3 comments about Abide With Me: 50 Favorite Hymns.

1. i grew up in a traditional presbyterian church that had a pipe organ. i wanted a cd of many of the hymns that we sang in church sung by a choir and accompanied by a pipe organ. this cd fulfilled my wishes perfectly. the hymns are performed in a very straight-forward fashion with no show-boating or excess flourishes which is exactly what i wanted. this is not gospel music but what i refer to as liturgical music to indicate that it is religious music but not gospel music. i would give it 5 stars but there is a slight hiss. other than that the recording quality is very good.



2. Majestic hymns sung with British accents. A great combination! I haven't noticed any objectionable sounds on my copy.



3. This two disc rendition of church hymns is very well done. The sound quality of the individual presentations is excellent. I wish only that the full lyrics to each hymn were included, but that really is a small oversight.

5 comments about Scrooge: The Musical (1992 Birmingham Cast).

1. This is rather a labored effort. Anthony Newley is not well-cast. The extra songs are nothing else but extra and take away from the story.



2. For all of you who carry the memories and the magic from the 1970 original musical film of Scrooge, this "production" will destroy that magic. Anthony Newly is indeed, wrongly cast, and is an absolutely horrendous, egotistical and overdone [his style] obscenity to the gorgeous songs of Leslie Bricusse and to Albert Finney's characterization of such.



3. The reason for all the negative reviews isn't necessarilly a reflection on the Birmingham cast. It's because the FILM was so wonderful and the songs were spectacular and memorable as done by THAT cast, and everyone is looking for a recording from THAT!!!
   
   Unfortunately, unless you get the DVD and hook it up to make your own bootleg recording, there isn't any soundtrack from the film available.
   
   This version isn't misleading - it clearly identifies itself as the STAGE soundtrack. But most likely, it isn't what you were looking for.
   
   Let us all know when the Albert Finney film cast version is ready! It's long overdue for release.



4. Scrooge the movie is my absolute favorite Christmas movie. Apparently, you can't get the soundtrack on CD because of some kind of legal hangup. Until they make a real version of this CD, go to http://falalalala.com/?p=129 and make your own Scrooge the movie CD! That website has everything you need in one place. If you love the movie, like me, go download it now. Then life will be fine, good, and just as it should be.



5. I bought this CD originally because my 7 yo son was cast in a local production. I figured it would help him learn the words. For that reason, the CD did its job. It's turned out to be one of his favorite Christmas CDs.
   I must admit that the Albert Finney version of Scrooge has always been my favorite, even as a child. I had to listen to it a few times to digest it. Eventually it grew on me. First off, Track 1, A Christmas Carol only played for about 1 minute and then would go to track two. That was a disappointment because as someone else said, the first song is wonderful. I liked all the songs and the added one, Good Times, that the Cratchit family sings.
   What surprised me was the quality of some of the voices. Some of the ensemble actually go flat (off key)in a few of the songs, especially in the Entr'acte (I Like Life Reprise), Bob Cratchit in Good Times, and some Cratchit Family members when they all sing with Tiny Tim in The Beautiful Morning.
   Anthony Newly does a great job on some of the songs where there's talking and singing like in I Hate Christmas and It's Not My Fault. I find I don't like when he sings the higher or sustained notes in some songs such as I'll Begin Again or A Better Life. I feel he uses too much vibrato at the end, instead of having a full and solid voice.
   Overall, I would recommend this to others.

4 comments about Widescreen-The Collector's Edition.

