CD-Charts Position 151
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Ten New Songs

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Leonard Cohen

Release Date October 08, 2001
This one took quite a few listenings before I began to realise the strength of some of the lyrics and the emotional power of just about every track.
Some don't like the strong presence of female vocals - personally I love this especially on 'Alexandra Leaving' and 'Here it is'.
I love this album and think others who know Cohen's work will too - and hopefully, many others who don't know his work will hereby get to know it.

CD-Charts Position 152
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Aja

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Steely Dan

Release Date April 24, 2000
From a band that only seem to release great albums, 'Aja' is well down the list of Steely Dan's best. What I like about their earlier releases is their blend of styles. 'Aja' is dominated by jazz and funk influences, neither of which are my favoured genres, but the music rewards repeated listening and is beautifully constructed. The title track is, for me, the highlight, its innocuous opening soon drifting into subtle, shifting shades of tonal colour and twinkling keyboards, culminating in a striking closing passage. 'Josie' is the obvious hit item, with a great guitar intro and a solid groove. 'Peg' is the other more overtly commercial item, the remaining tracks being more like the title track in approach.' Not the most instant album, and, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 153
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Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 11, 2002
This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?

Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 154
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Kill Bill Vol. 1

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Original Soundtrack

Release Date October 06, 2003
If you actually like paying for what are little more than sound effects masquerading as tracks, then get this soundtrack. For example: Banister Fight - RZA; Flip Sting; Sword Swings - Luis Bacalov;Axe Throws - Bernard Herrmann.

For those wanting to get a true Kill Bill soundtrack, with all the movie music included, you will be disappointed to hear that the following tracks are ABSENT from this soundtrack or are totally unrecogniseable from the movie version:

'Nobody But Me - The Human Beinz' - absent;
'Seven Notes In Black - Vince Tempera' (this is the music playing as Kiddo is about to slash Buck, but is heavily rapped over by RZA or whoever he is);
'Long Day Of Vengeance - Armando Travajoli' - absent;
'Death ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 155
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One Chance

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Paul Potts

Release Date July 16, 2007
Isn't it amazing what TV and a whole bucket load of hype can do.
This guy would not get a part in an amateur production of Gilbert & Sullivan!Of course it's all a question of "the kings new clothes",if we criticise him we don't have a heart/cannot hear how well he sings, or just don't appreciate talent.(Where is it?)
Well, Mr Potts sings off key(often)and when he finds the key he continues by singing flat.
Make the best of it Mr Potts because the fickle world of "popular" music will soon tire of you,and when they do they will tear you to pieces, as they discover the fabrication that has been passed off as talent.
Talent cannot be invented,as has Paul Potts,it comes naturally;and this voice is decidely unatural.

CD-Charts Position 156
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Future Sex / Love Sounds

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Justin Timberlake

Release Date September 11, 2006
I was a bit apprehensive when it came to listening to this CD. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of JT, but I thoroughly enjoyed his previous solo debut CD Justified, which was a very soulful affair. My apprehension came upon hearing the first single from this CD SexyBack, and that the majority of the CD would be produced by Timbaland. Not with standing one or two efforts (namely Cry Me a River which is a great song) I find Timbaland production soul less & cold. Alas that is how I would describe the majority of the songs on offer here. The only redeeming factors for this CD are the cuts:(Another Song) All Over Again , and Losing my Way, which benefits from a string section, & Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Choir. Very soulful. If only the rest ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 157
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Final Straw

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Snow Patrol

Release Date February 02, 2004
I thoroughly enjoyed Snow Patrol's latest album "Eye's Open" ,but I didn't enjoy the band's 2004 album "Final Straw" quite so much.It wasn't quite up to the high standards of "Eyes Open". That said it is still one of the better albums that I have heard recently featuring excellent songs such as "How To Be Dead", "Spitting Games", "Chocolate" and "Run". A few other tracks on "Final Straw" are good as well but I found the final four or five songs (bonus tracks included) to be a bit of a let down;they all seemed to blur into one.

CD-Charts Position 158
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The Battle of Los Angeles

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Rage Against The Machine, Zack de la Rocha

Release Date October 26, 1998
Now while many say that Rages best record was the unstoppably furious debut, this is their true masterpiece. Its the sound of a more intelligent and focused band embracing raw experimental sounds. Now while the album is known for its stomping hits (Testify, Guerilla Radio and Sleep now in the fire) its actually on many of the hidden gems on this album that rage hits on to something. For example the exellent album tracks Born of a Broken Man, where rage fuse the time signatures of Led Zeppelin and the *Loud-Quiet* dynamics of many grunge and prog bands, coupled with Zachs poetry and Tom Morellos achingly sad riff produce one of the bands greatest songs. Theres also more quality stomping on Hip-Hoppers Calm Like a Bomb with more Space Ship noises from Tom Morello and a funky ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 159
Average Rating:

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Permanent Waves

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Rush

Release Date July 14, 1997
Yes! Around 28 years after this album was released, Rush have never been able to excel the half-dozen songs found on this album, at least in my eyes. The half-dozen songs ensconced within this CD personally rank as classics of the genre, with the trio's musical skills being at their peak. It essentially serves as a conduit between the excellent, but ridiculously overblown Hemispheres and the album that really marked their overture towards the mainstream, the seminal Moving Pictures.

Without making a detailed track-by-track analysis, I'll safely say that The Spirit of Radio and Freewill are deserved stalwarts of the classic-rock world. The following two tracks are somewhat underappreciated; particularly my personal favourite, Jacob's Ladder. It's marked by its magnificent ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 160
Average Rating:

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Weezer

CD-Charts > Music > CDs from
by: Weezer

Release Date March 20, 1999
Weezer were never a unique group, their blend of Kiss inspired tunes mixed with Beach Boys harmonies are true to the fact that they were nothing more four college/university friends putting together the music they loved. Of course their career has remained a storied one thanks to the awkwardness of River Cuomo's mindscape.

Although it was probably in a bad position when it was released back 1994, Weezer's self titled debut was and still remains their shining moment. Mostly famous for the Spike Jonze directed video for Buddy Holly and the incomparable Undone (Sweater Song), Weezer (or The Blue Album) is a blueprint (excuse the expression) in geekiness.

This is also probably the greatest reason why Rivers is one of the best songwriters out there, with simple songs like ... Read More: