2 comments about Euphoric Classics: A Classical High.

1. So far this my favorite classical CD of the year. I never tire of listening to it (over and over on my iPod). It contains some really beautiful renditions of very moving classical pieces, both modern and ancient. All in all an emotional and dramatic presentation. The overall effect is relaxing but it will definitely never bore you!



2. I bought this album because it had some favorites of mine and what looked to be an interesting composition of titles. It wasn't until I sat down to listen to it, did I fully realize how masterfully it had been put together. Most of the artists on here are well known (Such a Oriff's O Fortuna) with a few completely unheard of artists (to me). The CD's tracks were perfectly organized and each song came in a successive wave compiling into a series of deluges that becomes a great cresendo. Very powerful and very surprising. I am more than pleased and have subscribed myself to looking for more CD's by this company.

2 comments about House Party 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

1. This is very good. A great mix of tunes here, some rap, R&B, slow jams, and party sounds. You need this in your collection.....



2. great soundtrack can't have a great bumpin party without these tracks with slow tracks upbeat and a reminder of some old school r&b and rap WHAT THE heck happen to kid n play though and house parties with them in it i seriously think we need another apperiance or albu by this duel.

4 comments about Miserere.

1. This CD is a collection of Rennaissance Choral Music (with some plainsong) that forms a complete sequence for Holy Week. It is pure magic- the instant I put it on and the unaccompanied trebles began their lovely hymn "Vexilla Regis" I felt the solemnity and power of the ancient Catholic liturgies and ceremonies for Holy Week that I have grown up with and was swept away into it all... Particularly striking was the way in which "Vexilla Regis" segues perfectly into the Allegri "Miserere". I couldn't stop listening until the phone pulled me away at about track 9! It is beautifully sung, in particular the Responsories by Gesualdo and the Crucifixus settings by Lotti, as well as of course the scintillating Allegri "Miserere" and (presented here for what may be its only ever performance) the even more powerful Bai "Miserere". The only let-down are the booklet notes- "rambling" doesn't even begin to describe how cumbersome and unhelpful they are, although I'd be lying if I said they are uninformative. I wonder why we've never heard of the Westminster Abbey Consort anywhere else- it is obviously composed of members of the Abbey Choir and guest soloists, and is used to produce some added Renaissance touches in the Bai, Gesualdo and Monteverdi (I hope I'm spelling these composers' names correctly!). This is a disc that has a very strong ethereal atmosphere, and I am surprised that Martin Neary never did any further plainsong recordings at Westminster. This is well worth hearing by anyone's standards, though people with strong spiritual feelings will be most affected by it. Well done to Sony and all involved!



2. This CD encompasses many moods, but above all, is very calming. Listening to this music allows one to explore a very spiritual side of one's self and begin an introspective inquiry. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates the sounds of a beautiful choir.



3. This is not a review, rather a correction. You say that the composer for this CD is anonymous, but the composer is Górecki, the same artist who did Miserere for the symphony.

   If you change your thing or not, I don't care, but I thought you might want to know.

   :)




4. I bought this disk during a visit my oldest daughter and I paid to Westminster Abbey awhile back. We were fortunate to hear a choir rehearsing in the Abbey and as we were touring other portions and were near where the public does all the brass rubbings we heard this disk being played. It sounded especially fine reverberating through all that stone. Not only am I partial to sixteenth and seventeenth century polyphony, I have always enjoyed the sound of boys singing well. So, this disk was a must have.
   
   The star piece, the Allegri "Miserere" is a famous piece with a less than straightforward history. It was a piece performed only in the Papal chapel. However, it was a very famous work and people wanted to get copies of the score, but were not allowed. Talented musicians, including famous musicians, went to hear the work and wrote down portions of it. At its peak the Papal Choir was dominated by castrati and it was probably the sound of their strong and high voices that made the Allegri work so effective.
   
   The version of that work on this disk is not completely Allegri's work. It was "corrected" over the centuries and this version is a 19th century English interpretation of the work (still sung in Latin, of course). This version remains immensely popular and is very beautiful. The boy soprano singing the lead part here is very strong and makes the work ring in a way that is especially captivating. You can hear this work performed many times without hearing anything approaching the beauty of this recording.
   
   The other works on the album are also quite wonderful. At times the boy's voices are supplemented with adult males and some women. We get wonderful works by Lotti, Gesualdo, Gabrielli, Monetverdi and others (including several relevant plainchant).
   
   Great disk, which I strongly recommend to you.

3 comments about Final Countdown-Original Soundtrack Recording.

1. When The Final Countdown first appeared in theaters, in did rather poorly. Certainly, as anyone who has seen the numerous airings of this movie on cable would testify too, it was not for lack of star power, acting ability, or special effects. The sole reason that The Final Countdown did so bad at the theater, was the simple fact that it opened the same weekend as The Empire Strikes Back.
   
   Nonetheless, with expert acting, wonderful effects, and good storytelling, even the best movie goes nowhere without a score so epic, it is destined to carry on and be remembered. That is how John Scott's score for this movie is. Within each track of this CD is the awe and spendor, the raw power of the aircraft carrier Nimitz, and it's historic journey.
   
   The score throughout presents the listener with a feeling of standing upon the deck of the great ship, watching the planes launch and fly, as well standing and watching the Captain make the hard decisions of what to do with the new, and old, situation.
   
   As an lover of movie scores, I must rank John Scott's masterpiece very high in my list of recommended scores. To the movie industry, all I can say is to quit making Top-40 soundtracks, and go back to making scores like this.
   
   - The Dragon



2. The moment the music starts, you feel as if you are "watching" the movie in front of you. Close your eyes and you can see and hear the actors.



3. I beleive this is one of those music scores that will stick in your mind for sometime as you will find yourself humming the title track. I agree as I read in a prior review that it is great to hear musical scores from movie's created by composers that will trancend the hear and now as compared to current musical scores that tend to attempt a top 40 rating. If you enjoy this kind of "Take me on a Journey" music, I would also suggest "Gettysburgh" from the motion picture by Randy Edleman, another great musical score from a epic movie production.

5 comments about Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series).

1. This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway



2. THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.



3. This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.



4. Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.



5. The first three discs were only OK. I had forgotten how much better the later Broadway musical recordings were. The last two discs were very good, maybe because I could relate better to the shows or perhaps the productions were better.

5 comments about English Country Dances.

1. I can say that this was a surprise, and it's my fault for not checking the contents track by track. This is a re-issue of Apollo's banquet, and also a re-issue of the same from yet another name! I've had Apollo'w banquet for a long time. Somehow, I thought this CD would be mixed consort English music. Not so, it's mostly violin + cittern/ continuo.
   
   Under the name "apollo's banquet" it's been a favorite of mine for years- very good division violin work, very nice improv too. This is top notch.
   
   Nevertheless, beware! $6 for this disk is a real bargain- but it's still too pricey if you've already got it on your shelf! It seems this series is a fabulous value- I have the Italian renaissance dan ces vol 2 too, and it is also superb performace practice.
   
   This series is a great way to buy excellent performances on the cheap- just watch out in case you already have it!



2. I enjoy historical music, and this cd was a good assortment of songs. I was expecting all bouncy country dances, but some tracks sound more complex and serious. I'm no expert on country dances, so I don't know if the selections are representative, but I enjoy the entire album. Perfect for an afternoon of relaxing with some good music and it won't put you to sleep.



3. Just about perfect for background during "A Christmas Carol." The only thing better would have been live musicians.



4. This cd, English Country dances, is a charming one. If you like to dance, there are many songs that you can make up steps for or take dances from movies, like Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion or Northanger Abbey. The last track, 'The Queen's Jigg' is actually in the 2007 production of Northanger abbey with Felicity Jones. Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney dance to that song. Whether you are a Jane Austen fan or just love classical music, you will love this cd!



5. Not quite what I had in mind......I was expecting a cd with folk type of songs...Jane Austen era.

3 comments about Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 2.

1. From the outset Martin Lawrence starts one of the funniest comedies to date. The wide range of comedians from the unknown Chris Tucker (not anymore) to the brilliances of Bernie Mac, Cedric make this a classic. I do not have one bad thing to say about this video other than Chris Rock provided a very wack show, like he did not want to be there at all.

   A great buy!!!




2. This is a good DVD,but not as good as volume one.This DVD contains 3 episodes of HBO's groundbreaking comedy series Def Comedy Jam.The first one is hosted by Martin Lawrence,the second by Chris Rock,and the third by Cedric The Entertainer.The first show is hilarious!Every comedian is funny.Chris Tucker starts off this show.He gives a very funny performance.Kevin Anthony is next.His whole routine is about sex,but he is SOOO funny.Alonzo "Hamburger" Jones is next.I like the way he says "Hamburger" instead of a cuss word.Last,but not least,is the one and only Bernie Mac.Like Kevin Anthony,his whole routine is about sex,but he is SOO funny.In the second show,Chris Rock gave a terrible performance.He sounded like he didn't want to be there.The second comedian in this show,Dominique,is terrible also.The only famous comedian in this show is Rudy Rush.He gives a funny performance.Cedric's performance in the third show is great.Him and Mike Bonner are the only funny comedians in the show.



3. I initially bought this DVD because of Martin Lawrence. Ive seen alot of his films and thought they were funny. But i still thought him and will smith could not be the only black american comedians america has because in england all we have on terrestial TV(of black american comedy) are old re-runs of The Fresh Bel Air. So i purchased it wanting to discover more.In England we only have white comedy shows and although some of them are funny, I can not relate fully to them because of the cultural barrier between white english people and second generation african english culture.

   In this DVD there are 3 shows:

   One hosted by Martin Lawrence, the second by Chris Rock and the third Cedric the entertainer.

   The first show is so funny all the comedians had me cracking up, and Bernie Mac had me in stitches.I would buy a DVD with just this show on it.

   The second was OK but mostly due to the host Chris Rock. As the host he should get the audience fired up in anticpation. But he came and gave a below par performance. It was like he had not prepared for the show like he had just been drafted in at the last minute and did not want to be there. The comedians in this show were all different but i would have to say Dominique was the worst. Her set did not flow and had no relevance. I did not laugh once in fact i had to fast forward her a few times so that i did not cringe every time she talked.

   Rudy Rush was quite good, he started good but did not follow through with the jokes.The other comedian was alright but his performance gained momentum as time went on. I basically only laughed at the end.

   Now the show with Cedric the entertainer was sooooooo funny. I mean Cedric is such a joker. He upheld the whole show. The comedians in the show were good but Cedric was in a league of his own he had me laughing so many times, and he didn't mention sex once as many comedians in this series love to do.

5 comments about The Prayer Cycle.

1. Lovely CD, only problem is the artists all thought they had to do their own prayer cycle, so each piece rises in volumne and crescendo. Not the best for sleep time, but nice for yoga and cooking time.



2. ...a very few meaningful words are added to enhance the sound and voice on this eloquent and moving gift of music. It has become my favorite disc to share as a gift of love with friends and colleagues.



3. The only "weak" track on Jonathan Elias' The Prayer Cycle is "Grace," featuring John Williams and James Taylor. And I put the word "weak" in quotation marks because where the other eight tracks are transcending, atmospheric and, of course, godly, "Grace" remains earthbound by it's folksy, Renaissance melody. (It's as if Williams and Taylor were channelling deceased English singer-songwriter/musician Nick Drake.) One could argue, however, that "Grace" is a refreshing break from the lush orchestra and passionate wailing throughout, in which case, at track number five, it is perfectly placed in the middle of the epic arrangements. In any case that is a minor quibble for an album that is near glorious and comes highly recommended.



4. This CD is one I put on when I want to hear beauty and relax. It is great at work when you are working intensely on something or have a deadline! My co-workers laugh because I slide my headphones on and say "I am going to my happy place."



5. If you like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and I do you, might like this too!

5 comments about Life: Music Inspired By The Motion Picture.

