie." In what has become the incomparable Mocean Worker sound, Dorn mixes and matches the best of modern beat-making with live musicians like trumpeters Herb Alpert ("Changes") and Steven Bernstein ("Shake Your Boogie"), bassist Marcus Miller ("Brown Liquor"), alto saxophonist Cochemea Gastelum ("Les & Eddie" and "Son of Sanford") and vocalists Morley ("I Got You") and Alana Da Fonseca ("Que Bom"). As on all Mocean Worker records, the legendary jazz icon Rahsaan Roland Kirk joins the party from the great beyond addind wicked flute ("Sis Boom Bah" & "Reykjavik").

Cinco De MOWO! is the follow up to Mocean Worker's 2005 release Enter The MOWO!, which went on to become his biggest album to date. It's where the true vision for the definitive Mocean Worker sound came into focus. While liberally embracing his jazz and funk influences, Mocean Worker crafted songs with undeniable hooks. On Cinco De MOWO!, that vision has evolved even further. More than just funky grooves, tunes like "Shake Ya Boogie," "Tickle It" and "Son of Sanford" find their way deep into the sub-conscious with melodies that reverberate long after the record has ended.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Holy Smoke!!.......2007-07-09

No need to mince words here. BUY THIS CD!! MW creates some of the hippest sounds you'll ever wrap an ear around.

5 out of 5 stars Mocean Worker will Move ya..........2007-07-09

I didn't even know this man existed until 2 days ago, and WOW... whatta sound! If you enjoy jazz, funk, hip-hop, electronica or just like listening to music that moves your mind and body, then MOWO is worth a listen. I'm an avid runner currently nursing an injury, but I promise that several songs from Cico De Mowo! are in my run mix as I type this. This disc is well worth the money. I'm now off to find out if I can see this amazing creator live and in person. Where would the human race be without music? I can't even imagine...

5 out of 5 stars Once again people..MOWO! delivers a HUGE HELPING of some good times!.......2007-07-01

Wow, Im blown away by how hip this album is. Herb Alpert is onboard? Yeah , its crazy hip then. The album much like the last Mocean Worker album (Enter The Mowo!) really is a complete thought top to bottom. Its a party on a disc. You can rock this at any party I bet and then actually play it while you're running the vacuum afterwards and the good times will roll on and on. Key moments on the record include "Shake Ya Boogie" which features Steve Bernstein playing some amazing trumpet. "Tickle It" just a really catchy melody with a funky funky groove. "Que Bom" which features a singer I dont know named Alana Da Fonseca and is so sexy and sung in Portuguese. "Changes" which features Herb Alpert and is one of my favorite tunes on the whole album. You cannot go wrong with this album. This guy "mowo!" or whatever his name is just keeps bringing the goods. This is some of the best music nobody seems to be talking about. I wonder if he is in the witness protection agency or something? Anybody making music like this would be a huge star behind this kind of work! Haha,get this album. This is some killer stuff, probably my summer soundtrack and maybe even the soundtrack for the rest of my year!

4 out of 5 stars Dial M for Motion.......2007-06-29

Mocean Worker's last two albums are straight up fun- the kind of breezy long players that can equally brighten up a late night party or a session of dishwashing. Album number four, Enter the Mowo broke free of DJ Adam Dorn's drum n bass past and signified the arrival of an original sounding marriage of old timey jazz and funk. Consider Cinco De Mowo to be it's fully realized maturation. Yes, samples still play an important part in the album's construction but the DJ is now trully a musician.

"Shake Your Boogie" will not leave your head once it gets in there.
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Shocked at shock value
  • Can't stop Tim
  • two decent cuts
  • Amazing
  • (2.5 Stars) He Definitely Gives You Some 'Shock Value' With This CD!
Timbaland Presents Shock Value
Timbaland
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Contemporary R&BContemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop RapPop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Good Girl Gone Bad
  2. FutureSex / LoveSounds
  3. It Won't Be Soon Before Long
  4. Because Of You
  5. Dignity

ASIN: B000NA26ZE
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

  1. Oh Timbaland
  2. Give It To Me
  3. Release
  4. The Way I Are
  5. Bounce
  6. Come & Get Me
  7. Kill Yourself
  8. Boardmeeting
  9. Fantasy
  10. Scream
  11. Miscommunication
  12. Bombay
  13. Throw It On Me
  14. Time
  15. One & Only
  16. Apologize
  17. 2 Man Show

Amazon.com

When the most exciting producer in pop music himself puts out a CD, the thrill is in the discovery: The world may have already suspected that Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, and a small army of other singers owed 75% of their fame to the stockpile of skittering beats Timbaland built and then graciously set them upon, but here's a chance to prove it. Or it might have been in less welcoming hands. Shock Value is a far-reaching and ambitious disc; a masterpiece, even, in its own way. But it's not at all self-centered. If there's a point being put across here, it's that Timbaland came by your vote as behind-the-scenes musical man of the hour honestly: pair him with Fall Out Boy or the Strokes, and he will not only provide tracks that surprise you by maintaining their rock 'n' roll integrity, he will also convince you that shimmer's role in rock music has, to now, been tragically misguided and miniscule. Re-team him with Timberlake and Furtado (for the near-flawless track "Give It to Me") and he will again trade vocal bites, but they will still be nibbly, not voracious. In a CD full of experiments and puzzles (why is Elton John just piano-playing, not singing? And how did the L.A. band One Republic end up on this disc?) a single truth emerges: Timbaland's taste is impeccable, but his judgment is even better. Shock Value, by virtue of its swirly beats and mesmerizing rhythms, will bring him a smidge closer to the spotlight. But because it's a disc of collaborations, he'll retain the shadowy-genius reputation that precedes him, and that he so richly deserves. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Shocked at shock value.......2007-07-13

Now, I'm not going to say I didn't like the album. I did like it. But, I just do not feel Timbaland let loose enough.
I think he is a wild stallion, but it just felt like something was pulling back on the reins, something was MISSING.
I can't put my finger on it, but felt this album was...Too controlled to offer an SHOCK to me.
I wanted a cut loose RAW BEAT album.
I was satisfied, but being satisfied means the content was just satisfactory. I want to be satiated. I hope another album is to follow this, I really do. I'm addicted to the beats, Timbaland is EXCELLENT for those. I can't get enough. BUT, please next time don't just shock me.
I want shock waves, electricty to the veins. Maybe next time.

5 out of 5 stars Can't stop Tim.......2007-07-09

This album rocks. I love that Timberland teamed up with all different types of artists. Rock this!

1 out of 5 stars two decent cuts.......2007-06-30

You already know the two good cuts - theyre the singles and fully worth downloading. the rest of the album is disappointing.

in the mid 90s timbaland sounded fresh - had a new style - and was known for his creative beats. you would never know that from this new cd. theres nothing remarkable about the beats - the melodies dominate. do we buy timbaland albums for the melodies? i dont think so.

timbaland isnt trying to impress anyone - and when artists arent hungry and have no one to impress they slack off and make lame albums like this.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......2007-06-27

This album just shows how amazing Timbaland is. Although some of the songs get criticized for sounding too much like other songs (The Way I are = My Love) that is the beauty of it! Songs that we already love sound like some of these. It sounds enough like it to attract the same fans, but different enough to give the public something new. Besides, most of the songs sound so different then anything I've ever heard in my life. Buy this CD!

3 out of 5 stars (2.5 Stars) He Definitely Gives You Some 'Shock Value' With This CD!.......2007-06-26

The musical genius that is Timbaland has had his fair share of success with a wide range of artists. From his earlier work with Aaliyah to Jay-Z to Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado later, Timbo has worked with some of the best around. So it seemed to be a no-brainer to put out another solo album amid his new found resurgence on the music scene. So Timbaland Presents Shock Value is his latest offering with a multitude of eccentric guest artists and very little hip-hop to speak of outside of his lyrics. The lead single "Give It To Me" features Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, two artists who have flourished since uniting with the super producer. Both give their signature Pop sound to the song, leaving very little room for the songs to be played on traditional urban stations. Most of the album follows the same formula of non-Hip-Hop beats with non-Hip-Hop cameos. Artists like alternative rock band The Hives ("Throw It On Me"), the Punk-Pop crew Fall Out Boy ("One & Only"), pop icon Elton John ("2 Man Show"), electronic artist Amar ("Bombay"), pop-R&B artist Money ("Fantasy"), electronic goth/punk duo She Wants Revenge ("Time"), and others give the album a mainstream pop radio feel that longtime fans of Timbaland will be turned off to. He even goes as far as to remix the song "Apologize" by his own Mosley Music artists OneRepublic with no verses by the rapper himself. Timbaland does give R&B signee Keri Hilson some much deserved spotlight on songs like the 'SexyBack'-inspired "Way I Are," "Scream" featuring Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls fame, and "Miscommunication" with labelmate Sebastian. Outside of a few hip-hop guest stars like Dr. Dre and Missy Elliott ("Bounce"), Mosley Music signee Sebastian ("Kill Yourself"), and former partner-in-crime Magoo ("Boardmeeting"), Timbaland Presents Shock Value gives a lot of shock and very little value for us Hip-Hop heads. If this is the new direction for Timbaland and his Mosley Music Group, then good luck to him and his new venture. He was never a strong lyricist, but Timbaland was certainly a huge Hip-Hop producer. But with his eye on the Pop music prize, there will be little room for him to focus on Hip-Hop....for himself or other artists.
I'm Not Dead
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Pink Rocks It
  • love it, I've played it a lot!
  • Fantastic discovery!
  • Fantastic
  • AH! SHE OUT DID HERSELF!
I'm Not Dead
Pink
Manufacturer: La Face
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
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  1. Missundaztood
  2. Taking The Long Way
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  4. The Sweet Escape
  5. Loose

ASIN: B000EGCITG
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

  1. Stupid Girls
  2. Who Knew
  3. Long Way To Happy
  4. Nobody Knows
  5. Dear Mr. President (Featuring Indigo Girls)
  6. I'm Not Dead
  7. 'Cuz I Can
  8. Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)
  9. U + Ur Hand
  10. Runaway
  11. The One That Got Away
  12. I Got Money Now
  13. Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self
  14. I Have Seen The Rain (Featuring James T. Moore)

Amazon.com

Some music is celebrated for its elegant subtlety; Pink's slams you over the head. Four albums in, she's not changing her formula. I'm Not Dead touches on bulimia ("Stupid Girls"), war-mongering politicians ("Dear Mr. President"), teen angst ("Conversations With My 13 Year Old Self," "Runaway"), overheated pickup artists ("U + Ur Hand"), and gross materialism ("I Got Money Now"). None of it, in other words, is for featherweight listeners. Then again, none of it suits eggheaded college tastemakers either. Where this translates, then, is with those willing to man up and embrace what makes Pink Pink: her spellbinding ability to render rebelliousness in all the many colors of the rainbow. Neil Young-inspired acoustic guitar is sketched into "The One That Got Away," but it's just as quickly scribbled over by Joan Jett-style ranting (on "Long Way to Happy") and Janis Joplin/Joss Stone-fueled howling (on "Who Knew"). Even R&B gets its turn ("I Got Money Now"). The album also includes appearances from the Indigo Girls, who duet on "Dear Mr. President," and Pink's father, who joins for the hidden track "I Have Seen The Rain." Pink pulls all of this off, and probably without even breathing hard. She's not dead. --Tammy La Gorce

More from Pink


Missundaztood


Can't Take Me Home


Try This

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Pink Rocks It.......2007-07-17

First, I think Pink just has a raw power to her voice that so many of the other pop starts don't have. Second, she sets herself apart by having tracks with relevant topic, a couple of ballards and then tunes you can dance too. Lasly, she deserves at least music award nominations.

