5 comments about Lewis Black - Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues.

1. Buy this one. I have all of Lewis Black's CD's, including the one you could argue along side this one as being his best, Rules of Enragement. They are all great albums and if you love angry comics, he's the man for you. He talks about everything you would want a comedian to rant about...mainly what's wrong with this country. This is the perfect starter for those who have recently been turned on to Lewis Black. Buy this one first, then pick up the rest. After hearing this one, you will have to.



2. This CD is still very funny, but most of the jokes are not very new. He has either used them on some DVD's or CD's or goes on about the same subject.
   It seems every show has some remarks about the Superbowl, and even though this is about the famous Justin and Janet halftime show we get it now.
   Get his other CD's first



3. I think Lewis' take on the whole Janet Jackson blowup is right on target.
   
   Note: This CD is packed with F-bombs, etc. Not for Children.



4. I own all of Lewis Black's DVDs and CDs, and I am also a big fan of his material on The Daily Show. That said, this is definitely his best CD that he's done.
   
   First, I will have to rebut some of the reviews here -- this is not recycled material. Yes, there are a couple of Superbowl jokes that were reused from The End of the Universe and his 2002 Comedy Central Presents special, and yes, his "civics book" joke was reused from Rules of Enragement. However, those jokes have actually been far more refined in this CD.
   
   Also, the first 8 tracks (with the exception of Gay Marriage) deal with the Superbowl Halftime 2004, and nowhere will you find any of this on any of his other CDs or DVDs. The thing with his other CDs is that if you have all h is material, you'll see it all recycled. The White Album is like his 1998 and 2000 Comedy Central specials. The End of the Universe is like his 2002 special. Rules of Enragement is like Black on Broadway, and Carnegie Hall is like Red White and Screwed. You'll find a lot of new material on all of this, yes, but a significant chunk of the pairs I put up have similar jokes in each. Not so with Luther Burbank. This is the only CD of his that I laughed the whole way through, since I rarely ever stopped and thought, "Wait, I've heard this before." If you've seen all he's done on TV, you will barely recognize any of the material on here. That includes his "Iraq, An Idiots Delight" portion. On Rules of Enragement, he talks about it for a good amount of time. On this, he has about 17 minutes dedicated to it, and besides his "civics book" joke, you'll never hear any of this anywhere else. Funny stuff. Wait until he rips on Rumsfeld!
   
   That said, his jokes are hysterical. Wait until you see his rant on gay marriage and Bush's proposed constitutional amendment. When he talks about the Constitution after that, you are going to roll on the ground laughing. While he sometimes, though rarely, misses the mark on some of his other merchandise (the latter half of Red White and Screwed is a good example of this), he never seems to miss a beat here, constantly churning out wit like it was nobody's business.
   
   This is a must-buy. If you are diving into his works and want a CD of his, this should be the first one you get.



5. I actually didn't buy the CD for me but for a gift for my dad who loves Lewis Black. I really like him also. I have asked him how the CD was and he said it was good. He didn't say it was really good but good seems to be a pretty good review in my opinion. Also in my opinion I don't think there is anything that Lewis Black does that could be bad.

5 comments about With One Voice.

1. Ramsey Lewis is amazing on this CD. Any one that likes jazz, gospel, piano is going to LOVE this CD!!



2. Ramsey Lewis has been a pleasure for years, but this collection of spiritual music will make anyone want to stand up and dance! Don't worry about personal faith, simply listen up and have a --Oh, Happy Day! Thank you, Mr. Lewis!



3. I had heard one of the songs on the CD over the radio and was impressed. I wanted to have the CD to listen to when I was in the mood. This provided me with what I needed and I am well satisfied.



4. Thoroughly enjoyed this CD. I have always liked Ramsey Lewis and am happy that he has a gospel CD with a jazz influence.



5. This is a great record, contemporary jazz meets contemporary gospel.
   Ramsey Lewis invites a gospel choir to perform with him live and it's a really good one with great singers/musicians.
   The songs are mostly unknown for me expect "Oh happy day" but they sounds really good with a "jazzy touch" from Ramsey's piano!
   If you're into booth gospel and contemporary/classic jazz this a record for you!
   Buy it and you won't be diassapointed!

5 comments about The Complete Million Dollar Quartet.

1. Johnny Cash wrote about these recordings in his 1970's autobiography "Man In Black". He thought the recordings were lost, or locked in a vault somewhere. I know that Johnny is on this cd, you can hear him singing bass quite lowly on "Farther Along"(listen closely).



2. It was a gift for my husband, and he likes it very much.



3. Just a fantastic CD!!! Hearing Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl and Johnny in the studio, is like being a fly on the wall during this infamous session. The banter and the Spirituals were really moving. HIGHly recommended!!



4. I recommend this disc to those who love the early roots of Rock n' Roll as it was in the early 50's. Also, to anyone who wants to hear gospel music sung well and with spirit. Elvis' gifts are demonstrated on this recording better than on the polished and highly edited recordings we commonly hear. These guys were having a great time and it comes across in each tract. Their rendition of Lonesome Valley will dust off the cobwebs in the most cynical soul.



5. My husband really likes this CD. We had originally heard about it at Sun Studios in Memphis and it is everything they said it was.

5 comments about Rules of Enragement.

1. Some people may not like to listen to him because he criticizes Republicans so much. I'm Republican but I just think it's extremely funny. If you listen to his stand up before Bush and the Republicans took over the majority of House and Senate you'll see that he makes fun of Clinton just as much if not more. He doesn't care who's in charge of the country. He despises them all and makes great jokes out of it. He makes fun of all politicians and I enjoy it very much. According to him, the difference between a Democrat and Republican is...."Democrats SUCK!!, and Republicans BLOW!!"
   
   I am sure you would enjoy any of his stand ups. It doesn't matter what side you're on in the political world. You'll love this for sure.



2. This is an excellent CD, the only issue I have with it is that most of the material here can be heard and seen on his DVD Black on Broadway. It's always better to actually watch a comic because then you can see the expressions on their faces, and that actually adds to joke just enough to make it funnier. My favorite part has to be where he rants on about Enron where he comes up with a law should exist. "If you have a company, and it can't explain in one sentence what it does, it's illegal." There are a few parts not found on the DVD, but overall you are better just sticking with the DVD. Pick this up if you are really big Lewis Black fan, otherwise just get the DVD.



3. This man is a very funny topical comedian known for his ranting. Though this is not his best work I am glad I have it.



4. Let me start by saying this: I am a fan of Lewis Black. I enjoy his Daily Show appearances and I also like his "Comedy Central Presents" specials. That said, I couldn't stand this CD. Nothing is that funny. Also don't get me wrong I'm not offended by profanity, but when every fourth word is a curse it gets mind-numbing. Take a pass on this and get his "Unleased" DVD instead.



5. Lewis Black's third album, Rules of Enragement, is his first release where his material really became more political. Keeping with tradition, Lewis starts out his show by busting on the city he's performing in. This time around he busts on Minnesota and his bit on their cold weather is hysterical. As usual, he's spot on when it comes to tackling issues like greed in big business and society's obsession with health. In particular, his commentary on milk and water are very funny. However, the end of the album is dominated by his views on Iraq. While his commentary is accurate, it does tend to drag at times. All told, Rules of Enragement is a very good album even if it tends to be too political near the end.

5 comments about The White Album.

1. His topical ranting style is hillarious and intellegent. I think I have listened to this album at least 20 times and am not tired of it.



2. All of Lewis Black's material is hilarious but this is his best cd. You will laugh during the entire cd.



3. What is there to say about the greatest comic out there today. This is very funny and very worth the price. I have every one of his albums and video's and they are all worth it.



4. This CD features Lewis Black in rare form. Quick-witted, full of rage, and never shying away from controversial topics, it's a joy to hear Black deconstruct everything that's wrong with the world, from presidential indescretions to the farce that is education in this country.



5. Lewis black is unbelievable. I have all of his DVD's and still can't figure out how he maintains his high level of comedy. He is a real genius.

5 comments about Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film.

1. Inspiring? No! Pleasant? No! Entertaining? No! Worthwhile? No!
   
   What are you folks sniffing out there anyway? Whatever it is, please consider passing it along, because other than the single authentic and melodic track by Patsy Cline (i.e., Back In Baby's Arms, which is available on a zillion other collections including some of her own), this CD doesn't have an ounce of redeeming musical, lyrical or social value in my view. Nada! Zip!
   
   Even the Dylan track is junk! The entire CD is essentially drivel, put to the dull, homicide-provoking sound of endless, droning noise, with an overall signal-to-noise ratio of about one (1.0)!!! What a WASTE of an A-to-D converter!



2. Beyond the worth (or lack of it, depending on your opinion) of the movie, this soundtrack stand the test of time and is still in 2006 one of the most impressive soundtrack ever produced.
   
   It is, in my very humble opinion, the finest work in Trent Reznor discography.



3. ...but it was much cooler in 1994, that's for sure. What seemed haunting and beautiful then, is kind of cheesy in 2007, especially now that most of the artists have gone even further mainstream (Nine Inch Nails) or totally vanished (L7). "Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkies is one that has not faded at all, though...gives me chills!



4. I have to say that this soundtrack is timless and will stay as a landmark in soundtracks for decades to come. Can't list all the great tracks here, Dylan's You be long to me, or Patsy Cline's Back in Baby's arms, Leonard Cohen.... or the more 'violent' tracks.. there are tracks for every taste, and every mood. and of course the soundtrack is a must for this movie lovers as it recalls every great scene as you listen to it. This soundtrack along with Pulp Fiction are a must in every 'soundtrack' section. its a genius blend of different songs from different eras and different styles.



5. Natural Born KIllers was this movie that I always found to be intriguing, but I was never really sure if I actually LIKED or not. I've seen various different cuts of it and whatnot, etc. Yada yada...
   
   THE SOUNDTRACK on the other hand, is an instant classic, made up of a nice selection of music that shares the same vibe and emotion of the movie:dark, angry, and original... also it's very good. I think just thr right songs were used in this film, ranging from some classic songwriters, some classic songs, and some classic songs as covered by some good indie names that some of your more unconventional music fans would no doubt dub classic. Also, as a lot of the audio clips from the movie are spliced in a long the mix, in pretty clever ways, you get a pretty good essence of the story too, as you listen... oooooooooh. So lets observe a little.
   
   The Leonard Cohen songs are a little creepy. Pretty much bookends the mix, sans some Dogg Pound tracks at the end (yeah, Snoop 94 style, when his stuff was still fresh and clever) L7, Patti Smith, and The Cowboy Junkies add in some good female indie and/or punk slabs, Bob Dylans on here, sounding horse and old, and a little tired, but still good. YOU BELONG TO ME was a key song in the film.
   Then theres the likes of NIN and JANES ADDICTION to PETER GABRIEL to PATSY CLINE on some tracks, but some of my faves come from artists I never heard outside this mix. The ragged country feel of Duane Eddys THE TREMBLER, The Hollywood Persuaders DRUMS A GO-GO, Lard...FORKBOY, and much much more (theres nearly thirty tracks in total here) varied all over the map, but with a very unique flow. This album may make you want to lay on the floor and stare blankly at the ceiling, but its still very well done. 5 stars. Soundtracks are a hard market to pull off, but this one can be listened to start to finish and is a good listen.

5 comments about The Carnegie Hall Performance.

1. I'm intriged by anyone who tells the truth these days,however painful.
   I didn't realize he stuttered so much though.He only says one cuss word,but he says it constantly.he was mildly funny,but he never seems to get really rolling.I'm not too impressed with this album,but I might buy his others if they are any better.



2. As always, Lewis Black never fails to deliver, and this album is no exception. I learn more about politics from him, than from any other source! (kidding.....but you have to admit, he gets to the core of the issues) This album was much better than his performance on Last Laugh 2007. Now....if only he was not such a hot head, he'd make a good president!! Enjoy!!



3. I own all of Lewis Black's CDs, and I found this one to be the least entertaining. The CD started off kind of slow, and the routine seemed to lack polish and delivery early on. As the show went on it got better, but in general it still wasn't as funny as his previous work. I'm typically roaring from start to finish while listening to Lewis Black, but on this CD I found myself bored and longing for the radio at times. With that said, it's still not a terrible CD. My expectations are high because I've loved his other CDs, and this fell short of my expectations. Comedy (like music) is a personal thing, but I think there are far better Lewis Black CDs out there.



4. I purchased this CD because I enjoyed Lewis Black's "Rules of Enragement" so much. However, I was very disappointed at the change in his subject matter. It appears he prostituted himself for the "Rules" CD.
   
   At Carnegie Hall, for a large Democrat and liberal audience, he only disparages conservatives and Republicans. Hurricane Katrina--he has nothing to say about the Democrat mayor of New Orleans nor the Democrat governor of Louisiana.
   Gay Marriage--everyone who is Republican is homophobe, not homoaverse.
   Terry Schiavo-only the Republicans used her for political advantage, while Black relates how he masturbated through this event.
   
   However, in "Rules," before a conservative audience, he disparages both sides of the political spectrum, dishonestly protraying himself as a moderate.
   
   I really don't care if you are left-wing or right-wing, but if you are going to do political humor, at least you should always be honest about what side of the fence, or on the fence, you are standing.



5. I really enjoy Lewis Black...I have all his CDs now and I listen to them while commuting along with a couple other choice comedians. I have listened to his other CDs many, many times and they are still funny to me and I watch him do the same material if I catch him on TV.
   
   But, this is not up to par with his other work, I was really pretty disappointed. I will still listen to it, but it's not the place to start if you are looking for your first Lewis Black for your collection, start with any of the others.

5 comments about The End Of The Universe.

1. Here Mr. Black takes on the government after 9/11 plus other topics with intellegence and wonderful spot on observations. He is also very funny. This is my favorite album of his so far.



2. The master of comedy doesn't dissapoint. He is a true comic genius and a master of his craft. Own all of his cd's you will never be tired of listening to them. Same goes for the DVD's he has out.



3. This was funny, I had to stop listening to it in the car, I missed my exit laughing.



4. Lewis Black is the classic angry comic. No one is safe from his sharp, well-thought-out rants. Out of the four CD's of his I have heard (still haven't heard "The White Album", but I will at some point) this one is my favorite. The album starts with a humorous tirade on the traffic in Atlanta (where this album was recorded). Highlights include his takes on airport security post-9/11, The Super Bowl XXXV halftime show, and the "Tax Rebates and Common Sense" track. While Lewis does swear a lot on his CD's, if the material is funny I don't mind. That's the case on this album. Highly recommended.



5. Lewis Black proves he is probably the best stand-up comic out today! His humor is funny and hits home on everything from airport security to Starbucks. His powerful energy is very apparent in his delivery! He is the true successor to George Carlin!

5 comments about The Harder They Come.

1. Still the best classic reggae collection, although as one other reviewer noted, some tracks do sound "Americanized." No surprise. "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Sitting in Limbo" were recorded with the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Alabama. This wasn't documented at the time (I learned it when I interviewed the MSRS in 1979) because apparently Cliff did not have the proper immigration papers to "work" in the USA when Chris Blackwell decided to bring him up for the quick sessions.



2. didn't think it could be done. this is great. this does jimmy cliff proud.



3. If you like reggae, you should have this CD. If you could only own 5 reggae CDs of all that is out there, this deserves to be one of those 5. I never tire of listening to these tracks after all these years. The other reviewers have ably described this music. I heartily agree. 5 more stars for The Harder They Come.
   Favorite tracks (but I like them all)
   1. Many Rivers To Cross
   2. Rivers of Babylon
   3. Pressure Drop
   4. You Can Get It If You Really Want It
   5. Sitting In Limbo



4. This was reggae before Bob Marley. Jimmy Cliff was its king and the major exporter of the music, primarily to England. This recording is timeless. A lot of gems from a variety of artists featured.



5. I had this LP years ago, and loved it. Now without a turntable, I was so happy to find it re-released as a disc. It is very different, and a lot of fun to listen to. Real toe-tappers. A good one to play while cleaning the house....full of energy.

5 comments about The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971.

1. Johnny Cash's 58 episodes of prime time television, stretching from late 1969 into early 1971 were broadcast, musical and social landmarks all in one. In a society roiled by the Vietnam War, a generation gap, racism, and numerous other divisions, Cash parlayed his artistry, broad musical vision, experienced opinions, faith and personal integrity into a television series that crisscrossed the American landscape. This two-DVD set excerpts four hours of material from the series, providing a good sense of the show's overall breadth and depth. Both discs intersperse short interview segments (with Kris Kristofferson, John Carter Cash and original show staff) to explain just how radical were many of the show's elements.
   
   Cash brought his ease as a stage performer to the improvised studio of Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. He played easily to both the cameras and the live audience, making this a hybrid of a concert being taped and a television show with an audience to generate applause. The shows offer the energy and edginess of live performance with the polish of a studio program. The production, audio, video and staging teams all did superb jobs. The sets vary between large abstract shapes (ala Hullabaloo) and cozy suburban living rooms; the lighting is colorful and flattering to the performers and the sound is captured surprisingly well. Columbia/Legacy's engineers have done a terrific job of remixing from the multi-track master tapes. The video shows a few artifacts in the margins but is generally quite good, and the color is fine.
   
   The guest list reached forward to the cutting edge, but also backward with segments highlighting the contributions of acts like Bill Monroe, Homer & Jethro, The Carter Family and Cash's Sun labelmates, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. The list of contemporary acts from country, folk, soul and rock is astounding. Starting with Bob Dylan on show #1, Cash gathered what he thought to be important and interesting talents to present to both his Nashville audience in the Ryman, and to those tuning in nationwide. He challenged his audience with the controversial and defiantly anti-war Pete Seeger, bringing him on to play banjo and sing "Cripple Creek" before moving him to the front of the stage to lead a sing-a-long of "Worried Man Blues." By the time Cash rejoins him, Seeger has the crowd nervously singing along.
   
   Another fascinating guest is Louis Armstrong, featured less than a year before his passing. Cash and Armstrong recreate a 1930's session on which the latter backed the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers. For those who only remember Armstrong's grin and "Hello Dolly," his trumpet playing here will quickly inform you of his seminal role in the history of American music. Merle Haggard provides another tribute to Jimmie Rodgers with a version of "No Hard Times," before sitting down with Cash to sing his own "Sing Me Back Home." Hank Williams Jr., clean-cut and in a western suit (that is, before the sunglasses and hat), provides a moving tribute to his father.
   
   Established country stars George Jones, Marty Robbins and Tammy Wynette show just why they were stars. Jones voice is in stellar form - it's almost hard to believe he's singing live - as he swings through a medley of three classic songs. Robbins was a Ryman favorite, and you can hear the audience hooting and hollering as he sings a medley of his western hits that culminates with an abridged version of "El Paso." Wynette's performance gains the most from its video dimension. The close-ups of her face reveal an emotional connection to "Stand By Your Man" that goes well beyond the vocal. The stark staging of singers with the accompanying band off-stage will make you long for a time when vocalists were sufficiently fetching performers to hold your attention without dancers and other razzle-dazzle.
   
   Cash's selection of mavericks is similarly spot-on. Kris Kristofferson appears young, long-haired, and clear-eyed as he sings "Loving Her Was Easy." It's a stark contrast to the grizzled veteran interviewed in the documentary segments. Waylon Jennings, clean shaven and with his hair still slicked back, was well on his way to presenting country music with the fire of a rock band. His bassist sports a flower-power sticker on his Fender axe, Jessi Colter hots things up playing organ, and his cover of Chuck Berry's "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" shows how fluidly he created music out of multiple genres. Cash offered a surprisingly honest and potent introduction to Neil Young's "The Needle and the Damage Done" by discussingg his own drug use on location with college students.
   
   Among the happiest-to-be-there guests is Creedence Clearwater's John Fogerty. He seems to be having a religious experience singing "Bad Moon Rising" at the Ryman, and was probably thinking about Carl Perkins (who was backstage as a member of Cash's troupe) as he picked the break. Another guitarist who had Perkins on his mind was Eric Clapton. After playing a tune with Derek and the Dominos, Clapton and Perkins happily swap licks on the latter's Sun era hit, "Matchbox," with Cash strumming and singing along. Cash was perfect at slipping in and out of his guest's sets, sitting with Ray Charles on the piano bench as he growls out an amazing gospel arrangement of "I Walk the Line," then slipping away as Charles swings into a slow, soulful version of "Ring of Fire."
   
   Cash's entourage of Carl Perkins, The Tennessee Three, Mother Maybelle Carter and her daughters (June, Anita and Helen) and the Statler Brothers also got their share of stage time. The Tennessee Three could flatten you with the powerful, locomotive rhythm of "Big River," and June Carter Cash is featured singing the terrific original, "A Good Man," filled with the questions of day (the war, the environment, the generation gap) and an appeal to faith for solutions. Mother Maybelle can be spied playing her autoharp and picking her beloved Gibson, and of course, Cash's own musical segments find him at one of his performing peaks.
   
   It's hard to imagine anyone else with the talent, range and personal gravitas to hold this show together from the center. Hosts like Ed Sullivan could arrange and produce shows, but only Cash could have been the performing ringmaster who worked with the musicians at their own level. It was the context of his personal endorsements that bound these disparate artists into a fluid, entertaining, educational and ultimately impactful whole. Whether or not the entire series is ever remastered and released, these two DVDs are both a solidly entertaining four hours of treasures, and a wonderfully selected overview of the series. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]



2. Johnny Cash is excellent. Most of the guests are enjoyable. Mother Maybelle is amazing. Kristofferson does a great job of narrating it. Some of the details about the guests are interesting and amusing. Linda Ronstadt was 35 years ahead of her time in the wardrobe department. It's too bad we can't get quality shows like this on TV today. This DVD set brought back a lot of good memories and is definitely a good value.



3. Great product. It took me a week to find a way to reach Customer Service at Amazon. Their phone number is a deep secret.



4. This is great! The footage of a young Johnny Cash was fun to watch but the highlights for me were Bob Dylan and a hard to recognize Waylon Jennings! We enjoyed every minute. I would have liked to see a little more of the different show segments in place of the commentary. I am very pleased with this purchase and plan on viewing it again as soon as I get it back from those I loaned it to!



5. This was a unique show with performances by a wide variety of artists and genres.
   It's a must buy for any Cash fans.