![illusion [import] [original recording remastered]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002VL6PA.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg)
| 1. Love Goes On |
| 2. Golden Thread |
| 3. Love Is All |
| 4. Mr. Pine |
| 5. Face Of Yesterday |
| 6. Past Orbits Of Dust |
| 7. Shining Where The Sun Has Been |
| 8. All The Fallen Angels |
| 9. Prayer For Light |
| 10. Walking Away |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese remastered reissue of the progressive rock act's 1970 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.
But we've got five REALLY AWESOME songs here. Ever see that video for Yesterdays? Great stuff, man. (and this from a guy who normally despises music videos!) Say what you will about Axl, but that little slither-dance thing he's got going is pretty cool. Now, I'm not saying you can judge a song by its video, because the song itself is amazing, too. Slash and Izzy riff away and Axl howls "ooh... yesterday's... got nothin' for me!" Schweet. Estranged is, well... Estranged. I didn't like it at first, but I didn't like ANY Guns n' Roses at first - their work seems to grow on me more than any other group's. Anyway, air-guitaring to that thing should be some sort of Olympic event, it's a great song to blast out the windows while you do said air guitaring (it'll drive the neighbors crazy, especially if they hate GN'R as I'm sure mine do and if you're as bad at air-guitar as me), it's got the best lyrics on any GN'R song anywhere ('cept maybe Patience), it's awesomely epic, AND I like Dizzy Reed's piano. It's true. I think he was an unnecessary addition to the band, but Estranged makes me change my mind. Possibly the best of either Illusion, though November Rain's some pretty stiff competition. Anyway, Izzy Stradin's my second-favorite Gunner (behind Guy with Cool Hat, Cool Stage Name and Even Cooler Guitar Tone), and he gets a chance to sing on his Stonesy Axl bash-a-thon 14 Years, which rocks tremendously. And I haven't gotten to the two big hits: Civil War (which mixes Appetite's hard rock, GN'R Lies' acoustic material, and surprising social relevance) which rules, and You Could Be Mine, a flat-out burning rocker which rules even more.
Each time i bought a new guns album i heard a new sound completly different to the album before it. My fav. songs on this album are Don't damn me, Dead horse, Back off Bitch and definetly COMA. The riffs are unbelivable, Matt on the drums is great and axl well he is legendary, his voice, ever changing and his lyrics especially on Coma are mind blowing. Buy this album. You have to appriciate the lyrics of Axl and the others to really get this album. But there are still some hard rockin classics 5*
dust n bones, bad obsession and bad apples: intelligent, aerosmith, stonesy blues rock songs.
live and let die: cool cover song, unique riffs.
don't cry: beautiful, but not comparable to november rain.
november rain: if u know anything about gnr, you've heard it. sounds classical, complex, and great instruments.
you ain't the 1st: twangy bluegrass country song w/ no solos, short, but one of a kind.
double talkin jive: kinda stupid lyrics, but almost metallica-sounding guitar solo, which fades into a spanish guitar sounding solo at the 1 minute left mark, rebellious.
the garden: seems to tell of drug use, multi-styled, it's soft yet heavy, like led zeppelin songs. BEST HARD SONG ON ALBUM
don't damn me: rebellious, and quality lyrics, just a simple gnr rocker.
dead horse: starts out acoustic, then suddenly gets crazy heavy, and an awesome solo from slash, then goes back to the same acoustic part then ends.
coma: describes a coma, has very heavy riff in it; coma>the garden.
This is not a hair metal album; uyi1 is like aerosmith/stones, while appetite is like poison/motley crue/kiss. do not buy but a few songs off appetite.
anti- hair metal! buy now!!!
This album isn't the greatest thing to come out, nor is it the biggest abomination to set itself on the record shelves (leave that to St. Anguish and The Metallica Wannabe Crusade). It has its up and it has its downs. If you're a big fan of Slayer and modern metal, enjoy. If you're looking for music with more depth and diversity, you might want to look elsewhere.
Yet, while a catalog with Horowitz' Scarlatti, Gould's Bach, Kempff Schubert, Bolet's Liszt, Pollini's Chopin, Michelangeli's Schumann, Gieseking's Debussy, Schnabel's Beethoven, Casadesus' Ravel, Seeman's Mozart and Backhaus' Brahms has set historic standards that are hard to equal or surpass, a cd of standard regularly performed repertoire like this one refutes any fear that we have reached the day that the music died.
For starters, piano technique has significantly improved over the last 25 years. Likely due to the standards that the aforementioned pianists set, the next generation is of superior dexterity. While I grew up in times that Horowitz' performances of Liszt, his own Carmen Fantasy and Stars and Stripes transcriptions, and Gould's highly articulate light speed Bach were considered supernatural phenomena, these times are long past. And although the former's sense of tone and the latter's feel for counterpoint may not yet have found their match, most participants in any of the endless number of competitions have basic skills that are just as high and in many cases repertoires that are much wider.
Before coming to the review of this disc, one more personal side note. Since the piano is an instrument that anyone with two functional hands can master to such a degree that quite a number of masterpieces in the repertoire are within reach, I expect recordings to reflect technical mastery. As such, I do not belong to the group of those pianophiles who consider Fischer's Bach "acceptable", Cortot's Chopin "monumental" and Horowitz "live in Moscow" version of his standard Scriabin etude "earth shattering".
Thus we come to the present disc, which I consider a prime example of contemporary pianism. Playing on Grieg's own euphonic, but decidedly mellow piano, in the composer's own "piano room" that imposes significant sonic limitations on the resulting recording quality, his fellow country man Leif Ove Andsnes revisits his juxtaposition of the modern and the authentic that we encountered earlier in his superior Haydn piano concerto disc. While the orchestral part in that recording had clear "authentic" traits, the piano and its performance were truly 21st century. Especially in the light of earlier performances of these Grieg pieces by the likes of Gilels and Gavrilov, Andsnes approach is more restrained and, based on credible historic documentation that comes to use by oral history, less authentically romantic.
