5 comments about Live All Over the Place.

1. First let me say that I have loved King's X since Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (which is simply one of the greatest hard rock albums ever recorded and I bought OOTSP within 2 weeks) have seen them multiple times and think Ty Tabor is one of the best guitarists out there. I also agree with the reviewers who think this is one of the most underappreciated bands in the history of rock music.
   
   But, after reading all the negative comments concerning the sound of this album, I never bought it and I'm glad I didn't. A friend recently got a used copy; I listened to his, and must say that there is just NO EXCUSE, in this day and age, for a live album to sound THIS awful!! It's HORRIBLE!!
   
   For comparison - a few months ago I reviewed Riot's live album "Shine On" and it sounded just fine. For those who don't know, Riot is even MORE underrated and overlooked than King's X (but not quite as good) so I'm sure has an even smaller recording budget that they do. But, heck, Shine On, even being live, sounds better than the two studio albums before it! So King's X has no excuse! NONE!
   
   In fact this thing is SO horrible I doubt I will ever listen to it again because I have BOOTLEGS that sound better!!
   
   If this was a lesser band than King's X I would most definitely give this a big fat ONE star! But, the band's performance doesn't sound bad and the song selection is pretty good (echo the complaint about no 4th album cuts, wouldn't mind The Prisoner or Not Just For The Dead) so: band and content = 5 stars/production =1 star, which comes to what it deserves - 3 stars!



2. well, this is kind of hard to say, because I have been a fan of King's X since I was a teenager, when they released Out of the Silent Planet back in the abysmal 80's (which I hated musically until these guys came along). Every album up to Dogman was absolutely fantastic, and that includes the transition from their original label and producer to the mainstream guys that released Dogman.
   
   All of that being said, it is strange to listen to a CD with some of the greatest music I have ever heard, and not feel a lot of emotion. I have seen the boys several times and never did they sound like what this disc makes them sound like they sound (if that makes any sense).
   
   Here's the deal, of course the songs are great, the musicianship is great, the harmonies are great, that is what Doug, Ty and Jerry do. But, the recording and mixing is B-A-D, bad. It sounds like they're playing inside a dumpster or a big tin can with one microphone and one amp.
   
   Having seen them, I know that this is not what they sound like, so it is disappointing and I don't understand why the production is sub-par.
   
   Regardless, King's X will always be in my top 3 bands and anything they produce is worth the money, if for no other reason than to show my support for 3 guys that were a big part of my life, even if they didn't know it. I would say that this is a good album to have for the die-hards or those of you that are aware of the King's X sound.
   
   But, if you don't know King's X, and I mean really know King's X, like from Out of the Silent Planet and Gretchen Goes to Nebraska and Faith Hope Love and King's X and Dogman, I would recommend that you start there. At least get their Best of so you understand the talent, the sheer force behind what these 3 guys can do, because when they are on, they are off the hook. I recommend a listen to "Manic Depression LIVE" from "Dogman" and "Over My Head LIVE" from "Best of" for a true understanding of what these guys sound like live.
   
   I left every one of their concerts with my chest hurting from the sound that was bouncing off of my body. I have memories of tears and laughs and smokes and drinks listening to King's X; and I have a very special memory of meeting and talking to Doug in Richmond, VA after a show back in 94. He is a truly kind man, a phenomenal bassist (I still try to emulate him but to no avail), and an exceptional singer (the blues of rock just drip from his lips like Jimi Hendrix or B.B. King; he got soul).
   
   I LOVE KING'S X and I always will, but I really wish that this release would have better displayed the talent that I know that Doug, Ty and Jerry bring to the table as the most underrated, unrecognized and utterly talented band of all time (and there's only 3 of them, can anyone say Rush, because that is the only other band that I can think of that does what King's X does; as a 3 piece, and I think King's X does it better).
   