1. When this album was first released on Epic Records in 1974, I thought it was brilliant. I still do. I was delighted when it was reissued on CD in 1995 on the Varese Vintage label. The album is a true blending of music and cinema...of the mind. The songs truly are movies unto themselves, short stories set to music, brilliantly written, arranged and performed. The "hit" was "Our National Pastime," wherein our hero meets a girl at a baseball game and attempts to seduce her to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner." "Letters That Cross In the Mail" (later covered by Barbra Streisand on an album Holmes produced), "Terminal" and "Second Saxophone" are all surprise-ending stories with great melodies. "Widescreen" and "Bagdad" set distinct moods in surround sound before surround sound was invented. "Talk" is one of several songs on the CD that use bittersweet humor to express universal feelings and experiences. "Phantom of the Opera" and "Soap Opera" are both truly movies-on-CD, the first a beautiful and sad plea for love, the second a very funny satire on TV's "daytime dramas". The last track, "Psycho Drama," is just that; a short spoken play with incidental music and sound effects, and guest voices like Ed Herlihy and Will Jordan (whose characters are takeoffs on Peter Lorre and James Mason). The original CD version contained two bonus tracks from other Holmes albums, "Deco Lady" and "Brass Knuckles." but that version went out of print. Now it's back with even MORE bonus tracks! What are you waiting for? BUY IT!



2. I've always considered this to be one of the great albums EVER, but oh wowo zowie - this is such a treat. The remastering is masterful; the musical nuances are clear at last. The additional tracks are wonderful, but especially terrific are Rupert's liner notes detailing the making of "Widescreen" in 1973-74. NOW I know how they made "Letters That Cross In The Mail" sound so unique..! Listening to it is still one of the most memorable musical experiences ever recorded. I can't recommend this CD highly enough.



3. It didn't come as any big surprise to me that Rupert Holmes moved from music to writing books. Every song is a story in itself.
   
   "Brass Knuckles" is a Chandleresque tale of a gumshoe set out to restore the honor of a fallen partner.
   
   "Letters that Cross in the Mail" talks about relationships dying via the foibles of communication. It's still as droll as it ever was.
   
   "Psycho Drama" uses the voices of Radio Mystery Theatre players to recreate the long-dead radio play.
   
   The music's definitely dated, but the themes are not. I love Holmes' wry humor and humanity. This is my favorite of his music and often revisited.



4. I stumbled across this guy by accident, and had I known he was responsible for "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song) I would have written him off immediately. But his body of songwriting is a very different story. "Widescreen", "Escape-The Best of Rupert Holmes" and "Pursuit of Happiness" are filled with melodic, entertaining, thought provoking songs.
   
   He is essentially a lost artist from that era. Instrumentation is often complex, the lyrics tell stories and, god forbid, challenge you to think about your life.
   
   Great songwriting is a lost art in the era of hip hop and rap. If you like Burt Bacharach, Barry Manilow (I know what you're thinking but check out "Here At The Mayflower"), Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonalds best work, you should like "Widescreen".
   
   Beautiful melodies, great lyrics, interesting arrangements well played. For some of us that's as good as it gets.

5 comments about She's the Man.

1. Was expecting all songs in the movie to be in this CD and was somewhat disappointed; HOWEVER, the remaining songs are still GREAT!



2. I love the songs, their fast and upbeat. A little disappointed that some of the songs from the movie didnt make the cd. All in all a great purchase!



3. My daughter was disappointed with this soundtrack because her two favorite songs are not on there. There are a lot of instrumentals that are clearly just background music from the movie.



4. that cool song that doesn't show up on this soundtrack for some reason is "No Sleep 2nite" by The Faders. it does show up on the soundtrack for the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. it was just dumb luck that i heard it while flipping channels.



5. Amanda B is so naturally funny.
   
   She is going to be huge. She is funny both as a female and a male impersonator. Hilarious stuff !
   
   Go Amanda!

5 comments about The Chronicles of Riddick.

1. Graeme Revell has always been something of a shape shifter, combining a variety of different techniques and themes to create what has now become his eclectic career in film scoring. The Chronicles of Riddick is no different, and stands out as one of his more original scores to date.

   Having scored the film's precursor, Pitch Black, Revell has already familiarised himself with the universe of Riddick, and now fleshes out his sparse and moody score from the first film into a grand epic of action cues, regal anthems and grim suspense. Surprisingly enough, he uses the main theme from Pitch Black only a few times, even modifying it to carry a more epic scale.

   A few tracks stand out from the rest, notably the "Hunt for Riddick", "One Speed" and the end credits. The Necromonger theme is also enjoyable. One track, "Imam's Death", surprised me by being just plain interesting, although I think it's unfortunate the label decided to reveal a major plot spoiler in the title.

