5 comments about Trainspotting: Music From The Motion Picture.

1. Easily one of the best soundtrack compilations ever put together. It's a perfect narrative for the forgotten, drug-infused, rock-bottom, greasy nightmare most of us have never lived through. In the end you'll have an incredible urge to rinse off in the shower.



2. Its that simple. If there's ever been a soundtrack that goes so good with the movie this is one of them. Now you can relive Trainspotting any time.



3. In a world where every other movie has it's own soundtrack, few stand out. This one does to me. Obviously a liking for the movie helps, but even without the film this is an excellent listen. A great mix of old and new, mellow and upbeat. I mean when you stick Iggy, Lou Reed, and New Order on the same disc as Brian Eno, Blur, and Bedrock.....well you can't go wrong. Still a great play ten years later, and should be found cheap anyplace.



4. When I started listening to this, it had been a year or so since I had seen the movie (which I liked), and I couldn't remember which scenes correponded to which tracks. Therefore I enjoyed it as a completley seperate work of art. When I re-watched the movie recently, I was almost dissapointed; the music actually seemed weakened in the context of the scenes. Don't get me wrong, Trainspotting is excellent, but the soundtrack stands indepedently and possibly even above it as a pop-culture watermark.

   It's been observed that there's a lot of variance in the music, but I do think it's held together by a certain theme, a depiction of a way of life - squalor (Mile End, 2:1), desperatley sincere attempts to find some happiness or amusement (Lust For Life, Atomic, For What You Dream Of), an underlying and understandable sense of desperation (Sing and Perfect Day, the only songs which I thought perfectly matched their respective scenes in the movie), made bearable by the occasional glimpse of real, innocent sweetness (Temptation).

   Taken seperatley, the songs are again very strong; there are great commerical hits like 'Temptation' and 'Born Slippy,' and more obscure but excellent tracks like 'Sing,' which I don't think can be found on any other album, but which I think is one of Blur's best songs, ever. The instrumental tracks are also good, particularly 'Trainspotting' itself.




5. I finally bought this CD after putting it off for years. I mainly bought it for Underworld, but this whole CD is cool. I'm not into Iggy or Lou, but I don't skip any tracks on this CD. This came out in 1996, but sounds so fresh and relevant to today's culture. My least favorite track is, Lou Reed's "Perfect Day," and my absolute favorite is, Blur's "Sing," which barely beat Primal Scream's "Trainspotting." The track that A track that surprised me is Pulp's hilarious "Mile End." Brian Eno is always good, and "Deep Blue Day" will give Eno more record sales. Blur's lead singer has the last track called, "Closet Romantic," which is a more of an electronic song. If you like emotionally charged tunes then go get this album.

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 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 Ferment.

1. If you have ever had a deep sensual feeling you can't go wrong with this album. This dude singing reaches deep and paints it out for us to emote with him. If you never could express certain feelings then you can get help with this band. This album is an essential sensual rocking shoegazing bonanza.



2. This is an awesome CD and an awesome band. The 90's were definitely the decade where I became musically aware, and most of my favorite bands are from that decade, but somehow I never heard - or even heard of - Catherine Wheel until 2007. Man, I was missing out. I actually fell in love with them via "Crank," a song from CW's second album, Chrome...but by now, I like Ferment even better than Chrome.
   
   If you have always wished that Radiohead would make a sequel to The Bends, then check out Catherine Wheel. And after going through Catherine Wheel's catalog, you might check out The Autumns for a current band that makes this (EXACT!) kind of music. Also, obviously, get The Bends if you don't have it yet. Enjoy.



3. A very impressive debut album from a band that will help shape and shift the landscape of the British underground. Compared to other Catherine Wheel albums, Ferment is very raw in it's production and is the main reason that they were lumped into the shoegazer category. Beautiful pop melodies that are twisted around a vaccuum of distorted fuzz to create a powerful collection of tunes. Catherine Wheel has always had the ability to make you weep with their frailty and then rip your face like an emotional juggernaut. It all starts with Ferment. Rob Dickinson begins to develop his signature breathy vocals. His voice truly is another instrument. Brian Futter drops bombs of ambient distortion. Neils Simms and Dave Hawes anchor the songs so that they don't sail 10,000 miles over the moon. Over time, Catherine Wheel would develop and refine their sound even more but this is the album that started it all. Outstanding.



4. Anyone who knows the early sounds of the 90's would hear every trick in this outstanding album produced by Catherine Wheel. A great example of the 'Manchester scene' that captures those distinctive wayward guitar rifts and catchy melodies, a must for anyone who wants to bring those days back to life.



5. ...is the one in which those four sixthteenth-note snare hits rocket us out of the moody interlude of "Black Metallic" at the 6:03 mark and back into that impeccible guitar-drenched finale. You want catharsis? This is catharsis.
   
   The rest of the album isn't exactly bad either.

5 comments about Wake.

1. Why I say "Shame on me"? Because I didn't get into this band earlier. I've heard the name Dead Can Dance (DCD) for some years now but didn't pay much attention, thinking it was some dark, morbid music with a spooky name like "Dead Can Dead". I've been a fan of The Cocteau Twins for about 4 years now, I have almost all their albums, then a co-worker of mine told me he hates the The Cocteau Twins and loves DCD instead, and recomended their music. I was surprised he would say that he "hates" the Twins, his main reason he says Liz Fraser "just hollows on about nothing".
   Not really true, but eventually I tryed the music clips for DCD: Wake on Amazon and was captured by what I heard so I gave it a shot.
   
   Now I'm a new fan of DCD, thanks to this Wake release of Best of tracks. I still like Cocteau Twins but I most says DCD is more varied in musical scope and styles, crossing several different languages and cultures. I'm impressed with Gerrard's ability to sing in different languages. This a perfect for me because I'm the type of person that like learning about cultures and languages, and DCD is great for when I'm doing artwork, illustrating multicultural characters in exotic worlds.
   
   DCD: Wake is a great introductory compilation for potentional new fans. My favourite songs are Carnival of Light, Windfall, Host of Seraphim, Severance, Rakim and The Spider's Stratagem, to name a few. I already started purchasing DCD's past album releases and the Remasters will be available soon.
   DCD will take your mind and soul to other worlds, past, present and future.



2. This is a really great "desert island" Dead Can Dance CD that has great bits from all their phases. In fact two years ago I was studying abroad in Germany and heard they were on tour...I caught their show in England. Lucky me. But..I have had most of their work on vinyl and I had lost a few (if you can believe that..life is crazy and sad sometimes)so I needed a good comp to listen to for a refresher crash course in DCD. This fit the bill and I went nuts over it. Only one number from "Spleen and Ideal" and nothing from their first album. Now I have the awesome box set and my dumb friend lost my "Wake" but I still may buy "Wake" again even though I will have everything on it. It's just a great handy dandy overview of their career until this supposed "break-up" phase which I don't buy for a second is over. Addicting. Beautiful. Stunning. Inspiring. Cool.



3. I love the music, DCD are so hypnotic and this is as good as any other album - oh wait, it IS the music that's on any other album ... and that's my criticism. Almost every track I recognised from Toward the Within or Silver Tree, both of which I love and play regularly.
   It is a good album anyway and I would recommend it to anyone who isn't sure whether they will like DCD - a very good introduction to the work of these amazing musicians, especially Lisa Gerrard who has an incredible vocal range and great skill in composition.



4. I've been a fan of DCD since I was in high school and I'm now in my early thirties. I absolutely love this album, Lisa Gerrard has such an amazing voice that I am often moved to tears at the beauty of the songs on this album. Although each song is a gem, my favorites are "Host of the Seraphim", "The Carnival is Over", "Summoning the Muse" and "Song of the Nile". This is an excellent cd for someone who is new to Dead Can Dance or an old fan like myself.



5. 
   These two (Brendan & Lisa) could put out a CD of them singing the phonebook ...... and I'd eagerly buy a copy!!!!
   
   To describe their music as "surreal" is an understatement. You don't just LISTEN to Dead Can Dance music ...... You EXPERIENCE it!
   
   Get this collection - You won't be disappointed!!

3 comments about The Winnowing.

1. The CD is less than memorable except for their version of Auld Lang Syne. If you wear a kilt, it is enough to make you cry in your single-malt and is worth the price of the disk.



2. I thought I was buying this CD for one song, Step Dancing, but lo and behold every track is a stunner. The Winnowing moves one through the emotional scale from joy to sorrow with amazing skill. I laughed, I cried, I danced, and I know this will be a favorite forever!



3. Rich, haunting, traditional Celtic ballads and instrumentals with pure vocals. This music lingers in the mind.

5 comments about The Man Who.

1. There are two major versions of the CD, one includes three bonus tracks total- "Blue Flashing Light," "20," and "Only Molly Knows." The other one includes just "Blue Flashing Light." I think "Blue Flashing Light" is meant to be a hidden track on all versions of the CD. It is not clear which CDs have the extra two and which ones do not. It's best for a seller to list the actual tracks on the CD in this case.