   But, like I said, I can't put down King's X, even if the sound is a little off; I just love these guys too much. So, I give it a 2 for the technical, a 5 for musicianship, talent and all-around kick-A55 album making, and a bonus point because they ARE KING'S X! Which is how I arrive at a 3-4 star rating.
   
   Hurts to say so, because I have never rated a King's X album lower than a 5. It just doesn't seem right.



3. this is 'the' greatest underrated hard / classic / progressive rock band of the last 20 years. if you listen you wont be dissapointed. hope to see them live at least on dvd, because chances of them coming to south america are close to zero. long live king's X!!



4. I am a huge KX fan for over 15 years - I have all the early albums and a few of the post Sam Taylor albums (i.e. Dogman, Ear Candy, Bulbous Head etc.). I paid about $23.00 for this Live Album at Borders (or B&N:don't remember) and I was really displeased with it. I am very surprised they even let this get out to the public. I know they are pretty quality driven guys and this surprises me. For what it is worth; I also haven't really ever thought they surpassed the high level of quality they achieved in the first 6 albums (first 6 albums being: OOTSP, GGTN, FHL, KX,KX, Dogman & Ear Candy). I do believe Sam Taylor and the engineering and production team involved in the first 4 records were superior to anything yet to date as well (the fellas would hate me for saying that). Brendan O'brien did capture some magic and passion on Dogman but even that is missing the Ty Tabor signature sound, since he ditched his old Fender Strat Elite and Lab Series amp setup for the most part on that album and most of the rest since. To sum it up: All albums after Earcandy (1996) have songs that normally would have not made the cut on major label releases, in my honest opinion. This is where I have been turned off lately (post 1996 albums such as Tape Head, Bulbous Head, and even the new one bore me both in song quality and tonal creativity as Ty once had) CAVEAT: Ty's website has some cool stuff on it - try buying stuff off there.



5. This is one of my favorite live albums, and has to be considered one of the best live rock albums of the 2000's. King's X is arguably the best working rock band of the last fifteen years, and terribly underappreciated. The 3-piece band is great in this CD's shows and lays down deep, growling grooves throughout the album. All of their best songs are here from Over My Head to an acoustic rendition of Goldilox. If you haven't been able to see King's X on tour, then this 2-CD set can definitely help you live the experience. The Live All Over the Place set would be a great gift to give to any King's X fan or fan of melodic rock in general! Make sure you pick up a copy today, and you'll need all of their studio work too!

5 comments about More Power to Ya.

1. After making "Never Say Die", Petra continues making music with same style. This style is very near the artists like Yes and Pink Floyd. "More Power to Ya" may sound a little bit peaceful for those ones who have listened to albums like "On Fire!" and "Beyond Belief". At first I thought I could never like this kind of material bit then I heard the albums "Back to the Street" and "Beat the System" whose style is closer this album than those classic albums. That helped be to like this album too. I am sure if this would have been my first Petra album I've ever heard I would have never listened to band's music again. But eventually I have started to like Petra's peaceful albums. Still, there's great songs like "Let Everything That Hath Breath" and "Judas' Kiss" which can be opened for the newer Petra fans too in the first time. Greg X. Volz is a great vocalist, and this is one of the best Petra albums that he was in.
   Stars: Road to Zion, Judas' Kiss, More Power to Ya



2. All Petra albums are at least very good. Many of them are great. But a few of them are absolute classics. This one is among those few. This is an album that is not only a classic Christian album, but also a classic album period. The entire Greg X Volz era is sadly very under rated, even by many Petra fans themselves. But nothing they did before or since was any better than what they did here.



3. This was the very first cassette tape I ever owned (I may have had a Stryper or Whitecross tape before this but who really wants to admit that?). Basically, Petra was not only my first introduction to Christian music, but to music in general. It was a good start for me. While I loved this tape, later on in life, the musical elitism that inhabits me took over and kept me from enjoying this album. However, people always seem to come back to their first loves. This album does what every Petra album did. Bob Hartman wrote very sincere spiritual tunes that always had catchy hooks and ballad-esque melodies. The band used a lot of 70's influential sounds (Pink Floyd, Yes, etc) on this particular album to make what some consider an outdated effort. Yet, that is not the case. Part of the greatness of this record is its ability to only use non-modern sounds as an exterior and layer the tracks with very gritty, driving rock. The lyrics are passionate, but singable. I still enjoy most of the songs on this album.