   While this isn't the most exciting action score, given the film's half-action, half-dark and creepy motifs, it does provide a few thrills, even if its themes skirt the edges of a "made for TV" movie. In all I would say this is one of the more interesting and engaging Revell scores, and definitely one to pick up if you're a fan of the composer, the series, or just good film music.




2. This is a score I listen to a lot, mainly because the majority of the tracks are great and the themes are really catchy.
   The standout tracks are:
   Hunt For Riddick: starts off fast and develops into a really atmospheric piece
   One Speed: the best track on the CD, it uses the theme from Pitch Black a lot
   Arrival At Helion: the Pitch Black theme shows up again
   Helion Attack Pt. 2: a great action theme
   Necromongers: the Necromonger theme sounds evil and sinister, a great listen
   End Credits: basically a rehash of One Speed
   Overall, this is a great score by one of my favourite composers, Graeme Revell. Now we just have to wait the Pitch Black score to be released.



3. I've been getting more and more reluctant to buy soundtracks lately because most of the new movies had all sorta the same sound to them. Riddick, however, is well worth buying. I never saw the first movie, only the chronicles because my sister suggested I might like the soundtrack.
   
   The music is fast paced, very techno-ish at times. There is also a strong middle eastern influence in some tracks. The vocals are beauitful. At times the strong beats and fast other music brings you into the action. It is a well made and beautiful score and I would definitely suggest it.



4. I have always been a fan of movie soundtracks that make you feel the moment and leave you humming a tune that you take everywhere in your head with you. I bought this soundtrack and just popped it into my dual-core and let it run for a couple of days straight while I did my thing. Try listening to Arrival At Helion with 5.1 sourround headphones! This is one of those soundtracks that uses all the elements in just the right "Sweet spot".



5. Graeme Revell is one of the alltime greats as far as soundtrack music. I like this best of his works and believe it is right up there with Conan and Star Wars music as far as quality and powerful presence. I like all of the music on this CD, not just the theme. I do recommend this.

5 comments about It's Not Funny.

1. This album took awhile to really get to me. I got it as a gift and listened to it, thought it was pretty funny and put it on my shelf. Recently I brought it back out and it aged really, really well. The truth in what he is saying counter balances the offensive material so that he reveals offensive aspects of our society without embodying them. Likewise politically it's hard to really disagree with what he is saying because instead of just saying "Bush is stupid" he takes factual events and exploits the ignorance behind them. I heartily recommend this album and advise those who already own it to give it another listen.



2. Whether you're tired of our current administration, religion, racism, or just plain ignorant people. Cross' comedy will make you fall on the floor laughing. He manages to be ridiculously funny, while insightful at the same time. It's like listening to Gello Biafra combined with Jerry Seinfeld. I would definatly recommend this purchase. Also, "The Pride is Back," and his DVD "Let them Laugh" are really good too. Personally, I'm not that fond of "Shut up you F*ing baby" though.



3. David Cross is a very intellegent and sharp comedian with a point of view that is very compelling. Also he is very funny.



4. The only negative I can think of about Cross is how often he stammers and uses words like "like." Though I am pretty sure it's part of his schtick, if you will, it can still get annoying how long it takes him to set up a joke.
   
   The positives are numerous, from not being afraid to make truely tasteless jokes (for example: Raising kids isn't hard. Hard is trying to convince your girlfriend to have her third consecutive abortion.) to pointing out the obvious in a hilarious fashion (his bit on the color coded terror levels is genius. I am tired of "left wing conspiracy theories" too). I thoroughly enjoyed this album and am looking forward to another one, hopefully soon.



5. David cross best known for his work on the hilarious Mr Show and Arrested Development hits another one out of the park.
   
   His I don't care what you think style of comedy is too funny! This is quite possibly his best work yet!

5 comments about Big: The Musical (1996 Original Broadway Cast).

1. i saw this musical at the local high school in 2001 and was plesently suprised i of course saw the movie and the only thing i knew about this musical was it didnt stay long on broadway, so when i saw it was i shocked this is a delight cross the line still resenates in my head 5 years later.