Is there something like "the importance of being authentic"? Based on the movement that initially tried to ban all professional musicians from performing baroque music, there certainly is. Nobody will argue that it is of importance to have a good understanding of the performance practices of a particular era. Yet, the mere fact that Bach is still performed worldwide more than 2.5 centuries after his death clearly refutes the notion that his music could only be appreciated within a certain set of parameters. Leaving aside the great dichotomy between the fervor with which the "authentics" have defended "the rules" and the clarity and precision with which they were committed to paper centuries ago, there is no convincing argument that a contemporary should not be able to enjoy Gould's Bach on the piano over Leonhardt's "authentic" performances on the harpsichord.
Released of the shackles of authenticity, aware of the historical record, and fluent in Grieg's lingo from early childhood Andsnes has made a both highly sensitive and textually very accurate reading of the Norwegian's small scale character pieces. Helped by a technique, that is at least as good as all of the luminaries that I mentioned in the second paragraph, this recording shows the virtues of the "less is more" approach. Previous reviewers have harped on the Gilels comparison. While I admire the late Russian lion's performances, I greatly prefer Andsness. Although, Gilels could play fast and slow, soft and loud I considered his technique often of the lazy kind. Especially when it came to use of the sustain pedal he often chose to correct with his right foot, that what he preferred his hands/fingers to save energy on. While some consider this over-pedaling to be an essential part of the romantic mysticism, I am glad that the new generation of pianists does no longer need it to suggest fluency.
Limiting the use of the right pedal often leads to a much better characterization of a composer's sonic signature and this recording is no exception. While it is clear that Grieg was aware of contemporaries like Schumann, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt, Andsnes like no other "nails" the Norwegian's own distinctive voice. What results is a restrained, yet highly sensitive and intimate reading. While the room limits the clarity in the louder passages, it does provide a historically correct context for these lyric pieces.
Andsnes, without a doubt, is one of the stars of the next generation. While mediocre clowns like Lang Lang may entertain the circus crowds, it is comforting to know that musicians like the young Norwegian will keep the eternal flame alive and are likely to add chapters to an as of yet never ending history.
By the way, I can't help questioning the intention of one of the reviewers named Dag Johansen. He is proactively reviewing most of Andsnes' CDs and giving them very poor rating. In fact, all he is reviewing are Andsnes', no other.
I don't mind that if it is truly his honest opinion but there's something fishy here... why does he keep buying Andsnes' CDs if he hates his playing so much? It's as if he is trying to damage the artist's reputation... Shady....
I have not actully heard this CD or any of Andsnes'. Just felt I needed to report on this.
If angels ever came down from heaven to record a CD this is what they would sound like.
Harmonious, Celestial, Purifying and Eternal.
What I've always liked about this album is the guitar work. There are some awesome solo's in this album. Its freaking amazing. My favorite all-time thrice song is "To Awake and Avenge the Dead. When I want to get pumped up, I always listen to that song. Its unbelievable. The fast paced nature of the album is probably what sets it apart from later work, but I still think its some of the best stuff that they have written. My only complaint, is that some of the album gets repetitive. That can be said of a alot of albums, and does happen here somewhat. But it doesn't detract at all from the album.
Standout tracks: "Kill me quickly," "deadbolt," and then the last 3 songs end the album on a high note. "To Awake and Avenge the Dead," So Strange I Remember You," and the epic "The Beltsville Cruicible."
Even though this album only came out in 2002, it has a classic feeling to it when you compare it "The Artist and the Ambulance," and "Vheissu." And classic is usually a good thing in my book.
From start to finish it's just fantastic. I listen to just about everything except country and as far as punk/metal goes, this should be the freakin' standard.
Thrice has grown and evolved emensely. Sometimes it's hard to think the same band made Illusion of Safety and Vheissu, but I still love them and think that they are one of the BEST bands in modern music.
Check out their DVD that accompained If We Could Only See Us Now for a good telling of their backstory.
Bottom line: Thrice is amazing and The Illusion of Safety just plain rocks.
point of the slip cover. It contains nothing that is not on the
inserts. The CD will not fit into my storage racks with it on and so
it has been taken off and stored in a draw with others.
The slipcase and the inserts also contain at least one piece of
misinformation. According to Decca, Barry wrote 10 Bond scores when
in fact it is 11.A small point but it's as easy to get it right as
wrong.
Some have said, it would be fair to call this Beyondenss 2. The
idea of Barry using moments from his own life as inspiration is
continuued here together with a number of tracks which appear to be
directly inspired by John O'Donohue's book 'Eternal Echoes'.
Of the 11 tracks, two didn't work for me at first but grow on you with repeated listens.
These are 'Get Over It' and 'First Steps'. Somehow these tracks seem to lack the strong melody lines and emotional inspiration of the rest of the album.
The opening track 'Eternal Echoes' reminds me a little of 'Dances
with Wolves', with the synthesised choir and particularly the scene
where the Buffalo carcasses are seen spread over a plain ( can't
remember the name of the track). That for me is good, as IMO Dances
is one of Barry's finest and anything in that style will always play
well with me.
'Returning Home' is a wonderful track with a beautiful sax melody
laid over a glorious string backing. Would have made a good vocal had
appropriate lyrics been added. Was this inspired by Barry returning
home to Oyster Bay or does it come from earlier, perhaps returning to
his parents home in York after being away with JB7?
Crazy Dog, clearly inspired by his dog back at Oyster Bay and seen in
the Omnibus Documentary. A pleasing string melody reminds me a little
of 'Elsa at play' though taken at a slower pace. Wasn't too keen on
this intially but it grows big time!.
'Slow Day' is another wonderful track with Tommy Morgan's marvellous
playing of a strong Barry melody agin supported by a bed of strings
which is punctuated with a goldfingerish brass interlude.
On the Omnibus documentary this was seen being performed with a flute
solo by an attractive female member of the English Chamber Orchestra.
I really liked that version as well and it's a pity that we couldn't
have had 'Slow Day' parts 1 and 2' particularly as the vocal tracks
were abandoned.
'Fred and Cyd' is the track that many people seem to be raving about
and saying that Barry can break out of 'romantic mode'. It is a great
track. A lovely sax melody, which has the sharpeness and clarity of
early tracks such as 'Cutty Sark' is interspersed with another
stunningly good 'Goldfingerish' brass interlude. Is this inspired by
Fred Astaire and Cyd Charise who Barry must often have seen at the
Rialto in York.
Blessed Illusion would appear to be directly inspired by John
O'Donohue's book. Again, Barry presents a strong melody, initially
performed by solo trumpet and then taken up by strings though still
punctuated by brass figures. A more meditative track that gets better
with repeated listening.
'Lullabying', apparently inspired by the time soon after the birth
of Barry's son 'Jon Patrick' in the the mid 90s. I love this track.
The joy and love that Barry feels for his his son is expressed so
clearly and wonderfully by yet another knockout melody performrd by
flute and strings (I think). It's really very moving and possibly my
favourite track on the album. I suspect that one day Jon Patrick will
look back with a lot of pride at this wonderful track that he
inspired his Dad to write. This was used on the Omnibus documentary
for scenes of John and Jon Patrick fishing at Oyster Bay and over the
closing credits.
'Winning', not sure what inspired this one. Was it picking up the
Oscar for Dances after being ill for two years?. Whatever, it's yet
another
..... er.. winner!
Lovely initial string melody dissolves into glorious bridge. (As a
non musician it's difficult using words to describe music so I hope
you bear with me!!.)
'Get Over It', maybe inspired by the loss of his parents or elder
brother, I struggle with this one. It seems to lack the strength of
melody apparent elsewhere on the album. Reminds me of one two of the
later tracks on 'Beyondness'. Flute riff is taken up be strings.
Certainly not unpleasant and it may grow on me.
'First Steps' another track which doesn't seem to have the impact of
many others on this album. Again the melody is apparently not as
strong as several others. Really can't seem to get into this one.
Will stick with it, it may grow!
'Elegy' another track apprently inspired directly by the themes in
John O'Donohue's book.At 5.37, the longest track on the album.Used in
the Omnibus documentary when Barry is seen at work at Oyster Bay.
Very reflective and not one for the Hans Zimmer boys but this track
really works for me. So peaceful and beautiful with Barry yet again
producing a wonderful emotional melody.
It's a real pity that none of the vocals made it to the album.
Peronally I would have finished the album on an upbeat note as he did
with 'Beyondenss', possibly with 'Fred and Cyd' or 'Slow Day'. No
matter the album is here and is a great companion piece
to 'Beyondness'
Nine strong tracks out of eleven isn't a bad average. With 'Eternal
Echoes' and 'Enigma' John Barry shows that he is still at the top of
the tree and very much able to 'do the business'.
The bottom line is 'Eternal Echoes' contains long passages of really
lovely music that I will reguarly listen to.
EE is not Bond music but it deserves to be judged on it's own merits
and not against 60s Bond soundtracks.
Well worth buying!.
Japanese remastered reissue of the progressive rock act's 1970 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.
Illusion,Renaissance,Disk Union,Pop,Rock/Pop
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Use Your Illusion II
Guns N' Roses Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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ASIN: B000000OSG Release Date: 1991-09-17 |
Tracks:
- Civil War
- 14 Years
- Yesterdays
- Knockin' On Heaven's Door
- Get In The Ring
- Shotgun Blues
- Breakdown
- Pretty Tied Up
- Locomotive (Complicity)
- So Fine
- Estranged
- You Could Be Mine
- Don't Cry (Alt. Lyrics)
- My World
Amazon.com
Had Use Your Illusion II been combined with Use Your Illusion I, keeping only the best material while dropping the filler, it would have been one of the best rock albums ever recorded. Instead, great songs like "Civil War," "14 Years," "Estranged," and "So Fine" compete with the inexcusable "Get in the Ring" and the well-intentioned but off-target cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." There's no point to the second version of "Don't Cry," either. On the other hand, when Guns N' Roses were good, they were very, very good, and some of the material on this album is unsurpassable. --Genevieve WilliamsCustomer Reviews:
The final album by Guns and Roses..........2007-06-26
Pure early 90s metal.......2007-05-19
gnr 2.......2007-02-15
Wildly uneven, but could've been amazing.......2006-12-21
But we've got five REALLY AWESOME songs here. Ever see that video for Yesterdays? Great stuff, man. (and this from a guy who normally despises music videos!) Say what you will about Axl, but that little slither-dance thing he's got going is pretty cool. Now, I'm not saying you can judge a song by its video, because the song itself is amazing, too. Slash and Izzy riff away and Axl howls "ooh... yesterday's... got nothin' for me!" Schweet. Estranged is, well... Estranged. I didn't like it at first, but I didn't like ANY Guns n' Roses at first - their work seems to grow on me more than any other group's. Anyway, air-guitaring to that thing should be some sort of Olympic event, it's a great song to blast out the windows while you do said air guitaring (it'll drive the neighbors crazy, especially if they hate GN'R as I'm sure mine do and if you're as bad at air-guitar as me), it's got the best lyrics on any GN'R song anywhere ('cept maybe Patience), it's awesomely epic, AND I like Dizzy Reed's piano. It's true. I think he was an unnecessary addition to the band, but Estranged makes me change my mind. Possibly the best of either Illusion, though November Rain's some pretty stiff competition. Anyway, Izzy Stradin's my second-favorite Gunner (behind Guy with Cool Hat, Cool Stage Name and Even Cooler Guitar Tone), and he gets a chance to sing on his Stonesy Axl bash-a-thon 14 Years, which rocks tremendously. And I haven't gotten to the two big hits: Civil War (which mixes Appetite's hard rock, GN'R Lies' acoustic material, and surprising social relevance) which rules, and You Could Be Mine, a flat-out burning rocker which rules even more.