4. So many factors make this CD great. Greg X. Volz serves the whole production well with his nearly flawless vocals. Songs like "Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows" should have put them in league with the music world's top bands. "All Over Me" is jazzy and soulful, and "Let Everything That Hath Breath" is a steady, rhythmic classic. "Run for the Prize" lends more to the nostalgic feel of the album. "Road to Zion," however, is my all-time favorite. Soft ballads are often a weakness of the band, but in this song, Petra stuck a beautiful chord.
   
   No, you won't find many people out in the world ranting about the rampant success of this album. It was probably forgotten even more quickly than Petra's newer works. I just can't justify underrating Petra's Greg X. Volz era, though.



5. I own almost every single Petra album and have a vast collection of other christian albums, and this one still stands out for me. I got this on cassette first and literally wore it out. I was able to get it on CD and have enjoyed it immensely for many years. I gave my life to Christ at a Petra concert in Houston, Texas in 1985 (Astroworld concert). Am I biased? Oh, probably yes, but musically (I am a classicaly trained pianist who has released 11 solo albums myself), their music was ahead of their time in the Christian industry. I loved Petra and still do. In fact, I probably like the Pre-Schlitt era a little more, because I always felt that Greg' Volz's vocals vere more dynamic for ballads. Here is a song-by-song review:
   
   1. Stand Up - this is a great anthem song calling us to Stand Up for Jesus. Sure, it has the almost corporate rock sound to it, but keep in mind the year this album was produced and the feeling of rock in general in the churches. Truly ahead of its time.
   2. Second Wind - I loved this song. A little darker than the others on the album, it really does rock well. There is also a great keyboard solo in here as well.
   3. More Power To Ya - great ballad. Greg can really sing and it shows in this song.
   4. Judas Kiss - this was a song truly ahead of its time and it really made a statement. The baskward masking was great and the theme of the song was very powerful.
   5. Rose Colored Stained-Glass Windows - this is my fav song on the entire disc. I like how it starts out with organ goes to acoustic guitar and then rocks out. A very well written song and the lyrics are very poignant.
   6. Run for the Prize - to me, a good song, but it falls into the 'standard opener' for most b-sides on albums/cassettes in the day.
   7. All Over Me - this song really showed Greg's vocal abilities and still gives me chills when I hear it.
   8. Let Everything That Hath Breath - this is another almost praise type song. In fact, this song could be used these days as a bonafide praise song.....
   9. Road to Zion - one of my favorite songs from Petra altogether. Great message and great music.
   10. Disciple - this song is also good, but loses its identity because Greg is not singing all the way through the song. The bass player - Mark Kelly is singing duet with Greg and Mark sings first. This is like hearing a Journey song without Steve Perry or Babe from Styx without Dennis Deyoung. It sounds out of place. This is not to mean that Mark is a bad singer; he sings well. The issue is that Greg is such a commanding vocal presence and the voice of the band (so to speak) that when someone different sang, it was really different and almost did not sound like Petra.
   
   Another note to this album, it is very cleanly recorded and is very well done. As a recording engineer there is a lot of space between the instruments and it is clean. The liner notes from the War and Rememberance album state the conditions when recording the album (something to do with killing scorpions in the studio and other things...) it was a challenging experience. Maybe it is just me, but when reading that and listening to the album, it heightens the effect of the message in each song.
   This music is different than secular music, and they never wanted to cross over to the mainstream. Yes, it does sound different; the Lord has blessed this music and we, as christians, understand this. We also look past the image (at least I hope that we do) of the persons in the band, and listen to the message and the music.
   In a world where bubble-gum pop and corporate-formed rock and metal wannabes ruled (and still do to a point), it was nice to see bands like this taking a stand for our faith and proclaiming the one who gave us the ability to rock anyway.
   
   Other songs from Petra that are good:
   
   Adonai - Beat the System album
   Creed - Beyond Belief album
   Godpleaser - Not of This World album
   Praise Ye the Lord - Never Say Die album
   In the Likeness of You - Unseen Power (this is my fav song from Petra)

5 comments about Michael W. Smith - Worship.

1. The recent purchase came quickly and was in very good condition. I don't know if I read the description wrong or if it was listed wrong. I was under the impression that the item was a CD , however when it arrived it was a DVD. It's good but I thought I was getting a music CD. Please sellers be sure it's very definitly listed as CD or DVD.



2. A fantastic DVD, a real sense of the presence of God comes into your living room.



3. This CD has helped me get to a place were I can get into God's presence.



4. I got this DVD a few weeks ago, and of the many Christian artist DVDs I have, this is by far the most powerful. This was recorded live at the Skyreach Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, and I can't watch and listen to it without being touched, no matter how many times I play it.
   
   Just get it, and be blessed. Michael is very sincere, I know sincerity when I see it.



5. Michael W. Smith brings the worship experience of his "Worship" and "Worship Again" CD's to your TV screen with the "Worship" DVD. Recorded in Canada at Edmonton's Skyreach Centre, this DVD delivers a great live set which showcases some of the finest songs from the two CD's. Some of my favorites include "Open the Eyes of Heart," "Above All," "Let It Rain," "Breathe," "Draw Me Close," "Agnus Dei," and the Rich Mullins classics "Awesome God" and "I See You." And Smitty's rendition of U2's "40" is a pleasant surprise! Smitty's commentary track provides some interesting comments about each of the songs. A couple of the songs have multiple camera angles. Altogether, this is a great worship DVD, and I definitely recommend it.

5 comments about 101 Classic Piano Hymns.

1. I play piano myself a little bit and that CD really makes me want to try to play those hymns.
   there are not just simple hymns but real piece of music with very good arrangements and enhancement of the original piece. Love it!



2. I am very happy that I purchased these CD(s). I love hymns and their biblical and doctrinal messages, however, I just wanted to listen to some instrumental hymns to be used as soft background music and to fall to sleep with at night. I am not disappointed. The hymn selections and instrumental quality of the CD(s) is exceptional.



3. If you want some worship music that is lite and relaxing than I highly recommended this. This is a very nice hymn collection. I don't think I will ever get tired of listening to this album. It will be a wise investment.
   I play this on my 30gb zune player, both my desktop and notebook computer and of course in my car.



4. I'm very happy with my purchase and the Amazon service too. The music is soft and helps you meditate on God. Thank you from Paraguay (South America)



5. Great for meditating with Jesus the Christ, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. A must have for anyone seeking the Lord's presences and setting the atmosphere, which is crucial. For Psalm 100 says it all with focus on verse 4. God bless you!

5 comments about Joyous Salvation.

1. I love her original cd, and songs. The past two have been a bit different and I've found myself "shelving" them away instead of listening to them. Just o.k. for me, and I couldn't get into it.



2. This was the first time, I bought anything from Joann Rosario. She turned me into a big fan. I like her worshipping style. What an uplifting CD!



3. Well, the CD was ok. First of all, all of her CD's are overpriced. She never has more than 10 songs. Second, her attempt at being contemporary is laughable as she is not as strong as most singers today. I do like her voice; however, this one didn't stir me. God bless her effort.



4. Love this album. I just got it and listened to it. So far so good. It may even be better than her first album.



5. Just when the summer seemed to be unusually slow in gospel music this year, Sister JoAnn Rosario comes with this exremely pleasant surprise of a project. Ten tracks of Worship and Praise to the King and Lord of all. Only the title track being about a minute or so too long keeps me from giving a pure 5 but not a bad track on the disc. Very good production and JoAnn just gets better every project she puts out.