5 out of 5 stars love it, I've played it a lot!.......2007-07-14

LOVE HER! Tracks 7 8 and 9 are continually played in my car. I love the whole album including the song with her dad (no credit though, why not?). She's real, shares a lot in her lyrics, and real artists are hard to come by these days.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic discovery!.......2007-06-28

I never was a fan of hip hop/dance/rap music, so I never really paid attention to Pink. I'll be the first to admit that was a big mistake. I heard "Who Knew" on the radio and was absolutely bowled over! I immediately went out and bought the album based on that one song. Turns out the album is full of fantastic musical gems. I didn't realize she changed her style to more of a rock/pop style. "Stupid Girls" is a great social statement (and totally made me think of Paris Hilton). "Who Knew" is one of my favorite songs of all times. "Long Way to Happy" is so catchy and awesome, it's my 2nd fave on the album. "Nobody Knows", "Dear Mr. President" and "I Got Money Now" are all great slowed down songs. I almost cried the first time I heard "Dear Mr. President". Extremely political and so very true, beautifully sung and deserves a lot of attention. "U + Ur Hand" and "Leave me Alone" are fun and full of attitude.

I'd like to add that not only is this album awesome, but I finally found out that Pink is an incredible vocalist and performer. Based on that, I ended up buying Misunduztood and there are several songs on that album I loved as well. I just wish I had noticed Pink long before this! Buy the album, you won't be disappointed!

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic.......2007-06-10

Great album! Pink has really shown some great range! This cd is way beyond some "Stupid Girls".

5 out of 5 stars AH! SHE OUT DID HERSELF!.......2007-06-06

EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT. A PINK MUST HAVE.

Intelligent, thoughtful, inspiring!
The Sweet Escape
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • I really like it
  • Not normally my bag, but...
  • don't listen to the haterz kk
  • Good Album
  • Great CD
The Sweet Escape
Gwen Stefani
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alternative DanceAlternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. The Dutchess
  2. Loose
  3. FutureSex / LoveSounds
  4. Back to Basics
  5. B'day

ASIN: B000JJRIN4
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Tracks:

  1. Wind It Up
  2. The Sweet Escape - featuring Akon
  3. Orange County Girl
  4. Early Winter
  5. Now That You Got It
  6. 4 In The Morning
  7. Yummy - featuring Pharrell
  8. Fluorescent
  9. Breakin' Up
  10. Don't Get It Twisted
  11. U Started It
  12. Wonderful Life

Amazon.com

There's nothing like a Gwen Stefani disc to rip you from your pop comfort zone and, in the pleasantest way possible, knock you around a bit. On The Sweet Escape, the blows arrive roughly every four minutes: a yodel ("Wind It Up") skitters off ceremoniously before the title track, featuring Akon, catches you off guard with its infectious yelps of "Woo-hoo, YEE-hoo!," and the pouty rap of "Orange County Girl" has barely petered out before we're vectored somewhere back toward the '80s with the indie rock-ish "Early Winter." That the sound of these songs doesn't follow a formula--that they pounce wherever they please, without regard for genres or decades--is no big whoop; this is Gwen Stefani, after all, and her up-for-anything, play-along fans probably wouldn't have it any other way. More surprising is the extent to which Stefani inserts what seems to be her genuine self into the music: "4 in the Morning," a Madonna-reminiscent midtempo groover, drops the wide-eyed Betty Boop pose and basks in a rarely plumbed depth of feeling ("I give you everything that I am / I'm handing over everything that I've got / 'cause I wanna have a really true love," she sings with something like sincerity). A single track later, she's owning up to motherhood in the sexiest, most unapologetic way possible: "I know you've been waiting," she pants, "but I've been off making babies / And like a chef making donuts and pastries / It's time to make you sweat." Lyrics don't get much cleverer than the ones to "Breakin' Up," a kiss-off disguised as a dropped cell phone call, and sounds don't get much swizzier than the ones on "Now That You Got It." Which is to say that Gwen's got game--as much as on Love.Angel.Music.Baby, if not more--and that anytime she's prepared to hollaback, the world will do well to listen. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars I really like it .......2007-07-14