2. This was a band that I knew nothing about until they were going to be at a festiful that I was going to in 2005. After hearing their music I am so mad that I didn't know about them sooner. They are amazing and I like everyone of their songs. They are one of my favorite bands. I am so happy that I found out about them and hope they never stop making amazing music!



3. I discovered Travis about 4 years back with their then latest album The Invisible Band.The album quickly became a favourite with its intensely personal songs.
   This earlier album is equally wonderful.Travis lead singer Fran Healy once said they prefer to remain "invisible" and let the music speak for themselves.Well this album speaks voulumes of their talent.The quiet anguish of Fran's voice perfectly fits the sombre tone of the songs each of which is a gem.
   The album can get quickly addictive and you might find yourself listening to it all the time !!
   Highly recommended.



4. This is a group whom I never hear anyone talk about. I love there music & this one is there best album. Coldplay sounding.



5. a powerfully addictive album that showcases the skills of a band that seems to combine some of the best qualities of Radiohead and Dave Matthews - while leaving out the bad behaviors and formulaic leanings of an Oasis.
   
   Scotland produced a fine band, indeed.

3 comments about Billboard Top 10 Karaoke, Vol. 1.

1. This CD does live up to it reviews. It is an excellent compilation of the decades passed. i love it. A must have for any karaoke r.



2. The music is not the original artists but is music "made famous by the original artist" and is only evident once you read the fine print. It seems a bit dishonest to use the Billboard Top 10 as a selling vehicle. I rated the item a 4 because the music is ok and after all it is Karaoke. Worst of all is the price--I found these at Walmart for $30.



3. The songs are fine, but there is no way to tell how close you are to the next lyric when in between verses. Unless you know the songs it can be tough to track. Many other competitors have ...s or something to signal how close you are to the next verse.

5 comments about Tremolo E.P..

1. This EP is great, don't get me wrong. But if you buy this EP expecting it to sound like Isn't Anything, or Loveless you're very much mistaken. This EP was released before MBV lost their minds (in a good way) and started playing around with the guitar sounds they would come to be known by. The songs are very well written, but they're more pop-rock and only shoegaze in spirit.



2. This is one of the two EPs released before Loveless, the other being Glider, and truth be told, it's absolutely essential. "To Here Knows When" is evoked in all its incandescent glory here, with a more fitting ambient outro. "Swallow" is a blur of Eastern strings and jangly British guitars, and "Honey Power" borrows the four-to-the-floor propulsion of American grunge. "Moon Song" is a bit of a throwaway, a lesser version of Isn't Anything's "All I Need," but it's still worth hearing on occasion. Tremolo is a fitting companion to Loveless, and considering MBV's frustrating silence since, any scrap of their genius is well worth procuring.



3. You get a couple of tracks that are not on the album "Loveless" but the same time frame.Awesome!



4. For those starved and still pining for a follow up to Loveless, the EP/Single Tremolo may be as close to it as we'll ever get. The four songs included here are, for lack of a better word, excellent. "To Here Knows When" is the same version found on Loveless, only with a different ending, a better ending in fact - feathery and ephemeral. B-sides "Swallow" and "Honey Power" are worth adding this EP to your collection alone. The latter is 4:33 of My Bloody Valentine-goodness. "Moon Power" is an oddity, a melange of interesting noise. If anything Tremolo is a bitter sweet reminder of just how breathtakingly gifted My Bloody Valentine was. Buy it. Download it. Just hear it. Allow yourself to fall under MBV's beautiful thrall once again.



5. TREMOLO is a little better then the EP GLIDER, but it still feels a little expensive at seven or eight dollars. This EP clocks in at slightly under twenty minutes, and one of the songs on this disc is an almost exact version of a track from LOVELESS (it has an extended ending, which is pretty sweet, but besides that, the tracks are identical). If you own LOVELESS, there is no real reason to buy this EP (unless you're a hardcore Valentine fan such as myself). You'll only be getting about 15 minutes of new songs, and although they ("Swallow" and "Honey Power" are among the better tracks) are better then any of the songs off of the EP GLIDER, they're still below anything on LOVELESS or ISN'T ANYTHING. Don't get me wrong, this EP is excellent, it's just not worth the price.

5 comments about Hounds of Love.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/REQHJ1F3EMSBT 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!!!



2. In 1985 I bought the record and wore it out, literally! Then I bought the cassette and played it till it broke about a year ago. Bought the CD and still listening to it to this day. No one else, other than the Beatles, would cause me to do this. Kate Bush was awesome then and still is today. Do yourself a favor and run, do not walk, to get this CD. While you're there pick up Kate's "The Kick Inside" and listen to two Kate's! Both awesome in different ways.