5 comments about Only Visiting This Planet [30th Year Anniversary Edition].

1. Every musician (and/or songwriter) who is a follower of Jesus, should be made to hear this album in its entirety. Hurry, before you publish another song!
   And, if you aren't a follower, perhaps jaded by the Western Civilisation/TV preacher brand of Christianity, then this CD is perfect for you too!
   Larry wrote songs very deliberately, and when questioned intelligently, gives an answer for the why, when, who, etc, of his motivation.
   This is part of the Trilogy, so the number of songs, their order, their message, the overall albums message fits like a puzzle with the other two albums before and after it. When asked why he was so literary with this projects, Larry has been quoted as saying, (I'm paraphrasing), God is very deliberate about creation, its order, its tremendous detail, shouldn't we be moreso as artists?
   In a Dylaneque manner, Normans aural painting displays his keen sense of the modern world, the human condition, that still packs a punch of relevancy unequalled by "top" selling albums of today. Every song stands up. No filler. This type of songwriting has been all but lost in todays music industry, secular or Christian. Its hard to get, & probably will cost you more than $13.99, its well worth it.
   Buy the album, read the liner notes, cancel all of your appointments, turn it up and listen.



2. Forget the whole "christian music" thing when you think of this album. There was no christian music industry (or any such oxymoron) when this milestone of popular culture was created. Larry Norman made an earth-shattering rock music statement for everyman. His christianity underpinned his song writing, to the detriment of a potentially successful career. Never condescending or overarching, Norman's writing was resilient, witty, insightful and poetic. His work has enriched me and sometimes brought clarity when I needed it most. There's no doubt in my mind that 'Only Visiting this Planet' is on par with the best of Dylan or the Beatles. I maintain that it's also conceptually stronger and more fully realised than any album produced by the Rolling Stones. This is a forgotten masterpiece and a high-watermark in popular music. With prescience and humour, Norman prises away the veneer and helps us peer beneath the layers both in a personal sense and in a broader context. What each person perceives may differ, but we learn something about ourselves and our society. A couple of years earlier the song 'The Great American Novel' might have served as an anthem for the civil rights movement; "You killed a black man at midnight/just for talkin' to your daughter/and you make his wife your mistress/and you leave her without water/and the sheet you wear upon your head/is the sheet your children sleep on/at every meal you say a prayer/you don't believe but still you keep on". Though it may seem a heavy handed today, it needed to be spelled out clearly back then. If it made people angry, then it found it's target. According to Mavis Staples who lived through it all, it still needs to be said. Though not intended to incite, the finished album turned out to be much too radical for many in the traditional church frame - as was Norman himself. It found a home on the streets back when there was some authenticity to that notion and among listeners who took it upon themselves to listen without predjudice. It's a beautiful thing from start to finish. To those who know the the songs, some of them (eg. '6 o'clock News' , 'Readers Digest', 'The Outlaw') are as iconic as 'Satisfaction' or 'Let it Bleed'. There is an honesty, dignity and humanity about the more deeply personal of these songs that must have resonated with many a jaded believer and non-believer alike as Norman did not shy away from or gloss over personal struggle. There appear to be numerous versions of the album but the one I have finishes with the all too succinct and tender fadeout of an unlisted song. That Norman managed to convey the simple lines; 'Oh how I love you/the words they don't/come easily' with such intensity is amazing - his voice almost a whisper and the phrasing just so right, it's the work of an artist that leaves you wanting more.



3. Good old Rock 'n Roll.
   
   I bought the LP of "Only Visiting this Planet" in 1982. Larry Norman has been a favorite of mine ever sense. I'm not a Christian but this album goes beyond Christianity and into hypocrisy, politics, and the "Six O'Clock News". You don't have to be a Christian to see the truth in what he sings about. The songs were written in the '70s but still have credence today. He has the ability to mix humor into some serious topics. He's just great. Don't know what else to day.
   
   "Only Visiting this Planet" is the 1st part of a trilogy. "So Long Ago the Garden" and "In Another Land" follow. "Something New Under the Son" is a great blues album.



4. The gospel message should never be out of date. Sadly, however, Christians let it grow stale repeating their same old slogans without making them relevant to the world today. Larry Norman does not fall into that trap. His lyrics and presentation were always relevant, edgy, and challenging. Some songs are best understood in the context of their original intent as another reviewer has so well explained. But all have a timeless aspect that makes them powerful to this day. It was Vietnam then, but the message is consistent for Iraq now. It was the loss of direction in the music business then but true of the music business today.
   
   This is one of Larry's most popular albums and a perfect place to start your collection.



5. Larry Norman's music is usually only available through his eponymously named website. As his albums are reissued as remastered CDs, it is good to see them more publicly available.
   
   Norman didn't invent Christian music, but he helped define what it could be for the late 20th century. Long before Amy Grant, DC Talk, and Michael W. Smith was a long-haired guy wearing black talking about politics, Jesus and love. Churches weren't sure what to do with him, and the secular music world wasn't sure they didn't like him. His wasn't a hippie, or was he? Believers and atheists were conflicted, and Norman wound up forging a change in modern Christian music.
   
   Norman was funny in his shows, with the kind of humor never heard at church camp, and with a message that left Christians unsettled. "Only Visiting This Planet" was one of the albums to showcase Norman's lyrical style and biblical insight, first being released in 1972.
   
   His signature song, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready," would have been enough to make this a worthy album. Futuristically, he laments for those who did not accept the salvation of Christ prior to the Second Coming.
   
   "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music" answers the scorn of the church, and the cynicism of the world.
   
   "I Am The Six O'clock News" aims sharply at the sense of complacent distance we have while watching the news of international violence, using the currency of the Viet Nam war as his backdrop.
   
   "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" is directed at Janis Joplin, as Norman watched, as we all watched, the self-destruction of one of the greatest blues voices ever. Norman saw the problem and gave a suggestion. The song, with edgy lyrics, was banned from being played on many Christian radio stations.
   
   "Gonorrhea on Valentine's Day,
   And you're still looking for the perfect lay,
   You think rock and roll will set you free,
   You'll be dead before you're thirty-three,
   Shooting junk till you're half insane,
   Broken needle in your purple vein,
   Why don't you look into Jesus, he's got the answer."
   
   "The Outlaw" highlights the sometimes forgotten aspect of Christ's life, that in his three years prior to crucifixion, he lived as a rebellious, wanted man hanging out with the dregs of society. The clean-cut, anti-hippie suburban churches bristled, and sometimes, embraced Norman because of this challenging reminder.
   
   "Some say He was an outlaw, that He roamed across the land
   With a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen
   No one knew just where He came from or exactly what He'd done
   But they said it must be something bad that kept Him on the run."
   
   I fully recommend "Only Visiting This Planet" by Larry Norman.
   
   Anthony Trendl
   editor, HungarianBookstore.com

5 comments about Time Again: Amy Grant Live All Access.

1. What a great concert! The band is super tight and are really enjoying doing this. Amy Grant fans will appreciate this for the performance, songs and retrospect, but will also be pleasantly rewarded with crispy-clear digital sound and video that will satisfy the home theater enthusiast: excellent recording and mix, with every musician and instrument individually and clearly detailed in a large sound stage of 5.1 surround. The video editing and fast camera shots are obviously not appreciated by everyone, but I found them interesting. Lots different angles of the whole band and stage which is in keeping with current trends for live concert video editing. Looking into the audience, you can see a broad range of ages which reflects the depth of Amy Grant's career and continuing success.



2. To my knowledge, the only prior video of an Amy Grant concert was one from her 1983 Age to Age encore tour. While it once was available on VHS, it has never been released on DVD. Consequently, the Time Again ... Live DVD is appreciated for giving us not only a DVD of a Grant concert, but a Grant concert on video more recent than 1983!
   
   I have already reviewed the Time Again ... Live CD elsewhere on Amazon.com and will not repeat those thoughts here. The DVD is very good; in addition to providing six songs not on the CD (although one song from the CD, "Believe," strangely is missing here), it includes a few chats that Amy gives between songs. Consequently, the DVD on the whole provides a more complete concert experience than the CD.
   
   There are two standouts on the DVD. The first involves Amy's story of encountering a homeless man in California and talking with him for two-and-a-half hours. That experience led her to write "Carry You" ... or so the editing of the video makes you think. But if you listen to Amy Grant's revealing commentary, it actually led her to write "Turn This World Around," off of 1997's Behind the Eyes. (The latter song was left off this video. It makes you wonder what other songs might not have made the cut.) The second highlight is Amy's closing rendition of Jimmy Webb's "If These Walls Could Speak," a moving, less remembered track off of Lead Me On.
   
   The quick cuts and zooms on this video, while deplored by many reviewers, are in keeping with the times and attention spans of Americans who grew up in the video age. It is nice to see the work of several different camera operators getting used from time to time; if you're going to employ them, you might as well use what they've done! The director and editor also know when to switch to one camera, as when Grant performs songs on her sofa. Some artistic decisions were made here that are not bad ones, although I can understand why some people would be irritated by them. And if you listen to Amy's commentary, you'll find that neither the director nor the editor is to blame for this feature, but Amy herself. She felt that because she rarely moves around while performing, the video needed extra motion and additional camera shots to keep it interesting. (She also wanted to see additional facial shots of her band.)
   
   The "special features," including band interviews and a promotional spot with Amy before one of her two Fort Worth concerts, mostly are just serviceable. The one exception is Amy's insightful, sometimes humorous, and generally emotional commentary track. For someone who claims she had never even listened to a DVD commentary track before doing this commentary, she does a great job. She tells some truly interesting stories about the creation of some of the songs and about life in general. Most of these stories, I believe, have not been related in print. But most of all, her warm, engaging personality comes through strongly.
   
   Of course, the real reason to get this DVD is the concert, which apparently is a mixture of performances from the two Fort Worth shows. It is somewhat disappointing that we got a selection of songs from those two evenings instead of a complete concert. Still, unless you listen to the commentary track, you'll probably never suspect that, unless the relatively short (1 hr. 45 min.) running time makes you wonder (as it did me.) The DVD is worth the money if you want to see a very good Amy Grant concert, and if you're enough of a fan to appreciate her excellent commentary.



3. Looks to me like "Cathy E" is the only reviewer here who looked at this objectively. The editing on this is a total disaster! It *almost*, as Cathy E said, resembles a hard rock concert, except that, in this case, it even lacks the visual rhythm that most hard rock concerts would have. Digital zooms and pans are used, apparently just because someone was enjoying the new editing toy.
   The sound is nowhere near what DVD is capable of either. And, as compared to the times I've heard Amy live, this performance borders on lifeless. Unless you're a diehard Amy completist, I really think you should try to find a rental to look at before you decide if you want to buy.



4. All the comments are accurate that I've read. This is an outstanding album & performance by Amy Grant. I listen to it over and over. The editing is disappointing. Too many camera angles too often. Would have rather had less transitions between performers. Still, it is not as bad as some rock concert DVD's I've seen (ie All Garth Brooks DVDs) so I'll only say it is disappointing.



5. This DVD is a career covering retrospective from Amy. The accompanying musicians are top notch and the acoustic set on the sofa in the middle works well. She mixes her Christian and more secular items well, and has occasional brief introductions to the songs she sings. This is a DVD I thoroughly enjoy and will watch many times.

5 comments about Glass Harp.