pretty good.......2006-10-06
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Use Your Illusion I
Guns N' Roses Manufacturer: Geffen Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000000OSE Release Date: 1991-09-17 |
Tracks:
- Right Next Door To Hell
- Dust N' Bones
- Live And Let Die
- Don't Cry (Original)
- Perfect Crime
- You Ain't The First
- Bad Obsession
- Back Off Bitch
- Double Talkin' Jive
- November Rain
- The Garden
- Garden Of Eden
- Don't Damn Me
- Bad Apples
- Dead Horse
- Coma
Amazon.com
Part one of Guns N' Roses' ambitious second album is arguably the better of the two. It certainly rocks harder, though this seems to be more coincidence than anything else; which songs went on which CD looks to have been a random selection. Use Your Illusion I stays closer to the band's bluesy hard-rock roots, with guitarist Izzy Stradlin contributing some of the best songs, including "Dust N' Bones" and "You Ain't the First." "November Rain" (clocking in at over nine minutes) became an instant classic, and there are a fair number of straight-ahead rockers, such as "Perfect Crime," "Don't Damn Me," and "Garden of Eden." Taking the best from this album and Use Your Illusion II would have made a killer single CD, but there's enough good stuff here to make it worthwhile. --Genevieve WilliamsCustomer Reviews:
The guns n roses show.......2007-04-18
Each time i bought a new guns album i heard a new sound completly different to the album before it. My fav. songs on this album are Don't damn me, Dead horse, Back off Bitch and definetly COMA. The riffs are unbelivable, Matt on the drums is great and axl well he is legendary, his voice, ever changing and his lyrics especially on Coma are mind blowing. Buy this album. You have to appriciate the lyrics of Axl and the others to really get this album. But there are still some hard rockin classics 5*
nearly perfect .......2006-12-30
dust n bones, bad obsession and bad apples: intelligent, aerosmith, stonesy blues rock songs.
live and let die: cool cover song, unique riffs.
don't cry: beautiful, but not comparable to november rain.
november rain: if u know anything about gnr, you've heard it. sounds classical, complex, and great instruments.
you ain't the 1st: twangy bluegrass country song w/ no solos, short, but one of a kind.
double talkin jive: kinda stupid lyrics, but almost metallica-sounding guitar solo, which fades into a spanish guitar sounding solo at the 1 minute left mark, rebellious.
the garden: seems to tell of drug use, multi-styled, it's soft yet heavy, like led zeppelin songs. BEST HARD SONG ON ALBUM
don't damn me: rebellious, and quality lyrics, just a simple gnr rocker.
dead horse: starts out acoustic, then suddenly gets crazy heavy, and an awesome solo from slash, then goes back to the same acoustic part then ends.
coma: describes a coma, has very heavy riff in it; coma>the garden.
This is not a hair metal album; uyi1 is like aerosmith/stones, while appetite is like poison/motley crue/kiss. do not buy but a few songs off appetite.
turn around point!.......2006-12-28
anti- hair metal! buy now!!!
turn around point!.......2006-12-28
Yeah, whatever.......2006-12-13
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The Grand Illusion
Styx Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000002GB9 Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- The Grand Illusion
- Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
- Superstars
- Come Sail Away
- Miss America
- Man In The Wilderness
- Castle Walls
- The Grand Finale
Amazon.com essential recording
More than two decades before it became Eric Cartman's favorite song on South Park, "Come Sail Away" was the choice of music fans with one foot in the art-rock camp and the other in Top 40 pop. The Grand Illusion straddled the seemingly divergent directions as only Styx could, laying on the pomp with layers of keyboards and high-flown lyrical conceits, yet keeping the proceedings light with hook-filled choruses and breezy melodies. Tommy Shaw's engaging "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" is the set's highlight, offering a bit of armchair psychology even as it acted as a subtle dig at the snarling punk rockers to whom Styx was anathema. James Young's "Miss America" rocks out, while Dennis DeYoung's title track reminds us that life is fleeting and illusory. Not exactly Nietzsche, but you can dance to it, sort of. --Daniel DurchholzCustomer Reviews:
Stellar.......2007-06-28
Top Five desserted Island CD's.......2007-06-27
Styx bashers, cross the river Styx...there's a place in hell reserved for you..........2007-05-09
Old Favorite.......2007-04-11
Tommy Shaw completing a flawed line-up..........2007-02-17
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Christ Illusion
Slayer Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000G75AE8 Release Date: 2006-08-08 |
Tracks:
- Flesh Storm
- Catalyst
- Eyes Of The Insane
- Jihad
- Skeleton Christ
- Consfearacy
- Catatonic
- Black Serenade
- Cult
- Supremist
Album Description
The fastest, heaviest and darkest band on earth retakes its unholy throne with Slayer's first studio album in six years and its first studio effort with the original lineup, including drummer Dave Lombardo, since 1990's Seasons In The Abyss. Produced by Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Staind), music from the album will be first available on June 6, 2006—that's right, 6/6/06.Customer Reviews:
Slayerism!.......2007-07-05
your repulsiveness reminds me of DEAD FLESH!.......2007-07-03
they should have quit in 1988.......2007-06-17
Great !.......2007-05-31
Decent, But FAR From The Greatest of 2006.......2007-05-05
This album isn't the greatest thing to come out, nor is it the biggest abomination to set itself on the record shelves (leave that to St. Anguish and The Metallica Wannabe Crusade). It has its up and it has its downs. If you're a big fan of Slayer and modern metal, enjoy. If you're looking for music with more depth and diversity, you might want to look elsewhere.