Some people are close minded, they wont give this album 1 chance because they miss No Doubt..dont get me wrong I LOVE No Doubt...but Gwen is doing her thing now,and I respect that..this album is really interesting and cool..some of my favorites songs here are 4 In the morning,Now That You Got It,Wonderful Life,Flourescent and many others, Gwen likes doing this music, and i love listening..so Keep em comin'!!!so some people need to get over themselves

5 out of 5 stars Not normally my bag, but..........2007-07-13

I love this album. Every now and then, I find a top40 album worth buying. The singing is creative. The beats infectuous. 'Sweet Escape' is pure ear candy. Anyone buying the album expecting No Doubt will be disappointed, but it holds up on it's own.

Currently, it's in the CD changer and will remain there for awhile. If I were blind, I'd still love Gwen's music. Thank Heavens I can see. Gwen looks like someone who'd be fun to Kiss.

4 out of 5 stars don't listen to the haterz kk.......2007-07-11

much better album than lamb, imo. More sythenic and current, more confident. She doesn't seem as nervous and unsure of herself on this one. Of course this isn't in the same league as her stuff with no doubt. Don't even bother if you want another return of saturn, but you should have learned that the first time around. This is supposed to be a fun, guilty pleasure.

Of course it does come across as a bit calculating and jerky. It has plenty of variety. It's just fun, dumb pop music. Excellently done dumb pop music. And it sure beats Fergie.

4 out of 5 stars Good Album.......2007-07-05

I don't think that this Album is better than L.A.M.B, but I still think that it is good. I am a little disipointed that the songs don't sound like the 80's and 90's like L.A.M.B did. I think that guy named ROCKET or wutever who rote about this Ablum is STUPID!!!! With a capital S. Wonderful life is not the only good song on the Album! There si Early Winter, 4 in the morning, Yummy, Flourescent, and more! And what does that guy mean that Gwen lost all of her fans 21 and up? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! My teacher (27) loves Gwen? so does my sister (25) my mom (43) and eaven our nabor (50)! I mean come on! All in All this is a great Album that you will love

4 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2007-07-03

I bought this CD for the song "The Sweet Escape" which I love. The rest of the songs are ok.
Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Very disappointing
  • *sigh*
  • Elizabethan Music
  • Vibe shift
  • Gorgeous, pure and unexpected
Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by DowlandAll Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Not Too Late
  2. An Ancient Muse
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  4. Wintersong
  5. James Taylor at Christmas

ASIN: B000HXDESU
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

  1. Walsingham
  2. Can she excuse my wrongs?
  3. Ryght honorable: as I have bin most bounde unto your honor …
  4. Flow my tears
  5. Have you seen the bright lily grow
  6. Then in time passing on Mr. Johnson died…
  7. The Most High and Mighty Christianus the Fourth, King of Denmark
  8. The lowest trees have tops
  9. And accordinge as I desired ther cam a letter…
  10. Fine knacks for ladies
  11. From thenc I went to the Landgrave of Hessen…
  12. Fantasy
  13. Come, heavy sleep
  14. Forlorn Hope Fancy
  15. And from thence I had great desire to see Italy…
  16. Come again
  17. Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
  18. After my departure I caled to mynde our conference…
  19. Weep you no more, sad fountains
  20. My Lord Willoughby’s Welcome Home
  21. Clear or cloudy
  22. Men say that the Kinge of Spain is making gret preparation…
  23. In darkness let me dwell

Amazon.com

In choosing to cover the music of John Dowland (1563-1626), who is known as the "melancholy madrigalist" from his output of cheerful ditties like "Flow My Tears," Police bandleader Sting has entered into a whole new realm of austere eeriness. Originally inspired by the gift of a lute, the rock superstar and activist sings the songs, deliciously sweet and tender or spirited by turn, accompanying himself, with Edin Karamazov sitting on lute and archlute. For listeners accustomed to hearing material of this period interpreted by rigorously trained early music stylists, especially countertenors and the like, Sting's sometimes tight-jawed, chest-heavy vocals may seem amateurish. It's undeniable that in four-part harmonies, the singer, tightly overdubbed, comes across like a combination of the Swingle Singers and Queen (meaning Freddy Mercury and crew, NOT the first Elizabeth). But it's important to remember that music of this period was routinely heard as a casual diversion in private homes, even more often than at Court. It was considered a crucial social skill to be able to join in with an adequate degree of skill, but not everyone was able to negotiate the perilous melodic twists and turns typical of the era's music. With this in mind, the overall effect is of a candle-lit, postprandial entertainment in the home of an English gentleman. Muttered readings from Dowland's letters and brief snippets of sampled birdsong aside, it is a courageous effort, displaying heartfelt admiration for the composer and a considerable degree of earnest charm. --Christina Roden

Album Description

StingÂ's Songs From The Labyrinth is an album of 17th century music composed by John Dowland and performed on the lute, an ancient acoustic guitar. After being given a lute nearly two years ago as a gift, Sting became fascinated and immersed himself with the instrument and the history of lute music. Reminded of his almost 25 year long enthrallment with the works of John Dowland, the Elizabethan composer who wrote songs for the lute, Sting has recorded a new album of vocal and lute music. All songs were composed by Dowland in the 17th century, but have been given new life in these fresh new recordings by Sting. Sting not only sings all the songs (accompanied by leading lutenist Edin Karamasov, who appears on two Andreas Scholl albums), but also plays lute on two instrumental duets with Edin and reads short extracts from a fascinating autobiographical letter by Dowland. Sting has also written a brilliant account of the album's genesis, along with notes on the individual tracks, which serves as the CD booklet.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Very disappointing.......2007-07-19

As we all know, the music of John Dowland is lovely. When played by Paul Odette or Julian Bream it is exquisite. However, this production is almost depressing. Sting's gravelly voice finally grated on me and I probably won't play this again. The lute performance is mediocre also. The best song is that which they use to promote the album. Pass on this one.

2 out of 5 stars *sigh*.......2007-07-16

I am a lutenist myself, who had experience as both a rock guitarist and a classically trained clarinetist before also picking up the lute. I have a great love for Dowland that comes from years of playing his songs myself as well as hearing great musicians (like Paul O'Dette) play them. And this CD makes me sad.

In a way, it doesn't surprise me that Sting would do this. For years now he's been trying to gain cred in the classical music world (I have a 1988 recording of him doing Stravinsky's A Soldier Tale that delighted me when I was 16 and musically ignorant, but now makes my eyes roll into the back of my head). What upsets me is he had to do something that's initimately important to me as a musician. The is problem is that when it comes this kind of music, as others have said, he IS an amatuer, and all his heavy-handed, juvenile earnesty and clumsy, misplaced intensity just drains out all the joy I would normally experience from these songs. Moreover, he's voice isn't merely "untrained" - it's *shot* from years of strain caused by bad "rock" vocal technique. It's just pitiful to listen to in such an exposed context. If you think this is how these songs ought to be intrepreted, you're sadly mistaken.

There are people who would call Sting a "pop genius, " laud him and hand him all sort of impressive looking awards and honors, but this is the music of a real genius, someone who knew not just how to write lyrics that hit home with his audience, but as how to compose songs with unparallel grace, form and sophistication in an idiosyncratic style that bridged convention and innovation. And Sting simply cannot do Dowland's music justice. He just doesn't have the chops or the insight. It's great he's supposedly "studied" this music and that he wrote lengthy, flowery liner notes, but did he really need to record this CD for any reason that his own self-satisfaction? It's far too obvious he hasn't done the same level of groundwork of countless Early Music musicians who don't do this a hobby or avocation from political causes or high-profile celebrity, but as their sole passion. Why couldn't he simply support those musicians, without trying to grab some spotlight for himself? Having a decent lutenist as a sidekick just isn't enough to pull him up from his amatuerly, self-important bog, either. Frankly, he just doesn't get it, and at this stage, I don't think he will.

Early music lovers don't need someone like Sting to bring this music to us - we've been doing just fine without him because we have so many other, really wonderful musicians around to keep this music alive. Someone else recommended Nigel Rogers and Paul O'Dette, and I would gladly recommend them over this celebrity-fuel nonsense as well. Yes these are both musicians with academic backgrounda, but that doesn't mean they are academic musicians - far from it. They just have to hold down teaching positions and do master classes because they don't have a pop career to play the bills. Musicially and professionally, they're what Early Music musicians ought to be - dedicated, educated, passionate and yet they don't have any need to take themselves this deathly seriously.

3 out of 5 stars Elizabethan Music.......2007-07-12

This is the audio component of an hour long video made by Sting on the work of Elizabethan composer John Dowland. (The video does adds greatly to the value as it places the music against the background and age (16th C) for which it was written.) Sting's voice is light tenor and right for these poems set to music about everlasting human concerns that persist to our day. But you'll not see those wonderful lutes that accompany the words, so complex to play with a beauty of sound not heard today. Between his music Sting gives an excellent spoken commentary to complete an attractive presentation of esoteric classical music with a modern undertone.

5 out of 5 stars Vibe shift.......2007-07-10

Why bother? Still would like to say i love the 'shift' it takes to get into this music and how i (and my home) feel when i've enter this rather rarified realm of listening.

5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, pure and unexpected.......2007-07-06

This music is so pure, so clean, so well performed by two excellent musicians, Edin Karamasov, and Sting, that it put shivers up my spine. Edin is an excellent classical lutenist and Sting's tenor voice is perfect for the music. It was a surprise hearing a rock musician perform this music, but Sting always surprises, continuing to develop as a musican. I will hear this one in my sleep, echoing.
Volta
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • fearless original
  • Confused?
  • Stunning
  • Bjork goes back to what works
  • Almost, but not quite
Volta
Björk
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NVIXFA
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

  1. Earth Intruders
  2. Wanderlust
  3. The Dull Flame Of Desire
  4. Innocence
  5. I See Who You Are
  6. Vertebrae By Vertebrae
  7. Pneumonia
  8. Hope
  9. Declare Independence
  10. My Juvenile

Amazon.com

Björk's main asset as a musician is her fearlessness. Since the end of The Sugarcubes and the pop-dance of Debut, she has released progressively more experimental records. But after well over a decade of going further and further out, Volta steps back. Make no mistake; this is Björk, and so it's still fabulously weird. Like 2004's mesmerizing Medúlla and the 2005 soundtrack for Drawing Restraint 9, the songs are blissfully peculiar, with narratives about love, offspring, aliens...you name it. Yet melodically and philosophically, Volta recycles more than it innovates; the driving pulse of "Declare Independence," for instance, reminds us of Homogenic's "Pluto," and the lead single "Earth Intruders" sounds like Post's "Army of Me" on steroids. And just as Medúlla oriented itself around a certain instrument--the human voice--this one concentrates on horns.

