CD-Charts Position 191

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La Belle Epoque: Emi's French Girls 1965-68

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Various Artists

Release Date May 14, 2007

CD-Charts Position 192
Average Rating:

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My Name Is Buddy

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Ry Cooder

Release Date March 05, 2007
After hearing/reading/listening to this album absolutely spellbound, I was left with tears in my eyes as the final song, "There's a bright side somewhere", was playing. The brilliant musicianship, the simplicity of the music, and the expression of hope in this whole album, touched me so deeply. And that's what I want from Ry Cooder: to hear him and enjoy the sound, but also to identify with him, and to be taken on his journey with him through each and every one of his recordings. I can always trust him to speak directly to me through his music. "My Name Is Buddy" is no exception. Thanks Ry Cooder for being true on your journey, and giving me a legacy of music that never dissappoints as long as my ears, mind and heart are open to receive.

CD-Charts Position 193
Average Rating:

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Miss Dy-Na-Mi-Tee

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain

Release Date January 31, 2005
I first came across these guys by accident when I was trying to google something up about ukuleles. I found myself bounced to ukuleleorchestra.com and went to one of their gigs. This new single is great - but catch them live too before their popularity makes them unreachable. The last gig I went to had 'The Streets' in the audience, along with other stars. Deffo musician's musicians.

CD-Charts Position 194
Average Rating:

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Tigermilk

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Belle & Sebastian

Release Date September 01, 2000
This really is the last word in mid-nineties Scottish Indie, and perhaps the most brilliant showcase for Stuart Murdoch's endearing vocals. From the first line of 'The State That I Am In', originality flows forth at a rate of knots.

'The State That I Am In' is an almost perfect lesson in Belle and Sebastian approach: mixing a conversational tone with snippets of real-life subject matter, mixed with reminiscence, wistful melancholia, all accompanied by soft acoustic and dreamy electric guitars that owe more than a little to other Scottish Indie stalwarts such as The Pastels and The Shop Assistants. The result is spectacular, a stark contrast against the repugnant excess and self-obsession of the Britpop era.

The lyrics ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 195
Average Rating:

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Nigeria Disco Funk Special

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Various Artists

Release Date March 31, 2008
I have know idea where this series has come from, but having brought and been massively impressed with "Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-1976" I thought I'd buy this as well on a whim. Once again I was actually quite startled by how good a compilation it is.

The musical content is really quite well explained by the title. The tracks themselves are not focused on particularly successful artists or hits from the period, it is simply music that the compiler enjoyed within the parameters of the title.

It is well worth singling out the opener, "Take Your Soul" by The Sahara All Stars, as the stand out track, but really each and every track is well worth a listen.

Just like the compilation I mentioned ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 196
Average Rating:

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Want Two

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Rufus Wainwright

Release Date March 07, 2005
Hard as teak, soft as cotton, sinuous as corded muscle...to me, Rufus Wainwright's voice is a thing of beauty. Yet, on other days I think it sounds whiney, nasal and annoying. But I rather like the idea of a musician who is different every time I hear him.

As has been noted by others, this album is a bit of a patchwork affair that, perhaps, lacks continuity. However, it's a rich confection of an album and can be a little too overwhelming to contemplate in a single sitting.

Yet there's much beauty here...Peach Trees just seems to soar and soar. Memphis Skyline a moving paean to Jeff Buckley. And Waiting for a Dream has a strange, metronomic / woozy quality that quietly hypnotises.

If you're in the right frame of mind, this is gorgeous ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 197
Average Rating:

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9

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Damien Rice

Release Date November 06, 2006
Like a lot of people I was very hesitant as to whether 9 would live up to its predecessor and had to give it a few listens before I could pass judgement. Although in some aspects it is similar to O- "Dogs" possesses an innocence that would fit nicely with Damien's first album- to me it seems a lot more mature and some of the perfect, beautiful lyrics have been replaced with some more realistic and matter-of-fact ones which are actually just as powerful. For example the chorus of Rootless Tree (which involves a lot of swearing) to me is incredibly realistic and almost like a converstaion- "so * you and all we've been through, I said leave it, it's nothing to you, and if you hate me then hate me so good that you can let me out of this hell when you're around". Its impossible to say ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 198
Average Rating:

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Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs and Chanteys

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 25, 2006
I can understand some folk purists wanting to hate this before they've even heard it, and it could have ended up as a complete dogs breakfast. Yes if they'd given the whole undertaking to Bellowhead it might have been a classic, but on the whole it's not turned out too bad, and there's something to be said for the eclectic nature of the thing.

I'll have nothing said against Baby Gramps, he's a fine guitarist and that's no affectation, he really does sound like Popeye's drunken brother. Surprisingly of the "Big Names" Sting makes the best fist of his effort. I say surprising because he strikes me as the most unlikeable of people. Unsurprisingly Bono misses the point completely, and confirms that he is now completely and utterly up himself.

The most authentic ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 199
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Burlesque

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Bellowhead

Release Date September 25, 2006
It's very rare indeed that a band emerges as different and talented as Bellowhead. The 11 piece big-band collective play contemporary, innovative versions of traditional folk songs, which, despite the band's size, have excellent, uncluttered arrangements.

Bellowhead is the brainchild of singer / fiddler Jon Boden and melodeon playing John Spiers, both well-known faces on the English folk circuit. One or other of the Jo(h)ns arranged most of the songs on Burlesque or wrote an original melody or reel with the exception of Across The Line and London Town which were arranged by Pete Flood and Paul Sartin respectively, Both highlights, London Town has an almost ska-like feel courtesy of Bellowhead's superb four-piece brass section who are more like the Dirty Dozen Band than the standard ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 200
Average Rating:

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Chrome Dreams II: +DVD

CD-Charts > Music > World and Folk
by: Neil Young

Release Date October 22, 2007
As a life long fan of Neil Young imagine the anticipation of a DVD! The music on Chrome Dreams seemed fine enough and then I sat back to watch the DVD expecting some footage of Neil and the band.

What did I get? Well, not the 'moving video image' as stated on the can. There was just music with close-ups of a rusting car and nothing else.

So sorry Neil but the DVD is less than miserable. I bought Steve Earle's 'Washington Serenade' at the same time. Again fine music BUT with a great DVD with Steve showing some passion for music.

Next time maybe try to give your fans a treat with a genuine DVD and don't be afraid to show some love and passion for your music in front of the camera. Come on and give it a go!