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Christ Illusion
Slayer Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000ROALE4 Release Date: 2007-07-24 |
Tracks:
- Flesh Storm
- Catalyst
- Skeleton Christ
- Eyes Of The Insane
- Jihad
- Consfearacy
- Catatonic
- Black Serenade
- Cult
- Supremist
- Final Six
Tracks:
- Slayer On Tour '07; Jihad\ Consfearacy (video content)
- Eyes Of The Insane (video content)
- South Of Heaven (from the Upcoming Unholy Alliance DVD)
Album Description
Widely considered to be the most important metal band ever, Slayer has re-affirmed that the opinion with its latest album, Christ Illusion. First released last summer, the album sold over 62,000 copies its fist week. Now a very special package of Christ illusion will be re-released that includes the new song "final six", an alternative version of "Black Serenade" PLUS a DVD with nearly 15 minutes of special Live & Tour footage as well as the "Eyes of the insane" video.
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Grieg: Lyric Pieces (Performed on Grieg's Piano)
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes
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ASIN: B00005UUOC Release Date: 2002-03-12 |
Tracks:
- No.1 Arietta
- No.2 Waltz
- No.6 Norwegian Melody
- No.5 Folk Melody
- No.8 Canon
- No.6 Elegy
- No.7 Waltz
- No.3 Melody
- No.3 March Of The Trolls
- No.4 Notturno
- No.2 Gade
- No.3 Illusion
- No.6 Homesickness
- No.6 Homeward
- No.4 The Brook
- No.5 Phantom
- No.1 Sylph
- No.5 Cradle Song
- No.6 Wedding Day At Troldhaugen
- No.4 Evening In The Mountains
- No.3 At Your Feet
- No.2 Summer Evening
- No.6 Gone
- No.7 Remembrances
Amazon.com
Grieg's 66 Lyric Pieces range from simple pretty tunes like the early "Arietta" that opens this disc to more extended pieces like the dashing "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" to impressionistic miniature tone poems like the late "Summer Evening." Here, Andsnes plays 24 of them, well-chosen to cover a representative selection from the complete sets. He plays them beautifully, with a lovely tone, virtuoso polish when such is called for, as in the express ride of "March of the Trolls," and poetic depth of feeling, as in "The Brook," where in his interpretation you can almost smell the grass and see the light ripples of the water. Gilels's selection on DG, with minimum overlap, is still unmatched, but Andsnes's well-recorded recital is a source of endless pleasures. Of added interest, the recording was made at Grieg's home, now a museum, on his 1892 Steinway. --Dan DavisCustomer Reviews:
Andsnes the piano man.......2007-01-08
Sensitive modern pianism.......2006-01-19
Yet, while a catalog with Horowitz' Scarlatti, Gould's Bach, Kempff Schubert, Bolet's Liszt, Pollini's Chopin, Michelangeli's Schumann, Gieseking's Debussy, Schnabel's Beethoven, Casadesus' Ravel, Seeman's Mozart and Backhaus' Brahms has set historic standards that are hard to equal or surpass, a cd of standard regularly performed repertoire like this one refutes any fear that we have reached the day that the music died.
For starters, piano technique has significantly improved over the last 25 years. Likely due to the standards that the aforementioned pianists set, the next generation is of superior dexterity. While I grew up in times that Horowitz' performances of Liszt, his own Carmen Fantasy and Stars and Stripes transcriptions, and Gould's highly articulate light speed Bach were considered supernatural phenomena, these times are long past. And although the former's sense of tone and the latter's feel for counterpoint may not yet have found their match, most participants in any of the endless number of competitions have basic skills that are just as high and in many cases repertoires that are much wider.
Before coming to the review of this disc, one more personal side note. Since the piano is an instrument that anyone with two functional hands can master to such a degree that quite a number of masterpieces in the repertoire are within reach, I expect recordings to reflect technical mastery. As such, I do not belong to the group of those pianophiles who consider Fischer's Bach "acceptable", Cortot's Chopin "monumental" and Horowitz "live in Moscow" version of his standard Scriabin etude "earth shattering".
Thus we come to the present disc, which I consider a prime example of contemporary pianism. Playing on Grieg's own euphonic, but decidedly mellow piano, in the composer's own "piano room" that imposes significant sonic limitations on the resulting recording quality, his fellow country man Leif Ove Andsnes revisits his juxtaposition of the modern and the authentic that we encountered earlier in his superior Haydn piano concerto disc. While the orchestral part in that recording had clear "authentic" traits, the piano and its performance were truly 21st century. Especially in the light of earlier performances of these Grieg pieces by the likes of Gilels and Gavrilov, Andsnes approach is more restrained and, based on credible historic documentation that comes to use by oral history, less authentically romantic.
