CD-Charts Position 1
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The Essential Leonard Cohen

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Leonard Cohen

Release Date April 25, 2005
The voice is the first thing you notice. The early poetic renditions on such classics as "Suzanne", "Sisters of Mercy" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" are presented in a voice that is deadpan but not as gruff as in later years. This was at a period when he was a well kept secret and with a style and presentation that not everyone took to. Move onto disc 2 and you notice how the voice deepens and the songs become bigger. One thing that Cohen has never failed to deliver is quality songs with curious stories to tell. He has an almost hymn-like or gospel touch on a lot of his work, usually enhanced by superb backing singers and wondrous musicians and arrangements.

I move between both of his periods with equal ease, but I find the latter ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Queen

Release Date November 13, 2000
I have just got the box set recently, and have been enjoying it greatly. Not just that, my three daughters aged 9, 6 and 2 are great fans, and want to listen to it all the time in the car. And the two-year-old even says 'Rock' once she hears the first few bars of 'We will rock you'. Just goes on to show that Queen truly made ageless music, which still scores far above most contemporary music.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Live Santa Monica '72

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: David Bowie

Release Date June 30, 2008
I've not listened to Bowie for many years, but when I saw this had been released I decided to get it straight away. This was my favourite era, and I'm a big fan of live albums, seeing how well a small group can reproduce the songs on stage - and they certainly don't disappoint. The band wend their way through a brilliant 18-song set, ranging from the full-on rock of Suffragette City to a wonderful version of Space Oddity - just 2 vocals and a 12-string acoustic guitar. There are only one or two tracks which don't quite match up to the quality of the studio versions; but this is live music and you would expect that. The one thing that stops me giving this five stars is the sound quality and mix. Mostly it is very good, but frequently there are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Songs in A&E

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Spiritualized

Release Date May 26, 2008
I've never been one for the jazz themed white noise thrashouts so beloved of Mr Pierce, but always loved the droney cathedral rock of his earlier days (which I appreciate is just as unmusical to some ears - I absolutely love Pure Phase). Ladies and Gentlemen is undoubtedly his masterpiece (jazz themed white noise thrashouts notwithstanding), but why oh why did I not buy a second copy and keep the first fresh in its pill box?

Anyway, post L&G the work declined. Some decent stuff on Let it come down, but I didn't bother with Amazing Grace. This is a return to form. I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who said he might need a bit more inspiration when it comes to song titles, but the songs and music are back. I cannot stop listening to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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I, Flathead

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Ry Cooder

Release Date June 23, 2008
These days, Ry Cooder is a musical novelist and I happen to believe that his format of album making is quietly revolutionary. Here is another great example of what a concept album should be like. Mysterious, Iconic, Intruiging and totally musical.

In an age where you select a few tracks of an album for a download, it's quite incredible that we have an artist who makes you realise what a lazy musical culture we live in.

It's time to wake up People !!! Music is still alive ...

CD-Charts Position 6
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Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Release Date March 03, 2008
I am 16 years old and have been a Nick Cave fan for 2 years and this has to be one of the best "prog rock" albums of all time. Cave is obviously a rather witty person and we here this with such lyrics as "spent the next seven years between her legs begging for my wife."The Bad Seeds play very well behind Nick Cave with Mick Harvey in great form on lead guitar and the wonderful warren ellis playing violin and such things leading the band on to Nick Cave's superb vocals on every song especially "We call upon the author" the complete stand out in a world class and all time classic rock album and the best and most mature of NC's career so far and long may it continue.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Blues Breakers

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: John Mayall, Eric Clapton

Release Date December 15, 2000
I was going to mention Clapton's christening of the Les Paul, Marshall setup, but others have beaten me to it. I liken it's impact to what happened to harp playing when Little Walter and other's deciding to blow through the PA or an early guitar amp. They REDEFINED the sound of the instrument.

So all I'll add is the rhetorical question...can you imagine being a teenage Brit, having been reared on the sounds of the Beatles, Jerry and the Pacemakers, or even the Dave Clark Five, wandering into a London club because someone had recommended the Bluesbreakers, and hearing THIS STUFF? Probably as epiphanic as being a white guy in mid 50's Chicago and having the nerve to wander into the Dew Drop Inn and hearing Muddy, Wolf, or later, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Revolver

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: The Beatles

Release Date November 01, 1998
Hit me for six at the age of thirteen and a quarter of a century later I'd be hard-pressed to think of a more spectacular collection of pop songs.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Evil Urges

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: My Morning Jacket

Release Date June 09, 2008
As a huge fan of My Morning Jacket, I was eagerly anticipating Evil Urges, having listened relentlessly to It Still Moves and Z and purchased all the earlier albums too. The reverb drenched vocals, existential lyrics, beautiful melodies balanced superbly with some heavy guitar work, have drawn comparisons with Neil Young, but despite the grand nature of their sound, a playful exuberance is never too far around the corner and its that ability not to take themselves too seriously, which has made them so listenable. I can pretty much put them on at any time of day in any mood and their music fits. That fine balance of intensity and playfulness has been tipped very firmly in the playfulness direction and that harmony they've achieved in the past, is not to be found in this latest effort ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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I'm Your Man

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Rock
by: Leonard Cohen

Release Date July 02, 1990
There really are not words enough to describe the sweep and grandeur of Leonard's 1988 masterpiece. Age cannot wither, nor custom stale its infinite variety. There are many common misperceptions of Mr.Cohen, but none more frustrating to a lifelong fan than that of suicidal, morbid folk-singer. My own personal vision is of the ultimate caberet crooner, the last-dance, last-chance, end-of-the-night performer, dispensing gems of wisdom sometimes with an urbane humour, but always with love and a song in his heart: a mixture of Aznavour, Brel, and Noel Coward, with a little Brecht thrown in for good measure. This album answers perfectly that call, most seductively and gorgeously in LC's reading of Lorca's 'Little Viennese Waltz' (here recast as TAKE THIS WALTZ): "There's a concert hall in Vienna/ Where ... Read More: