5 comments about Coldplay - Live 2003 (DVD & CD).

1. I love Coldplay.. and I love Coldplay even more live!! Chris' voice is absolutely perfect, and the rest of the group is amazing! This is a great addition to any Coldplay fan's collection.



2. I got the Coldplay 2003 DVD as a birthday present in '04. Coldplay's my favorite band, so you can imagine my excitement. Back in the days, I never thought I could ever be in a real concert of the band, I lived too far away from any place they toured.
   Almost four years later, I still think the DVD was the best concert in my life. That is, taking into consideration that I went to see them, against all odds, in NYC in 2006. It's not that the concert was bad, it was one of the best days in my life. It's that to me, the DVD is so good that I can't get enough of it.
   The band plays perfectly, the connection with the crowd is real, the choice of songs is fantastic, the sound is epic, the transitions that go along with songs, including colors, angles and views of the crowd and the band are nothing but exciting and bright.
   If there's any DVD I would ever recommend, it's this one. It's the closest you'll come to live the Coldplay experience if you haven't got the chance to live it already.



3. Not only is the music CD great, but the DVD packs quite the punch. The only tiny thing that bugged me was how the CD didn't have every song off of the DVD, but I guess that's what makes the DVD that much better. If you like Coldplay, but this DVD, you will not regret it. Best $20 musical purchase I've made in a long time.



4. This Video I thought could have been recorded in higher Quality
   Some of the songs were using such fast frames it makes your head spin, NOT enjoyable to watch.
   Not a total poor video but could of been better !! Such a Great Band
   Rich



5. The audio on this is outstanding. The documentary bonus is very boring. Basically band members moping about how stressful it is to be rich and famous and blabbering incoherently to bland Radio DJs about disparities in world trade. The concert video--despite the aforementioned great audio--is a quick edit mess of blurry shots that give me a headache.

5 comments about Live Aid (4 Disc Set).

1. As someone who never paid the slightest attention to Queen or Freddie Mercury, I was absolutely blown away when I saw portions of this concert on my local PBS station. So, I bought this disc from Amazon and I am very pleased to have it in my collection. It includes not only the wonderful concert in Montreal but also a second DVD with a fund raiser in London that is truly awe inspiring. I cannot recommend this too highly: if you are a fan you will love it. If you have never seen or heard of this group, you will become a fan!



2. After 25 years on Panavision now it's time to be on bluray! Thanx to Brian May and the rest of Queen to invest in a highly digitally remastered bluray disc! I've never seen before such a really good quality music DVD/bluray!



3. I bought the one disc version of this. I was not happy with it because the songs were not in their entirety. I waited until the price came down and I was ready. I am so glad. What a wonderful experience this is. To see the artists in 1985 is an adventure. Even the oganizer Bob G performing is wonderful. Do buy this and forget about your problems for a while and be part of this. A good cause and a beautiful day. It is easy to find the artist you want to listen to. The menu is so helpful. This brings a lot of joy to share with friends, don't watch it alone have people over. You will be singing and taking it in.
   
   Debra Envall



4. Wow this is a great concert (origially titled:"We Will Rock You") on Blu Ray Disc!!! Includes the classic Montreal preformance + the classic Live Aid stuff as well as some cool extras including a commentary by Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor!!! This title is also available on standard DVD but Blu Ray is the way to go if you have a Blu Ray player!!! For me it was money well spent,much cheaper than a concert ticket,and you have the best seat in the house,and can enjoy it over and over again!!! R.I.P. Freddie Murcury. Very recommended!!! Two tgumbs up!!! A+



5. I love this blue ray disc queen at his best performace recomended sound is crispy good ,and grsphic's are super clear.

5 comments about The Best of James.

1. This album is excellent. I have listened to the whole thing at least twice a week for the last year. I don't get tired of the driving rhythm or entrancing lyrics James has to offer in this compilation.



2. Whether you're a James fan or not, why praise a greatest hits album without any new material? If a band gets back together, it should ONLY be because they have something new to offer us. Anything else screams financial greed. Considering the high quality of Tim Booth's recent solo album compared to ANY of his work with James, it's easy to conclude that Tim is currently choosing financial incentive over artistic. I am a gigantic fan of Tim as a musician, but his bandmate on his recent solo album put it best when he stated that he was never a fan of James' music (didn't think there was any groove, among other things) but still wanted to work with Tim. I am in full agreement... Tim greatly inspired me in his work with Angelo Badlamenti and on his solo album, but outside of a couple good songs per album, each James record, to me, contains way too much filler. I realize the band has awesome chemistry, but I think Tim needs to move forward, and rehashing a bunch of tired songs isn't the way to grow as a musician.



3. This CD was amazing. I knew James before buying it but now I realize that they have so many more amazing songs. This CD is awesome.



4. If you're even slightly wary of albums with "Best of.." in the title, abandon any such reticence with this. It really is the best of this British Indie band and they're on top form with both the classic singles (Lay Down/Born of Confusion/How Was It For You? etc)and the lesser known material. And eighteen, thumpingly good tracks for the princely sum of under thirteen dollars is darned fine value. If it's a choice between this and a square meal, go for the CD. (Most of us could do with losing a bit of weight anyway!) This more than warrants its four out of five stars.



5. This album is superb. I play it every morning in the past months and still love it very much.

5 comments about Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.

1. When I first listened to this CD I thought it was a little long and somewhat boring. It was my first exposure to Spiritualized and from what everyone was telling me I was a little disappointed. However, I did not let my first run around make up my mind. I kept on listening and everytime I did something new came up in the music. Eventually, listening to the CD became more than just music playing it became an experience of life. The music eveloped me and I felt the connection. There are a lot of CDs I have that I will listen to when I just want a sing along or to rock out. However when I want to be part of the musical experience I feel there are really only two. "Marquee Moon" by Television and this album. There are others that come close to the experience but only those two really achieve the mark. This is an amazing CD.



2. i was first introduced to spiritualized at a jesus and mary chain show in 1992. the lights went down, all you could hear is organ and someone in the crowd jokingly asks,"what, are we in church?"
   they've been one of my favorite bands ever since. and when this album came out, well it has been one of my favorites ever since. this album shows that music is still going somewhere. listen to this cd in headphones over and over and you will find yourself amazed at the new things you hear with every listen. it's been almost 10 years that i've played this cd over and over and i still hear new sounds in it's infinite layers. there are only a few albums that i could listen to as much as i've listened to this one.
   if you like great production, if you like soul, if you like gospel, if you like psychedelic, if you like rock and roll, if you like "pet sounds", if you like "seargent pepper's," if you like phil spector, daniel lanois or brian eno, do yourself a favor and give this a shot.



3. I was introduced to Spiritualized through a free music site and bought "Let It Come Down" as my first album. I immediately went out and purchased "Ladies and Gentlemen...", and I was not disappointed. While "Let It Come Down" may have more layers and perhaps more accessible music, "Ladies and Gentlemen..." is certainly more consistent, with subtle touches that repeated listens uncover, such as the use of Pachabel's Canon in D on the title track. There is a wide variety of styles in use on this album, including classical, jazz, rock, and progressive influences.
   
   For all fans of Spiritualized, Radiohead, and all who want to escape into someone else's dreamscape.
   
   4 and a half stars.



4. I first heard the song "Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in space" in the movie Vanilla Sky (an awesome movie) and I just had to find out who the Artist was! This song got me hooked on Spiritualized! Their sound is like no other, it just blew me away. I have to buy this cd!! :)



5. I cant tell you how long I have been searching for this cd. I first heard the first track during the movie "Vanilla Sky". It plays as Sophie is walking in to David's Memorial. They neglected to include it on the soundtrack, so I didnt know the name of the band or the song, and it took a bit of detective work on my part. I finally found it, and the first track "ladies and gentlemen...." alone is worth it for me. Anyway, music for me is all about how it makes me feel, and I love how this makes me feel. I love music that has the abstract feel of a dream, so this does it for me. For those of you who are interested in another great song that the aforementioned movie also forgot to include, you must also try "Njosnavlin" by sigur ros (it plays as david jumps) You can find it in the cd entitled "()" and it is track #4.

5 comments about I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings.

1. A compilation of what I believe to be the Kid Amnesiac-era tour, considering that out of these eight songs, three are from Amnesiac and four are from Kid A. And really, that's all I can come up with about this album. It's certainly good, but it's only necessary for the converted. However, if you are converted, you'll find that there's a lot to like, including the huge reworking of "Like Spinning Plates", when it becomes a thoroughly beautiful piano ballad! Yes, that's right, it goes from some crazed, frigged-out avant-techno experiment to that! How did that happen? Well, however it happened, I like it. "Dollars and Cents" is also massively improved upon, removing the freaky noises and as such turning it into a somewhat great song. And the moody "True Love Waits", which never made it on a studio album, is the other fantastic highlight. Thom Yorke's falsetto and his acoustic guitar are a very good combination. On the other hand, "Morning Bell", "Idioteque", and "I Might Be Wrong" are nothing to write home about. If you've heard the originals (and I'm assuming you have), you're heard the remakes. They don't do anything particularly wrong, since "Morning Bell" and "Idioteque" so happen to be two of the best songs from Kid A (same with "I Might Be Wrong" on Amnesiac). It's just that, given what they do to "Like Spinning Plates", there was so much more potential. Come to think of it, the only song I'm really unimpressed by is "The National Anthem". Yorke's vocals just don't do the job for me, and the barely audible vocal scatting taking the place of the crazy horn section ruins the song. Let's face it, two or three people singing scat isn't going to wipe you out the way a horn section blowing whatever they please does. The remake of "Everything in Its Right Place" isn't the best, either. Still, it's interesting to hear Radiohead take some of their most challenging songs and put them in a live format, most of the songs are good, and none of them is bad. So it's a worthwhile addition to any Radiohead collection.



2. I want to know, why, one of my favorite bands would release a live disc like this.U2 did this as well in 1983(Under A Blood Red Sky).8 songs?I was lucky enough to see the band, when they played in Victoria Park, Warrington ,England,10/02/00, the day before the release of Kid A.The show was recorded by BBC Radio 1.My buddy, who resides in London, recorded the show and sent it to me on two cd's.The sound is great and it has 20 songs.20,not 8.This live disc is a total ripoff.How do you get the nerve to charge your fans full price for a cd that is 30 min long?Discs, as everyone knows ,can hold nearly 80 min of music,so whats the deal?Why couldnt they have added a few more songs?The thing is,the live versions of songs from both,Kid A and Amnesiac sound much better live.But,this disc does have its moments.True Love Waits is the jewel here.It is a fantastic ,emotional,slow acoustic song perfomed by Thom Yorke solo.Like Spinning Plates is another song that sounds great live,the studio version from Amnesiac is weak and it has too many loops and other wacky sounds going on, that take away from the song.This version is Thom at the piano,its very moving and strong.The songs from Warrington,sound much more powerful than the tracks presented here.The National Anthem is not as loud or intense as the version from Warrington.Its actually quite dull.That is quite shocking,considering I have heard other live versions of this song, from this tour and they were great.This version is from Paris,France.Enough said.Why would the band release this version??Im sure, some of you, have been lucky enough to have a copy of the Warrington show.If you dont have it,somehow try to get it.You will understand what I mean.The band also allowed 2 shows from 2001(Rock Am Ring Festival,Germany,06/01/01 and Oxford,England,07/07/01)to be broadcast over BBC Radio 1.They both sound great,since they,the band,recorded the shows.The entire Rock Am Ring show was also broadcast live on German tv.4 out of the 8 songs here, are from the Oxford show,the bands hometown.The show was obviously recorded by the band. Why wont they release one, if not all 3 ,of the gigs I have mentiond.Instead,we get 8 tracks.Someone over there at the Radiohead camp dropped the ball on this one.Most hardcore fans,like myself, would,without question,love to pay and own each show ,IF, they were available.How great would it have been if say,the band released the Oxford show in its entirety.They played 24 songs that night.But,no,we,the fans get ripped off with only 8 tracks.Did I mention that enough.Sorry but,that really pisses me off.We could have used a little effort on this one.Thanks guys.Oh and,God forbid,you release a live dvd from this tour.Since,again,at least two, that I know of, were filmed.Maybe in another few years they will,like the Astoria show from 1995 ,released in 2005.That made sense right.Hang in there fellow frustrated fans.



3. Radiohead live... you can't go wrong. Quit reading others analyzing this record... just buy it! You won't regret it. Take care :)



4. In short, the recordings are excellent I think. For the most part, songs don't vary TOO much from the album versions, but the avid Radiohead fan will notice, and appreciate, the differences. The acoustic version of True Love Waits, which I don't believe I've seen on any other album, is another great Radiohead song and lyrically one of the most complex and interesting I've ever heard.
   
   Cheers to Radiohead, and boos to the haters who leave bad reviews for this album.



5. Okay. I love Radiohead to death. But i have one problem. Where in the heck is "Fake Plastic Trees"? That song is supposed to be on here. Live Recordings? I am so glad that the dreadful "Creep" isn't on here, although it wouldn't be too terribley bad. I am happy with everything else, but am saddened that "Trees" didn't make the cut. I wonder why? Is the song not good enough? I have heard the song played live plenty of times, and that's why i'm surprised that it isn't on here. Oh well. I'm not complaining as much as i could be. :)

5 comments about Without You I'm Nothing.

1. "Pure Morning" is one of XM 43's better songs. Everything else here is only somewhat worse. All in all, they show a lot of promise in every area. Realisticly, they've got to improve to make a go of it.



2. I am very happy to have bought this cd. Every song is amazing and they are songs that you can play over and over and over. I have to say that when I first heard of these guys I was kind of hesitant to listen to them because I thought that they would be another rock band but there is something different about them. They have a different style and his voice is amazing.



3. We've all heard the question asked on MTV or in printed form in music magazines... "What album changed your life?"
   
   Well in my case, seeing as how I'm now middle aged, this has actually happened to me twice. When I was 16 the self titled "Boston" debut changed my taste in music forever. Or so I thought.
   
   As the years rolled by I found myself living in a small redneck town in Florida and listening to country music, which I still enjoy. The grunge movement at the time had finished off rock music for me and I slipped comfortably into middle age.
   
   Then, through unforeseen circumstances, I found myself living in Manchester England at the age of 38 with a much younger girlfriend. One night, she played a song on her CD player which completely blew me out of the musical funk I'd been living in for the previous six years. I rushed over to the CD player and turned the volume up high and got lost in the most haunting song I'd ever heard in my life. That song, of course, was "Pure Morning" by Placebo and in that instant, my life was changed again.
   
   It was my introduction to "Brit Pop," a musical form I never even knew existed, and began a long affair with this type of music that continues to this day. It also opened my eyes anew to the Rock music which I had abandoned and even made me look at grunge with new eyes of respect.
   
   So today, at the age of 47, you may just as easily find me hanging at a Collective Soul, Offspring, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne, Placebo, Muse, Garbage, Oasis or Radiohead show as you would find me at any number of classic rock shows or even country hoe-downs.
   
   All because of this song and this band and this album. This was just the beginning. I own every Placebo album there is but this was the one that broke it open for me and forever will remain part of my life.
   
   This review probably won't be helpful to the young ones out there but if you find yourself in the same situation as me you should seriously listen to this band.
   
   Absolutely recommended for purchase ... even if you're not middle aged. ;)



4. I think I just love Placebo. You have to love his voice to buy any of their cd's. Anyone who likes Placebo's "controversial" lyrics, should look up some of their interviews. Very interesting people.



5. This is my favorite Placebo album to date. I have all of their albums, including Meds, but I am still pulled toward this one. Probably because it's more melancholy and still not too poppy.

5 comments about My Aim Is True.

1. Music writers in 1977 hailed the appearance of this record as the introduction of a major new songwriting talent. Indeed, EC demonstrates here an astonishingly precocious ability to combine sophistication and popular sensibility with both personal ("Alison") and sociological ("Less than Zero") themes.
   
   Of course the musicianship is considered the primary flaw of the album (it's not worth getting bent out of shape over 'remastering' - I've heard these songs for thirty years and they have always sounded weak and tinny in any format). It's very easy to mock 'Clover''s performance as either lazy or incompetent but in the interest of fair play I would like to propose that they were a victim of the disease of 'mellow', i.e. a perception that popular music success in the 1970's required the suppression of both tempo and volume. As all EC fans know, immediately after this release he began the formation of The Attractions, a band that was most definitely NOT mellow and in fact created some of the most energetic and exciting sounds in rock music history (I can't possibly imagine what "Pump it Up" would sound like if Clover attempted it).
   
   If you are new to EC's music I would put this fifth on the list to purchase behind 'This Year's Model', 'Armed Forces', 'Get Happy' and 'Imperial Bedroom'.



2. Elvis Costello burst onto the music scene with one of the smartest and sharpest albums in history. The songs are all short (most under 3 minutes long) and shot at you in a machine gun burst. Despite their length, they pack a punch. Mr. Costello writes some of the most acerbic and astute lyrics in rock. On the surface, many of the songs like "No Dancing", "Blame It On Cain", "Less Than Zero" & "Waiting For The End Of The World", seem to be condeming in nature, but underneath they are looking for answers. He was lumped into the punk music scene, but that was more for his angry, I don't give a damn attitude than his music. Unlike the unpolished, raw music of most punk rockers like The Sex Pistols & The Damned, his music is tight and melodic. Also unlike most punks, he showed he could write an actual love song. "Alison" is one of the prettiest songs you'll ever hear.



3. Elvis Costello-My Aim Is True *****
   
   My Aim Is True is the fantastic debut album from one of the worlds greatest musicians, Elvis Costello. Coming around with the second wave of British punk (technically making him new wave) Costello had the attitude, intensity, and lyrical power to pretty much destroy everything that was around on the airwaves at the time.
   
   Costello's lyrical prowess is the main driving force on the album. From beautiful ballads like 'Alison' to the paranoid 'Watching The Detectives' Costello's ability as a writer shines through. The punk energy and guitar shines through on the albums rocking opener 'Welcome To The Working Week.' But the albums best track may come in the form of an ill fated British attempt at reggae. 'Less Than Zero' is just that, and is easily the strongest song on the album and one of Costello's best songs ever for that matter.
   
   As far as new wave goes My Aim Is True is the best. Not a weak track from start to finish. Costello would release two more popular albums before abandoning his fame for cult success, which you have to admire and scratch your head at the same time. My Aim Is True is Costello in top form and he would never top it, not even with This Years Model of Imperial Bedroom.



4. Up until recently, I had no Elvis in my collection. He's one of my 2nd tier artists, but I do like him. I've just been holding off for all the other stuff I really, really want. As soon as I saw these new 'originals' come out, the first thing I did was go out and buy the Rhino issues with all the bonus tracks as I assume they would dissappear in favor of these. Good move on my part. I really liked all the other stuff you got and they sounded all great. I bought Armed Forces, Get Happy, and Years' Model. I had held off on Aim is True, mostly because I was not nearly as impressed with the bonus tracks as I was on the others. Also, geez, this album has got to be the most over played since Dark Side of the Moon. Needless to say I was thrilled when I found, the ALL NEW - NOT YET ON AMAZON - DELUXE ISSUE OF AIM IS TRUE. It contains extra outtakes not found on the Rhino issue, plus an entire 2nd disk of a 1977 live show and soundcheck. However, it did not contain the 'honky tonk' demos that are on the Rhino issue. Now, keep in mind that this deluxe issue is put out by the same company that put out this new 'original' as they call it, HIP-O/UNIVERSAL so I assume it sounds the same as the deluxe issue. I still have not heard the Rhino issue of this, however I had no problems at all with the sound of the other 3 CDs. This Hip-O issue is just awful. There is a lot of high-midrange/treble distortion in the recording. The demos on the Deluxe issue also have it which suggests something wrong. Add to this Watching the Detectives is particularly butchered as it suffers from that awful imbalence between the loud and quiet parts you get with bad mastering sometimes. The instruments and vocals all sound like they are in the background and the loud parts, like when it goes '...And They Shoot Shoot Shoot...' just jumps out at you real loud. It sucks something bad. However, the good news is that the bouus disk on this new deluxe issue has the entire LP live, except I'm Not Angry. And - get this - the sound quality on the live stuff is far superior to the studio stuff, which tells you there is something wrong with this recroding. Keep in mind I am assuming this 'original' sounds the same as my deluxe issue of this, as Hip-0 put out both. I sampled here and yes, I hear the mid-range distortion, even thru cheap head phones. I couldn't get a sample of the Rhino issue, but I assume it's far superior to this. I wonder if all the CDs in this series sound this bad. If so, I assume it's going to be a long time before we see a decent issue unless Rhino comes to rescue. I am very seriously even considering buying the Rhino issue, even with all the duplication (although I would get the Honky Tonk' demos) just to have a decent recording of this LP. Or maybe I'll just listen to it live from now on on the bonus disk. Stay away from this issue. Get the Rhino. Buy the new deluxe only for the bonus live show. Only pay rock bottom.



5. Well, this album was a classic the day it was released back in Discotime, you should really give it a listen or 5 if you haven't before, but can someone, anyone tell me the point of re-releasing it again?
   
   It IS more economical to buy it this way than with the bonus disc.
   Maybe that's the point?
   
   Highly recommended in any of its incarnations.
   
   As it says all over the cover, "Elvis is King"!

5 comments about Aerial.

1. YAWN! This is some of the most boring music I have ever heard. And from Kate Bush no less. I'm almost ashamed that I own it.



2. 'Aerial' creates one long sustained feeling of deep, loving warmth. Just put it on & let it envelope you in sonic "honey". Stop looking for the past. This music is like a great dream - if you try to analyze it, the effect is ruined.



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RUWUZCWXF402H My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!!



4. A simple stunning masterpiece. Her voice has matured beautifully and the production is top notch!



5. I was introduced to Kate Bush when I first saw her video for "Cloudbusting" Hounds of Love. This was sometime in the 80s. Donald Sutherland plays a father, an eccentric inventor on the wrong side of the government somehow. Kate plays his daughter. Cloudbusting is about Wilhelm Reich (The Mass Psychology of Fascism ) the astoundingly brilliant psychoanalyst and fringe researcher. The song is fantastic. I was hooked.
   
   Kate is a beautiful woman, and a fantastic singer and artist. She is an experimenter with sound and style, too. She is much more than a pop artist, she's a little girl stuck in a woman's body. She never loses touch with her inner child and it's always there, in the front or in the back, but it's there. This quality of childishness makes Bush very insightful. The Sensual World, The Dreaming and Lionheart were all fantastic records, and the Hounds of Love, even better. And it's been a long time between records, almost ten years I'd guess, but I never forgot about Kate. I was excited to listen to this record much like I was with Joe Jackson's Rain (w/ bonus DVD). While I was delighted with the former I was disappointed with the latter.
   
   Kate Bush walks a fine line between many styles. She can be straight ahead poppy, very artsy, very avante-garde, too. Her voice can be almost annoying shrill and elegantly sultry and dark and sexy. The lyrics in this record one reviewer compaired to Steely Dan's for their silly obscureness. One song in particular spends a great deal of time on washing machines. It seems silly, and it is, but I didn't care. Much like Steely Dan's lyrics can be silly and absurd one generally doesn't care as the arrangements and the quality are so fantastically good.
   
   "How to Be Invisible" is particularly driving... it keeps moving forward with Bush's vocals going up and down. "A Coral Room" is beautiful, reminding one of "And Dream of Sheep/Under Ice" from Hounds of Love. Kate is still a force to be reckoned with here. This album is a real pleasure.
   
   On first listen I really liked it, but felt challenged in particular by "King of the Mountain's" minimalism. But even that song grew to something much bigger. Building upon the spare openings of that song Kate created a massive sound assault that works so well. Kate does all kinds of vocal jumping and games in "Bertie". She is an artist and demands some patience and acceptance from the listener. But in the main, this album is so spare and so haunting as to make it very special. It is one of my favorite Kate Bush records. I hope she makes many, many more!
   Brava!

5 comments about A Storm in Heaven.

1. I remember when i first time I saw them on second stage of Loll. back in the day. I stumble upon them, the music they were playing was great. The following day the bought the tape. Now that dating me. anyway I had to add this cd to my collection finally. Good times.



2. "Urban Hymns" lovers might not care for it, but this is the best of the Verve's fleeting but extraordinary and influential career. A Storm in Heaven easily makes the list of my top ten albums of all time, which is a list that spans four decades.
   
   There's a little bit of everything in this sonic extravaganza...from softly and pyschedelically haunting to hard driving rock. I have to agree with some of the negative comments about the production work though. The vocals on some tracks are far too muted, relegating Ashcroft's incredible vocals to background instrument status. That's not necessarily a bad thing I suppose, because the multiple lush layers of guitar really shine through.
   
   This is an absolute "must-have" for your collection.



3. I've been a Richard Ashcroft fan since I first heard "Bitter Sweet Symphony" but never ventured backward into the less known (in the United States) first two albums by The Verve. Since I picked up ''This Is Music: The Singles 92-98'' I've wanted to go back and listen to this album and ''A Northern Soul''. After hearing this album I could not stop listening or replaying it. The other reviewers say that this album is one of the most played in their collection and I can see why.
   
   True to the excesses of The Verve at the time, the album has a very mellow and relaxing feel to it. It will calm you and let your mind think, but not in a negative manner. The songs are soft which allows the lyrics and melody to flow together. Some listeners won't be able to get past what seems to be similar sounds from each song or what they perceive as no real separations between songs, but those thoughts are misguided.
   
   If you like "Bitter Sweet Symphony" because it was popular, stay away from this album. But if you would like to explore more of The Verve beyond that song and ''Urban Hymns'', check out this fantastic beginning for a band that never received the credits they deserved.



4. a storm in heaven is one of the most gorgeous albums i've ever heard. it is not like the verve's other albums. this is in a genre of it's own. imagine layers upon layers of soothing, swirling creamy guitar melodies and vocals drenched in reverb dreaminess that wrap around your head until you feel as though you're being gently lifted up into the clouds. listening to this album is like being in that place in between sleep and awake. you know, that state of mind when you wake up in your bed and hear the birds chirping outside, but you are still in your dream? that's what this album is like. is it musical paradise.



5. This album is hard to describe but hell, I'm going to try. First off, if your looking to buy this album and the only thing you know about The Vere is "Bittersweet symphony" then this album may not be for you. This is unlike anything The Verve has ever done. With "A Storm in Heaven" the Verve take a very unothadox Jazzy,psychedelic Post rock aproach to their music that is simply awe inspiring. "A Storm in Heaven" has sonic sound scapes and sound walls that would make My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth blush. I don't know if it is or not but I like to think "A storm in Heaven" as the spearhead album that paved the way for Post Rock acts like Sigur Ros and Godspeed. It's the first album that I really heard the true essence for what post rock would later build apon. If you're a post rock fan or just like beautiful Psychedelic mood music then this album is a must have. Your music collection will thank you.

5 comments about Don't Believe the Truth.

1. Ever since their second album, the blockbuster "(What's the Story) Morning Glory", Oasis have been fairly hit-or-miss when it came to the songs. Their third: too bloated and too long. Their fourth: too cerebral and not enough hooks. And their previous record felt like it was trying to replicate their previous success but they only remembered half of what it was. However the maturity seemed to get a little improved with each record and songs were created that were not just simply radio-geared but focused a bit more on their songwriting, as borrowed and/or cliched as it is. "Don't Believe the Truth" was marked as a return-to-form and while they've gotten better in key areas, there's some things that they still haven't been able to replicate: that of a killer pop tune hook.
   
   Turn Up the Sun: Opening with some minor arpeggios, the track then becomes a big rock track with Liam's vocals coming in which sound a bit raspier than usual. It's pretty simple as far as tunes go but it grew on me and while I wouldn't consider one of their best, it's decent enough as a song. 7.5/10
   
   Mucky Fingers: Just like "Force of Nature" with its irritating beat, we have this song. It's basically 3 chords repeating for quite awhile with pounding drums for the beat and it gets old really quickly. Noel basically yells the lyrics and there's really no redeeming value to this one. 4/10
   
   Lyla: Despite the band's claim that this isn't even in the top 5 songs on the record, I have to disagree. Catchy rhythm, a chorus to sing along to and even though its pop hooks are a bit more obvious than other songs on the record, doesn't stop it from being quite listenable. The long outro is back though (they gotta stop doing that). 8.5/10
   