Still, the transition between her early work and the avant-garde bender she's been on since Vespertine is pretty harrowing, and it's satisfying to hear Björk revisit her more accessible self. Uber-producer Timbaland pitches in here and there, most successfully on "Innocence," which uses a fat, disjointed pulse to drive the euphoric vocals forward. Elsewhere, the hyperactive sitar sample on "I See Who You Are" provides texture for the song's theme of enjoying each other while there's still "flesh on our bones." And "Pneumonia" makes fantastic use of the horn section with a soft arrangement that compliments the song's lyrical melody.

So while it's a bit of a stall, Volta is a lovely pause. It reminds us how much we appreciate the laboratory of Björk's imagination, but also how much we missed her back when she was just goofing around. -Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Bjork returns to her iconic, innovative and rhythmic roots with Volta. Featuring her own infamous beats and collaborations with Timbaland, Antony Hegarty, Brian Chippendale and an all-female Icelandic brass section, the end result is an explosion of beats and an amalgamtion of sound and visuals that give Volta a life of its own, like the world hasn't seen from Bjork in years.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars fearless original.......2007-07-19

Fearlessly following her own muse, Bjork creates an interesting album full of full throated singing, funky beats and noise, and interesting textures. While I don't like a couple of tunes (Dull Flame of Desire and Declare Independence), the rest of the album is engaging and evocative and works well as an album, linked by noises, segues, brass sounds, and beats. Her best album in a few years. Four/Four-and-a-half stars.

4 out of 5 stars Confused?.......2007-07-18

It's not that I'm literally confused by the songs on this album. Rather, I am a bit confused with Bjorks decision to put out this album. Nothing this artist would produce could ever be bad, it's just not as good/creative as some of her other albums in the past. Bjork is one of my favorite artists - this album is not one of my favorite Bjork albums. It lacks the feeling and intensity of some of her past work for me. The artwork, though, is beautiful.

5 out of 5 stars Stunning.......2007-07-16

This is wonderful, wonderful stuff. I had found Bjork altogether too quirky (and squeaky) for my tastes. Give me laid back grooves, French DJ stuff, post-punk (JD, Bloc, Interpol), the occasional blast of RnR, some pic 'n mix of other odds and ends and I'm a happy chappie. But I read all these 4 and 5 star reviews and bought it.

Am I glad I did that? Oh yeah. As many have noted, this builds on you over a number of listens. My pure listening time is in my car commuting. So I stuck the CD in and played it 3 or 4 times through, only extracting it a couple of days ago. Wow!

The overall sound structure of this CD is heavily layered and haunting. Take track 3 as an example, 20/30 words of lyrics, repeated and repeated, but the whole is a wonderful, moving sonic masterpiece, almost Gorecki in the way it swells and shifts. And there's more ... but let the analytical reviewers tell you about the track structure. All I want to say is ... buy this, play it right though at least 3 times, fall in love with it.

5 out of 5 stars Bjork goes back to what works.......2007-07-15

I love an artist who experiments, grows, develops and evolves. But, I must admit, Bjork's last two contributions,'Medulla' and 'Drawing Restraint 9' were a little too far into the experimental with Icelandic lyrics and Japanese music. 'Volta' is much more like her earlier albums with English lyrics and recogonizable tunes. If you liked her five CDs previous to 'Medulla', you will like 'Volta'.

2 out of 5 stars Almost, but not quite.......2007-07-14

I REALLY wanted to love this album. I absolutely adore "Vespertine," and thought it was her most comprehensive album, flowing from one song to the next...a complete work. When "Medulla" totally disappointed, I still had high hopes for the next album - surely Bjork wouldn't release TWO clunkers in a row! In a nutshell, I had to try very hard to like "Volta"...and my efforts paid off - sort of. The first five tracks grew on me. In fact, the first five songs rock, but the rest of the album falters...too out there, not enough melody, and the song about the suicide bomber had lyrics that were WAY too obvious and strange to hear coming out of Bjork's beautiful mouth. All in all, I listen to the first five tracks and then rewind.

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