2. My high school did "Big" my sophomore year, and oh my god, it was such a fun musical to do. I kind of forgot about it until my senior year, when I suddenly craved some of that music again. So I purchased this CD and I've been loving it since. They got rid of a couple of the songs and replaced them with others as the show progressed on Broadway, so I was suprised to hear new material (to me anyways), and for the most part, I actually enjoyed these original songs over their replacements that my production contained. This cast is phenomenal and the guy who plays Josh Baskin sounds so much like Tom Hanks at points, its crazy. It's a simple, yet a bit fantastic musical about growing up, and it's funny and romantic, and a lot of fun. I love all the songs, and it's a shame it didn't do too well on B-way. At least this recording will keep the music alive.
   
   "This Isn't Me" is one of my favorite tracks, as it's a lot of fun and has a great beat, but suprisingly it was replaced with "Good Morning to Mom", which was only so-so. "I Want To Go Home" is a great ballad that Josh sings, and its simple, a bit funny, and the ending is the best, as its cute and sad. Another song they got rid of, "Here We Go Again", is a song Susan sings, and again, I like it alot. It has a quirky melody that I like. "Stars, Stars, Stars" is another great song, and is quite cute. One of the more popular songs. "Cross The Line" is the finale to Act I and is also very excellent and up beat, and makes you want to dance. "Stop, Time" is my favorite song on the album by far. Sung by Josh's mom, it is one of the more poignant moments of the show. Heartfelt, sad, and truly beautiful, it defiantely makes you appreciate your mom. Barbara Walsh sounds superb on this: she has a great voice. I love this one. "Dancing all the Time" is another good Susan song, and it leads into "I Want To Know" by Young Josh, which is another good ballad. "Coffee, Black" is another showstopper, fun ensemble song, and again, very comedic. "One Special Man" is Susan's ballad to Josh, and it is very beatiful. My only regret is that its only 2:21 so its a short one, and I just want her to start belting at the end, but no, its a quiet ending. Still, I love this one too. The finale is great too, and features an amazing duet between Josh and Susan. I love the harmonies they do.
   
   All in all, this is a great album. Sample the songs and give it a try. This is a must have!!



3. If you're getting this CD to help prepare for your school or community group doing the musical, there are a lot of changes from the CD to the book. Aside from finding the book in a new key and some chunks added/deleted, Here We Go Again and When You're Big aren't included anymore.
   
   Overall, the music's a little trite, but there are some nice moments -- mostly the stuff sung by the female leads.



4. I used this CD to help me rehearse for the BIG production I was in, but it didn't match the libretto at all. I think there was one song on there that I could use.



5. This musical is cute. Thats about the best word I can use to describe it. There are moments where the lyrics are a little funny. Then it will try to be deep, and it just doesn't gel. The voices are alright, but none stand out as amazing. Likewise, no songs are really catchy and keep your interest very well. I imagine this as a high school production, and not sure how it even got to Broadway. I would not recommend this to anyone looking for a show to do (unless its for young people), or to listen to unless are a very young listener. Collectors of course should get this, but thats it. New and old Broadway fans will dislike this equally.
   You'll notice that even though the review is pretty negative, I still give it three stars. Well, it isn't bad as some others are, it's just blah. Favorite Song: "It's Time"

1 comments about The Most Relaxing Chamber Music Album in the World ... Ever!.

1. We live in a very hectic world and we as humans need to take time to relax. The soothing sounds of Chamber Music is just what the doctor ordered. Coupled with a good book, or just before bed, and the hours kind of just drift away.
   
   Sample the sounds online, if this is your kind of music, or even if you are a novis, this CD may be the one that gives you your first dip into "Long Haired" music. I cannot think of a better place to start.

5 comments about Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!.

1. David Cross is so funny. I love when he does his Atlanta accent. He's one of the more intelligent comedians out there too.



2. This CD is stuck under the humor section, and true to form, you'll find stand-up in it. But it's a kind of humor that doesn't lend itself well to an audio CD. It's entirely possible that seeing David Cross live, you might be able to pick up on his enthusiasm, and it might make some of his satire seem more convincing. Here, though, the material comes off more as a series of rants, and frankly, fueled by stock cynicism rather than a genuine desire to see change in his topic of choice.
   
   He's unafraid to speak his mind, which makes his criticism stronger, but because he seems to take everything so damn seriously, it's more difficult for an audience to laugh.
   
   As comedy goes in general, there's three aspects of it that can help it to succeed or fail.
   
   1. The joke substance (irony/absurdity)
   2. The timing
   3. The delivery
   
   With Cross, there's plenty of the irony and absurdity in his source material. However, his timing and his delivery suffer because he tends to go back over the same material a few times, trying to drive the point home. In fact, Cross' solution in many cases on the CD seems to be to compensate for a lack of laughs by becoming more furious.
   
   This works for some comedians, like Lewis Black, but then, Lewis Black's career has flourished because he has a stage presence, or persona-- one which his audience is familiar with, and one that provides them a way to pick up on his delivery every time. Cross seems to operate more in a free-flowing, stream of consciousness way, making it more difficult for the audience to find definitive punchlines.
   
   In short, my impression is that Cross seems to be performing more for his own peace of mind than to entertain others. That's a perfectly fine way to express oneself in a blog, where ranting and criticism are par for the course, and in truth Cross comes off as a fairly good satirist, but an audio CD highlights Cross' lack of stage presence.
   
   Buy this CD if you want cathartic and sometimes chuckle-worthy social criticism, but not if you want a CD that is "entertaining," in the traditional sense of the word.



3. Many people tackle social issues with their entertainment. Many people do it well. For example Bob Dylan wrote (writes) great songs that addressed current issues. David Cross tries to do the same thing with comedy, which is a nice idea. But his jokes are not funny. Nice idea, but drawn out, repetitive, and boring. Not funny.



4. I think David Cross is about the funniest guy ever. This disc is not that good. Couple chuckles here and there and long stretches of rambling unfunniness in between.



5. Here's a thought . . .
   
   I've read a lot of the reviews for this album(s). And I must say . . . First of all everyone who bought this because they liked him on Just Shoot Me or Scary Movie 2 . . well if you don't like it that is your own fault for not doing your research. Same for those who are religious, republican, or easily offended. Its called "Don't buy things you don't know about".
   
   Now. As for all of you who call the delivery on these albums "amateurish". First of all . . .he's not an amatuer by any means. He's been in "the biz" longer than I've been alive. And clearly, if he did not intend for his listeners to hear every "uh", "uhm", or "whatever", then guess what! They wouldn't be on there! So the "amatuer" argument has no basis.
   
   
   So here's my review:
   
   Buy this album if you want to open your mind. And that could mean on any topic including religion, politics, human nature, and everything in between.
   
   Maybe also it will open your mind to the very idea of what a comedy album can be.
   
   Like the pre-packaged, heavily edited, and condensed mainstream sort of comedy album? Don't buy this.
   
   Appreciate the intimacy of the conversations you have with your friends over way-too-many drinks at three in the morning? Then this is the album for you.

5 comments about Cross Road.

1. Even when my Rock music feedback is mainly based on British "Classic" and "Heavy Metal" Rock (i.e. Yes, ELP, Genesis, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull et al), I must admit that Bon Jovi is, certainly, ONE OF THE BEST ROCK BANDS EVER (Made in America)!!!
   This album includes almost every known major "Hit" of this talented Band.
   
   No loss for your Rock collection!



2. Very happy with this purchase - I like all the songs on this CD - also very prompt delivery.



3. My favorite music when driving my Mustang with the top down on a cool spring day.



4. Bon Jovi was one of my favorite 80s rock artists.
   
   This album, Cross Road, is a good collection of their greatest hits from the 80s and early 90s. It's perfect for newer fans just discovering the band.



5. I have been a long time fan of Bon Jovi and love this album!! As a compilation of his earlier work a new fan can hear some of the most famous Jovi songs and still appreciate the new stuff he's released. His vocals are great and the guitar playing is phenomenal!!. If you are into rock, and heavy guitar you should definitley get this and if you are a long time fan of Jovi as I am you owe it to yourself to have this rock'n collection if you don't already!!