3. MOST ALBUMS THAT ARE POPULAR ARE OVERRATTED TO SOME DEGREE,AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM...IVE SPENT ALOT OF TIME TRYING TO GET WHAT EVERYONE ELSE GETS ABOUT THIS ALBUM AND THE REALITY IS,ITS NOT THAT GREAT!....BASICALLY MADE FOR {IN MY OPINION PETER GABRIEL FANS OR TALKING HEAD FANS}...KATE TRIES REALLY HARD TO EXERCISE SOME PRODUCTION SKILLS AND VERSATILITY ON THIS ALBUM BUT TO ME ITS SPREAD A BIT THIN!......POPULARITY ON THIS ALBUM PROBABLY DRIVEN BY VIDEOS OR THE FACT THAT SHE'S A WOMEN DOING SOMETHING SO CALLED ARTSY HAS BRAINWASHED MANY INTO THINKING THIS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL AND IT ISNT...THE REALITY IS THESE SONGS ARENT THAT CLASSIC...THERE OLD SOUNDING,CHEESY,AND TO ME A BIT CHEAP...KATE LACKS A BIG HEART BUT HAS A BIG EGO AND THE RESULTS SHOW IT....AN E FOR EFFORT MAYBE BUT A C SUBSTANCE....SO THINK FOR YOUR SELF....DONT LISTEN TO WHAT "THEY" SAY...EVERYTHING IS NOT A FIVE STAR OR A 1 STAR ALBUM.....LISTEN TO THE SONGS NOT THE HYPE AND YOULL FIND THIS ALBUM IS JUST PRETTY GOOD!!



4. First listened to this album when it released in 1985, still listening to it today.



5. I bought this in 1986, having heard Bill Humphries sing the praises of Kate Bush for months. It was the Spring-Summer of my triumphant return to UT Austin (before the inevitable Second Fall from Grace that was to occur a couple of years later), and while I had listened to this album quite a bit during my commute back and forth to classes that Spring, it cemented its hold in my heart during Winedale summer, as I prepared for the Shakespeare course that Mike Godwin had instructed me to enroll in during the Spring, then followed up for an intensive Summer section. Listening to it now reminds me of that summer, especially the first song, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" and the entire "Ninth Wave" second half, in that I had indeed made a deal with God that I would try and turn my school life around and I was immersed, not so much in water, but in the creativity and spirit of Winedale. The album is somewhat bittersweet, and so was that summer, for while I indeed did well that year, it was a rough period, made more so by the ties I had been making with my girlfriend of the time (who would eventually become my wife, uhm, ten years later).
   
   I had been primed to fall for the Divine Miss Bush for years, having spent my high school years listening to a progression of pop music (Elton John and Fleetwood Mac) to "hard rock" (Styx and Journey) to "art rock" (Genesis, Rush and Yes). The next step along that road was to experimental rock, and Laurie Anderson had been my introduction and Kate Bush became my guide in the form. At the time, since I hadn't heard much of Bush's previous work, I simply saw her as a companion to Peter Gabriel (she had, after all, performed a duet with him on his recent album, So, as had Anderson), who also went into the studio to drench her songs in layers and layers of production. The strangeness of some of "The Ninth Wave" washed over me, and it wasn't until years later that I actually took notice of how many things were actually going on in those songs. Now that I look at this album and compare it to her previous work, I see how some had rightly accused Bush of "selling out" to pop music, much like they had accused Gabriel of the same (my favorite memory of which is my friend Karl Rehn's rewrite of the chorus of "Sledgehammer" as "I want to be / Phil Collins"). Hounds of Love is defiantly pop, but this is pop with an edge.
   
   Take, for example, the opening song, whose title was changed because her record company feared that "A Deal with God" would raise fundamentalist hackles in the States and Italy. Its insistent drum beat over the atmospheric synths belie the lyrics, which have nothing whatsover to do with the diety, but instead describe the love/hate symbiosis in most relationships. The titular deal is the narrator's urgent desire to be able to switch places, so as to better understand each other. (Of course, in all modesty, you could also read the lyrics as the narrator wanting to swap places with her lover so they could experience orgasm from each other's point of view. I'm just saying, and those moans in the background bear me out on this, I think.)
   
   "It's in the trees! It's coming!" What? This is a pop record? What was that? That was the beginning to the second song, "Hounds of Love," that's even more over the top in its attempt to describe how much it feels to be the object of someone's affection, or perhaps the narrator's fear of being in love itself. As she runs from those hounds, she's unsure if she wants to be in love or to be pursued by love or to give in to her own feelings. I was 20, and in the throes of my first love affair, and I knew how she felt to be hounded by love.
   