1. Various Artists - Life: Music Inspired By the Motion Picture (Rock Land, 1999)

   Though hardly any of the songs have anything to do with the movie it's named after (maybe because the music is "INSPIRED" by the motion picture as the title suggests), and it's evident that R. Kelly used this as a vehicle to promote his new Rock Land Records, there is still some quality material on here written by Kelly. For instance, the title track really gives K-Ci a chance to shine while JoJo sings background. "Fortunate", also written and produced by Kelly, actually saved Maxwell's career back in 1999. But Kelly Price's "It's Gonna Rain" is actually the best song on the album; it's too bad that it's been overshadowed by "Life" and "Fortunate" in the public's eye. R. Kelly's tunes that he wrote for Brian McKnight, Mya, and Trisha Yearwood are also great, but it's the severely underrated "Speechless" sung by The Isley Brothers that surprised me.

   The tunes handled by soundtrack co-producer Wyclef Jean aren't as strong, especially the unnecessary remake of "Lovin' You" by former R. Kelly protégée Sparkle and the weird combination of Xzibit, Nature, Juvenile, Ja Rule, and Reptile (who?) on "25 to Life". City High's "What Would You Do" was so bad that they had to bring it back in 2001 to get some fans, and "Every Which Way" by Talent belies the group's name. But this soundtrack is still worth checking for the R. Kelly-penned tunes. -EJR




2. THE TWO BEST SONGS FROM THIS ALBUM ARE:
   Maxwell's Fortunate
   Kelly Price's Its Gonna Rain
   and Maybe Brian MCknight's Discovery



3. Comprising music that hardly features in the movie (LOL!!) and largely produced by R Kelly and Wyclef (with some help from Darkchild on 1 track), this is a stunning R&B collection from a stellar cast of performers.
   
   `It's like everyday' by DJ Quik (featuring R Kelly) is an outstanding sleek bubbly rap. `Stimulate me' is by the soon-to-explode Destiny's Child. Both are R Kelly compositions/productions. `Every which way' by Talent and Vegas Cats is an R Kelly production with some help from Darkchild.
   
   `It's gonna rain' is an R Kelly ballad featuring the powerful vocals on Kelly Price. Vocally, it starts off delicate and builds up in intensity with Price soaring towards the end.
   
   `Discovery' starts off as a piano/string ballad, with percussion and more instruments filtering in along the way, and featuring an outstanding performance from Brian McKnight. In a similar vein is the ballad `Follow the wind' featuring country singer Trisha Yearwood. Both are R Kelly Compositions/productions.
   
   Next is Mya on the lilting midtempo ballad `Why should I believe you?', followed by the Wyclef composition/production `What would you do' by City High with lyrics about hard living and asking what you would do in her place? This song belatedly became a hit in 2001 hitting #8 on the Billboard hot 100.
   
   'What goes round' by Khadeja, the uptempo reggae-ish `Lovin' you' by Sparkle (the only song I'm not really into on this CD I must confess, cannot compare to Minnie Ripperton's classic original), the rap `25 to life' featuring Xzibit, Juvenile, Ja Rule Nature, and Reptile, and the excellent lilting `New day' with soothing vocals by Wyclef are all Wyclef compositions/productions.
   
   `Speechless' is a tender ballad featuring some dramatic falsetto from Ronald Isley, and the upbeat organ laden `Life' features a fiery vocal performance from K-Ci and Jojo with an almost gospel fervor.
   
   Saving the best for last; Maxwell! `Fortunate' is a tender ballad composed and produced by R Kelly. This song hit #4 on the hot 100, #1 R&B, and was the #1 R&B song of 1999. His biggest hit to date. Multiple vocal layering, a stunning vocal performance meandering from falsetto to full vocals, and moving lyrics about seeing everyday things in a different light because of love.



4. A great album that everybody has forgotten about. Great jams and some emotional songs to . It moves me.



5. The movie is one of my all time favorites, along with the soundtrack, I watch and listen to them both regularly :)

2 comments about Greatest Hits: Broadway.

1. This is a very good CD, mostly because it's the original artists. I've had some that were re-recorded by no name artists that were ghastly. This one is a really good one--including the sound quality. If I had one wish, I would wish it were longer!



2. I just wanted to confirm what the first reviewer had to say about this CD. To hear Ethyl Merman, Mary Martin, Andrea McCardle etc. singing their trademark songs brought a lot of memories from the mid-centry musical theater back again. The last song by Glynis Johns is especially poignant.
   You certainly can't beat the price!