Is there something like "the importance of being authentic"? Based on the movement that initially tried to ban all professional musicians from performing baroque music, there certainly is. Nobody will argue that it is of importance to have a good understanding of the performance practices of a particular era. Yet, the mere fact that Bach is still performed worldwide more than 2.5 centuries after his death clearly refutes the notion that his music could only be appreciated within a certain set of parameters. Leaving aside the great dichotomy between the fervor with which the "authentics" have defended "the rules" and the clarity and precision with which they were committed to paper centuries ago, there is no convincing argument that a contemporary should not be able to enjoy Gould's Bach on the piano over Leonhardt's "authentic" performances on the harpsichord.
Released of the shackles of authenticity, aware of the historical record, and fluent in Grieg's lingo from early childhood Andsnes has made a both highly sensitive and textually very accurate reading of the Norwegian's small scale character pieces. Helped by a technique, that is at least as good as all of the luminaries that I mentioned in the second paragraph, this recording shows the virtues of the "less is more" approach. Previous reviewers have harped on the Gilels comparison. While I admire the late Russian lion's performances, I greatly prefer Andsness. Although, Gilels could play fast and slow, soft and loud I considered his technique often of the lazy kind. Especially when it came to use of the sustain pedal he often chose to correct with his right foot, that what he preferred his hands/fingers to save energy on. While some consider this over-pedaling to be an essential part of the romantic mysticism, I am glad that the new generation of pianists does no longer need it to suggest fluency.
Limiting the use of the right pedal often leads to a much better characterization of a composer's sonic signature and this recording is no exception. While it is clear that Grieg was aware of contemporaries like Schumann, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt, Andsnes like no other "nails" the Norwegian's own distinctive voice. What results is a restrained, yet highly sensitive and intimate reading. While the room limits the clarity in the louder passages, it does provide a historically correct context for these lyric pieces.
Andsnes, without a doubt, is one of the stars of the next generation. While mediocre clowns like Lang Lang may entertain the circus crowds, it is comforting to know that musicians like the young Norwegian will keep the eternal flame alive and are likely to add chapters to an as of yet never ending history.
Suspicious Reviewer.......2005-10-19
By the way, I can't help questioning the intention of one of the reviewers named Dag Johansen. He is proactively reviewing most of Andsnes' CDs and giving them very poor rating. In fact, all he is reviewing are Andsnes', no other.
I don't mind that if it is truly his honest opinion but there's something fishy here... why does he keep buying Andsnes' CDs if he hates his playing so much? It's as if he is trying to damage the artist's reputation... Shady....
I have not actully heard this CD or any of Andsnes'. Just felt I needed to report on this.
A great pianist?.......2005-02-27
A voyage to the coast of Norway!.......2003-05-09
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A Portrait Of Anonymous 4
Anonymous , Hildegard of Bingen , and Anonymous 4 Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Hildegard of Bingen
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ASIN: B0000007HW Release Date: 1997-04-10 |
Tracks:
- Miracles Of Sant'Iago: Music From The Codex Calixtinus: Venite omnes cristicole
- Miracles Of Sant'Iago: Music From The Codex Calixtinus: Ad superni regis decus
- Miracles Of Sant'Iago: Music From The Codex Calixtinus: Portum in ultimo
- The Lily & The Lamb: Chant & Polyphony From Medieval England: O Maria stella maris
- The Lily & The Lamb: Chant & Polyphony From Medieval England: Stabat iuxta Christi crucem
- The Lily & The Lamb: Chant & Polyphony From Medieval England: Stillat in stellam radium
- A Star In The East: Medieval Hungarian Christmas Music: Primo tempore alleviata
- A Star In The East: Medieval Hungarian Christmas Music: Speciosus forma
- A Star In The East: Medieval Hungarian Christmas Music: Mi Atyank Atya Isten
- Love's Illusion: Music From The Montpellier Codex: Puisque bele dame m'eime - Flos Filius
- Love's Illusion: Music From The Montpellier Codex: Ne sai, que je die - Iohanne
- Love's Illusion: Music From The Montpellier Codex: Amor potest conqueri - Ad amorem sequitur
- Love's Illusion: Music From The Montpellier Codex: Quant yver la bise ameine - In Seculum
- Love's Illusion: Music From The Montpellier Codex: On doit fin(e) Amor - La Biaute - In Seculum
- An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant & Polyphony: Edi beo thu hevene quene
- An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant & Polyphony: Ave maris stella
- An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant & Polyphony: Salve virgo virginum
- On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets: Ther Is No Rose Of swych vertu
- On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets: Prolis eterne genitor - psallat mater gracie
- On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets: Ecce quod natura
- Spiritui sancto
Amazon.com
This sampler album of excerpts from seven other Anonymous 4 releases is a good introduction for anyone who is unacquainted with the A4's startlingly pure singing and virtually celestial blend. But if you fall under the spell of this outstanding a capella quartet, the present disc will become extraneous because you'll want to own the complete recordings from which it's drawn. If you prefer complete works to samplers, try taking the plunge with "An English Ladymass" or "On Yoolis Night." --Sarah Bryan MillerCustomer Reviews:
An aural treat for lovers of vocal music.......2007-04-14
Enchanting.......2007-01-10
If Angels Ever Recorded A CD.......2006-03-16
If angels ever came down from heaven to record a CD this is what they would sound like.
Harmonious, Celestial, Purifying and Eternal.
another exquisite performance.......2006-02-27
Anonymous, but in no way generic.......2001-02-04
These four women are virtuoso female vocalists, hauntingly pure of voice. They perform music from centuries ago in the same type of setting that it was originally performed in, with stunning results. I'm generally not one for "religious" material (this is the first recording of this nature I've ever bought), but this music goes so far back in time that it sounds more primal than Christian overall.