   Love Like a Bomb: A Liam-penned tune that isn't quite as great as "Songbird" but it's quite good in its own right with some good vocals in the chorus and some la-la-la's for extra catchiness. It's pretty short but a good one. 8/10
   
   The Importance of Being Idle: Quite different than they normally do and while one can tell based on the guitar tones it's not that different, musically it's not as balls-to-the-wall rock or acoustic pop that they normally do and Noel does a good job singing the falsettos in the chorus complete with staccato chords. 9/10
   
   The Meaning of Soul: Barring the "Jumpin Jack Flash"-sounding line in the chorus, this is a nice burst of acoustic rock penned by Liam. It's quite short but it's a cool song and quite enjoyable to hear. Nothing else to say about it really. 8/10
   
   Guess God Thinks I'm Abel: Bit of Middle Eastern-type chords and it's probably Liam's best track on the album. The song could've easily fit on the "Giants" record since it's a bit more experimental than usual. One complaint is the loud burst of sound at the end. It kind of kills the feel of the whole thing. 8/10
   
   Part of the Queue: To tell the truth, this track is kind of boring. It just sort of lurches on with Noel doing a similar yelling/singing like on "Mucky Fingers" only the song isn't quite as annoying. I love the piano riff during the bridge and only thing that really saves this one. 7/10
   
   Keep the Dream Alive: Quite an enjoyable track and even though it's pretty basic during the verses, the chorus picks up and Liam sounds really great and is one of the more enjoyable tracks on the record because of it with some nah-nah's to top it off. 8.5/10
   
   A Bell Will Ring: Another underrated highlight and it's got that classic Oasis feel with Liam sounding great and it's "all will be brand new" might get stuck in your head. My only complaint is like most of the songs on the record, the mix sounds a little too noisy but oh well. 8/10
   
   Let There Be Love: If "Acquiesce" was the loud anthemic rocker duet, this is on the other end with delicate acoustic strumming, piano chords and it's pretty enjoyable with Liam and Noel both taking turns singing the track. Another highlight off the record and ends the record on a bit more somber-yet-hopeful light. 8/10
   
   There's some records bands will do where they seem less concerned with getting a top 10 hit and just want to write solid tracks. "Don't Believe the Truth" is basically the same and while only a handful of these tracks can compete with their best work, it's a pretty solid record in the end.



2. Really, it is hard to go wrong with an Oasis record. They always have some good lyrics hovering over some good rock music. To me, none of their albums, with maybe the exception of "What's the Story" are really totally great and timeless, but overall, it is good rock music.



3. I give this album 3.5 stars. It's a good album but definitely not their best. The album starts off great with a good rockin' and sing-along song, "Turn Up the Sun" But the following song "Mucky Fingers" is just plain..."plain". The last third of the album is quite good and darn right mesmerizing at times. "Keep The Dream Alive" hits one out of the park in the 7th inning stretch. It has a super catchy chorus with lyrics to back it up. Noisy but in a good way; a-la songs from the album Be Here Now.
   
   As stated before there are some low points and a few fillers on this album but don't let this distract you from the finer points and subtlety that makes this album better than most other rock bands have put out in the last 5-7 years.



4. Don't believe the truth represents Oasis' best album since the 1995 epic (What's the story?) Morning Glory. The single Lyla is easily one of the top Oasis tracks and marks a return of the band to more mainstream music and the end of the self-indulgent albums preceding this album. They use Zak Starkey on drums (yes, son of Ringo Star or Richard Starkey) and the tracks are co-written by many of the band members with 2 of the top tracks (Turn up the sun, Guess God thinks I'm Abel) written by the bass player and Liam Gallagher. I am optimistic the new band is now positioned to propel the group through their mature years and get down to writing more ripping, sing-along tracks that make the band the top act in the last 15 years, at least. This is a must buy even for a part-time fan.



5. This album is way off what I expect from this legendary group.
   
   The problem is, they have set the bar very high. (What's The Story) Morning Glory is possibly the greatest rock album ever. Be Here Now and Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants are also a superb albums.
   
   But there is not one song on Don't Believe The Truth that I consider an anthem. Don't get your hopes up!