   "The Big Sky" changes the mood to be a little more light-hearted, almost childish, as the narrator rolls in the grass and focuses her attention on the shapes that she can see in the clouds. What I like most about this song is the vocal nonsense sounds in the background that are almost like Philip Glass in their repetition. Each of these first three songs are "big music," in the phraseology of Mike Scott of the Waterboys: they fill the room/car/arena with their sounds, so much so that the louder you play the song the more you hear going on.
   
   But, as celebratory as the last song was, Bush quickly turns to a darker subject, and one of my favorite songs she has ever done, "Mother Stands for Comfort." Unlike the ambiguous nature of the first couple of songs, it's not hard to follow the lyrics on this one: from the breaking glass at the beginning, to the industrial background sounds, this is a song about a broken person, who adores his mother who "knows that I've been doing something wrong / But she won't say anything." In the chorus, the narrator even calls himself a madman. This is a sincerely creepy song, in which the music both supports its eerie theme as well as coats it over in slinkiness.
   
   From one child to another, "Cloudbusting" is told from the point-of-view of Peter Reich, the young son of Wilhelm Reich. Drawn directly from Peter's book about his experience, it tells the story of when the government agents came for his father, interspersed with a child's love for his father and the dreams his father had instilled in him. It's an effective piece in that it makes you want to know more about Reich and his beliefs about Organon.
   
   Thus ends side one on the album (for this was when artists still thought of Side A and Side B to match the order of songs on a piece of vinyl). Side B has an overall title of "The Ninth Wave," and describes a shipwreck survivor lost at sea, struggling to keep his or her head above the water. The opening song, "And Dream of Sleep," sets up this situation, and also manages to prefigure some of the experimental sections that follow in its small snippets of sound that merge into a collage all the while Bush sings sweetly about being seduced by sleep, which she cannot fall into lest she drop into the deep water and drown. The next section, "Under Ice," is chilling (pun intended), for the water the protagonist is in is cold, and the very real danger that she faces is underpinned by the minor key and urgent violin part. "Waking the Witch" puts the sound collage in the foreground, like a view into the protagonist's mind, a jumble of phrases and voices that abruptly seques into a call and response between a sinister male-type voice and a desperately stuttering staccato female voice, separated by sections of childlike chanting. This is the weirdest song on this album, and while there's nothing as outre in it as the braying donkey in "Get Out of the House" on The Dreaming, it would be hard to describe this as pop. (Interestingly enough, it's theme of judge and jury and the helicopter sample that ends it recalls, unintentionally I think, Pink Floyd's The Wall.) Returning to a more sedate, if still not normal, mood, "Watching You Without Me" starts as a lullabye, broken by a bridge of either nonsense or foreign lyrics not repeated in the liner notes as well as a repeat of the stuttering "talk to me, talk to me, talk to me" heard earlier. The point of the song, I think, is to provide a calm trough between "Waking the Witch" and "Jig of Life," the latter being a minor-key and darkly urgent variation on the traditional jig. By this time, the drowning theme has been downplayed to some extent, as these middle songs likely portray an inner struggle in the protagonist. "Hello Earth" brings us back to the story, however, by an implied comparison of the drowning person in the overall black sea to the Earth in the inky depths of the Universe. "With just one hand held up high / I can blot you out / out of sight" is a line written as if the Earth is viewed from off-Earth (the Moon or a space capsule), and later in the song the viewer sees storms forming over America and tries to warn the sailors and other in the water, including the poor drowning person, who is in the path of the storm. And then the finale comes, like the calm following the storm, a simple love song that is either the protagonists parting thoughts or, if you want to believe that she is actually rescued before drowning, her affirmation of life and understanding of the tenuousness of our existence by reiterating what she plans to do: "I'll kiss the ground / I'll tell my mother / I'll tell my father / I'll tell my loved one / I'll tell my brothers / How much I love them."
   
   Is this pop? Maybe, perhaps, somewhat. Bush had always played with pop music tropes from her first success, the book turned song "Wuthering Heights," and each successive album contained some nods towards a simple ballad, but it wouldn't be until two albums following this one that Miss Bush would write her own "Sledgehammer" in "Rubberband Girl" (on The Red Shoes, an album that would also feature a song co-written and performed as a duet with his purpleness, Prince). To me, though, Hounds of Love is Bush's career high point, where her experimental art sensibilities were leavened with enough pop understanding to achieve a masterpiece of production, performance, and purpose, propelled with a singular power of vision and which wraps up in a peaceful platitude. Other albums contain highlights; only this one is perfection.