A refreshing change when you're in the right mood, and something that can relax even you type A personalities out there (and you *know* who you are :) , I can suggest this one without reserve. You'll be adding a nice, quiet corner to your collection, and you'll probably wind up visiting it more than you ever imagined.
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The Illusion of Safety
Thrice Manufacturer: Sub City Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00005YTRR Release Date: 2002-02-05 |
Tracks:
- Kill Me Quickly
- A Subtle Dagger
- See You In The Shallows
- Betrayal Is A Symptom
- Deadbolt
- In Years To Come
- The Red Death
- A Living Dance Upon Dead Minds
- Where Idols Once Stood
- Trust
- To Awake And Avenge The Dead
- So Strange I Remember You
- The Beltsville Crucible
Album Description
2002 album from melodic-hardcore/emo-core outfit. Sub City Records.Customer Reviews:
A great album by a great band (4.5).......2006-12-09
So strange I...I'll always remember you.......2006-08-16
What I've always liked about this album is the guitar work. There are some awesome solo's in this album. Its freaking amazing. My favorite all-time thrice song is "To Awake and Avenge the Dead. When I want to get pumped up, I always listen to that song. Its unbelievable. The fast paced nature of the album is probably what sets it apart from later work, but I still think its some of the best stuff that they have written. My only complaint, is that some of the album gets repetitive. That can be said of a alot of albums, and does happen here somewhat. But it doesn't detract at all from the album.
Standout tracks: "Kill me quickly," "deadbolt," and then the last 3 songs end the album on a high note. "To Awake and Avenge the Dead," So Strange I Remember You," and the epic "The Beltsville Cruicible."
Even though this album only came out in 2002, it has a classic feeling to it when you compare it "The Artist and the Ambulance," and "Vheissu." And classic is usually a good thing in my book.
Still one of my all time favs........2006-05-10
From start to finish it's just fantastic. I listen to just about everything except country and as far as punk/metal goes, this should be the freakin' standard.
Thrice has grown and evolved emensely. Sometimes it's hard to think the same band made Illusion of Safety and Vheissu, but I still love them and think that they are one of the BEST bands in modern music.
Check out their DVD that accompained If We Could Only See Us Now for a good telling of their backstory.
Bottom line: Thrice is amazing and The Illusion of Safety just plain rocks.
Another good band falls victum of modern day emo crap........2006-01-19
Nice eerie, almost evil sounding guitar bits.......2006-01-09
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Just an Illusion
Najee Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000002V22 Release Date: 1992-06-30 |
Tracks:
- Touch Of Heaven
- I Adore Mi Amor
- Just An Illusion
- Breezy
- All I Ever Ask
- Noah's Ark
- Loving Every Moment
- Burn It Up
- Skyline
- Deep Inside Your Love
- Here We Go
- Until We Meet Again
- Whenever We're Together
Customer Reviews:
Cool music for relaxing.......2001-07-26
Not to come off as some type of purist, but I think this music is more easy listening than Jazz -- kind of like Kenny G., Dave Koz and that ilk. It's hard for me to explain my reasoning, but this music doesn't evoke the same feel as does classic Miles or even contemporary artists like Wynton Marsalis and Cassandra Wilson. It's just not edgy enough. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.
As usual, Najee's playing is enhanced by some impressive guest vocals. Freddy Jackson guests on the pretty ballad "All I Ever Ask," and Jeffrey Osborne shines on "Loving Every Minute."
" The right stuff ".......2000-05-16
A Remake Of A Color Me Badd Song?.......1999-12-06
The perfect jazz album. No doubt about it!.......1999-06-14
TO.......1999-04-04
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Eternal Echoes
John Barry Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00005QC23 Release Date: 2002-10-01 |
Tracks:
- Eternal Echoes
- Returning Home
- Crazy Dog
- Slow Day
- Fred & Cyd
- Blessed Illusion
- Lullabying
- Winning
- Get Over It
- First Steps
- Elegy
Album Details
Another Feather in John Barry's Soundtrack Cap! the Master Produces Another Gem.Customer Reviews:
Excellent album from one of the very best.......2004-08-16
point of the slip cover. It contains nothing that is not on the
inserts. The CD will not fit into my storage racks with it on and so
it has been taken off and stored in a draw with others.
The slipcase and the inserts also contain at least one piece of
misinformation. According to Decca, Barry wrote 10 Bond scores when
in fact it is 11.A small point but it's as easy to get it right as
wrong.
Some have said, it would be fair to call this Beyondenss 2. The
idea of Barry using moments from his own life as inspiration is
continuued here together with a number of tracks which appear to be
directly inspired by John O'Donohue's book 'Eternal Echoes'.
Of the 11 tracks, two didn't work for me at first but grow on you with repeated listens.
These are 'Get Over It' and 'First Steps'. Somehow these tracks seem to lack the strong melody lines and emotional inspiration of the rest of the album.
The opening track 'Eternal Echoes' reminds me a little of 'Dances
with Wolves', with the synthesised choir and particularly the scene
where the Buffalo carcasses are seen spread over a plain ( can't
remember the name of the track). That for me is good, as IMO Dances
is one of Barry's finest and anything in that style will always play
well with me.
'Returning Home' is a wonderful track with a beautiful sax melody
laid over a glorious string backing. Would have made a good vocal had
appropriate lyrics been added. Was this inspired by Barry returning
home to Oyster Bay or does it come from earlier, perhaps returning to
his parents home in York after being away with JB7?
Crazy Dog, clearly inspired by his dog back at Oyster Bay and seen in
the Omnibus Documentary. A pleasing string melody reminds me a little
of 'Elsa at play' though taken at a slower pace. Wasn't too keen on
this intially but it grows big time!.
'Slow Day' is another wonderful track with Tommy Morgan's marvellous
playing of a strong Barry melody agin supported by a bed of strings
which is punctuated with a goldfingerish brass interlude.
On the Omnibus documentary this was seen being performed with a flute
solo by an attractive female member of the English Chamber Orchestra.
I really liked that version as well and it's a pity that we couldn't
have had 'Slow Day' parts 1 and 2' particularly as the vocal tracks
were abandoned.
'Fred and Cyd' is the track that many people seem to be raving about
and saying that Barry can break out of 'romantic mode'. It is a great
track. A lovely sax melody, which has the sharpeness and clarity of
early tracks such as 'Cutty Sark' is interspersed with another
stunningly good 'Goldfingerish' brass interlude. Is this inspired by
Fred Astaire and Cyd Charise who Barry must often have seen at the
Rialto in York.
Blessed Illusion would appear to be directly inspired by John
O'Donohue's book. Again, Barry presents a strong melody, initially
performed by solo trumpet and then taken up by strings though still
punctuated by brass figures. A more meditative track that gets better
with repeated listening.
'Lullabying', apparently inspired by the time soon after the birth
of Barry's son 'Jon Patrick' in the the mid 90s. I love this track.
The joy and love that Barry feels for his his son is expressed so
clearly and wonderfully by yet another knockout melody performrd by
flute and strings (I think). It's really very moving and possibly my
favourite track on the album. I suspect that one day Jon Patrick will
look back with a lot of pride at this wonderful track that he
inspired his Dad to write. This was used on the Omnibus documentary
for scenes of John and Jon Patrick fishing at Oyster Bay and over the
closing credits.
'Winning', not sure what inspired this one. Was it picking up the
Oscar for Dances after being ill for two years?. Whatever, it's yet
another
..... er.. winner!
Lovely initial string melody dissolves into glorious bridge. (As a
non musician it's difficult using words to describe music so I hope
you bear with me!!.)
'Get Over It', maybe inspired by the loss of his parents or elder
brother, I struggle with this one. It seems to lack the strength of
melody apparent elsewhere on the album. Reminds me of one two of the
later tracks on 'Beyondness'. Flute riff is taken up be strings.
Certainly not unpleasant and it may grow on me.
'First Steps' another track which doesn't seem to have the impact of
many others on this album. Again the melody is apparently not as
strong as several others. Really can't seem to get into this one.
Will stick with it, it may grow!
'Elegy' another track apprently inspired directly by the themes in
John O'Donohue's book.At 5.37, the longest track on the album.Used in
the Omnibus documentary when Barry is seen at work at Oyster Bay.
Very reflective and not one for the Hans Zimmer boys but this track
really works for me. So peaceful and beautiful with Barry yet again
producing a wonderful emotional melody.
It's a real pity that none of the vocals made it to the album.
Peronally I would have finished the album on an upbeat note as he did
with 'Beyondenss', possibly with 'Fred and Cyd' or 'Slow Day'. No
matter the album is here and is a great companion piece
to 'Beyondness'
Nine strong tracks out of eleven isn't a bad average. With 'Eternal
Echoes' and 'Enigma' John Barry shows that he is still at the top of
the tree and very much able to 'do the business'.
The bottom line is 'Eternal Echoes' contains long passages of really
lovely music that I will reguarly listen to.
EE is not Bond music but it deserves to be judged on it's own merits
and not against 60s Bond soundtracks.
Well worth buying!.
BARRY ECHOES ETERNALLY.......2003-09-05
My first exposure to Barry's music came with Out of Africa. It was shortly thereafter that I happened to be watching one of my favorite movies, The Lion in Winter and discovered that the soundtrack was composed by none other than John Barry.
Since then I have added a wide variety of Barry's music to my collection and find that Eternal Echoes is just what the title implies: brilliant echoing music of the sort that any John Barry fan would love.
Dispensable.......2002-12-20
"open up your heart to Eternal Echoes ~ Barry".......2002-12-15
Our legendary composer has crafted a brilliant movement of cues that innate cinematic illusions, thus capturing our thoughts and memories that seem to linger above with joy and sadness. Barry himself arranged and conducted the English Chamber Orchestra with his signature reflective style. The whole pace of this album is sedate with more of a mellow tone that will creep into your very musical soul. A good example of this is "SLOW DAY", featuring a solo by Tommy Morgan on harmonica , as the strumming of the orchestra blends into a counter-balance. The echoes of heavy brass resounding sends a message of triumphant appeal to all fans of this film music storyteller.
Much of Barry's score is variations of themes, sometimes touching on the visuals that only music can express. One such cue is "BLESSED ILLUSION", brass and strings create obsessive musical phrases tending to repeat themselves, very effective. One favorite of mine is "GET OVER IT", the opening chords have so much merit, completely a full bloom of the English Chamber Orchestra under the baton of John Barry is nothing less than spellbinding, the tempo and performance takes your breath away.
Believe this is one of the most important albums in Barry's career. Each cue is to be savored like a fine glass of wine, unforgettable compositions are within this rare gem of musicial genius. This is a must have, a keeper for all the fans of movie music and is a "film-score-buffs' delight, gotta love it.
Total Time: 43:34 on 11 Tracks ~ Decca 289-466-765-2 ~ (2001)
John Barry's current state of mind.......2002-10-09
Rock Music:
- In Hearing of [Import] [Original recording remastered]
- In Love & Death [Import]
- Inner North [Import]
- International Breeze
- Kadomatsu T's Songs from L.a. [Import]
- Ladder [Import]
- Les Hell on Heels
- Live at Budokan [Import]
- Lo-Fi Acoustic Excursions 1983-2003
- Low Tuned Output