1. I don't have this LP/cd but I've heard it many times long ago - 1969 - Kent State - JB's - my roommate loved this band - finally pulled me to this venue and I agreed after watching the show that they sounded great - the agreement was then he would come with me to see Raspberries - that became a 6-week adventure - every Wednesday night - anyway - the first LP by Glass Harp became a standard - every day play in our apartment - so I recommend this disc to all - they had a great live sound and the LP sounded pretty close!



2. I had the pleasure of hearing Glass Harp even before their first album. A friend had heard them play at "JB's", a popular bar off the Kent State University (yes, THAT Kent State) campus. This was late 1969, early 1970 I think; before the May 4, 1970 killings. So I went to hear them and was blown away. They sounded much more than a cut-above other local bands I had heard, and were playing all original material to boot! It was truly magical. Imagine my joy when, soon after, their first album appeared on store shelves. Had to have it right away, and I still have that vinyl. Now it's finally out on CD and what a blast from the past it is!
   
   Big groups coming into Cleveland back then (and we earned our rep as home of rock and roll before the Rock Hall was ever imagined), used to make a point of stopping to hear GH when in town. They were THAT good. Phil Keaggy was even mentioned on some of the same lead-guitarist lists as Hendrix and Clapton back then, but he went for Christain music and the furor subsided. I never knew GH was a "proto Christian band" until I got the album and studied the lyrics; they are pretty subtle, and not every song has a religious theme, so don't be put off by that element -- just buy this record and listen to some of the BEST, most melodic guitar rock that came out of the late sixties era!



3. I remember being knocked out by the song "Garden" when I first heard it while trying to grab some sleep at somebody's home. But somehow the rest of the record didn't get through the cotton in my ears. Now, just for giggles, I made the impulse buy to get that song and I discover that the whole record is great. Not perfect because the production's a little exotic and some of the jamming is not entirely to the point, but still fairly amazing for a group of 18 year old kids, even if it's Lewis Merenstein producing. I sort of tossed Phil Keaggy into the saccharine Jesus freak bin based on his later stuff, but here he's just a huge young talent, very much into his guitar sound and his dazzling set of riffs and runs and even funky rhythm playing. Plus he sings like McCartney or at least like Eric Carmen from the Raspberries (another McCartney clone). The whole band came up with very nice harmonies and I really liked the songwriters, particularly John Sferra (even younger than Keaggy). You can hear elements of Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac, some Nick Drakish stuff, and all kinds of earnest over the top Bono-angst from Keaggy. Highly recommended; I now see these guys as a sort of U2 ten years early.



4. I remember my brother and I driving 25 miles through a snowstorm into Youngstown to see these guys play warm up for Billy Withers. Well, he didn't make it for the snow, so we and the crowd there had the absolute pleasure of enjoying a full evening of Glass Harp. Anyone who followed music in that part of the country will tell ya these guys were and are still GOOD. I don't know how or who found these but they oughta get a raise. Glad the masters were still intact.
   GM Palko Phx., AZ



5. Being from Northern Ohio, I got to see the Glass Harp perform in my high school and in Cleveland Public Hall with Humble Pie. I was thrilled to see their three albums finally reissued on CD.
   
   This bare-bones threesome could play. Beatlesque vocals. Assertive druming. Tight, clean bass lines. And arguablably the best guitar playing around anywhere, anytime. Glass Harp had an imaginative, progressive sound and style back then. This first recording always remained my favorite. I never get tired of listening to Children's Fantasy.

5 comments about ?.

1. Somehow I thought Neal Morse's CD "?" was going to be like Rick Wakeman, Larry Fast, or even early Alan Parson's theme music. Some sort of new modern progressive rock expression of the old Testament temple...No, its more like early 1970ish ELP, Pink Floyd, or specially Genesis progressive music; a 21st century rehash of 1975 "The Lamb Lies Down in Broadway" with biblical references, even the inside cover art reminds me of that once original progressive opera or Pink Floyds' CD "Wish You Were Here". I read 2 reviews that compare "?" to Kansas, I can hear that, but something is lacking. The production is great with clean clear sound. The musical guests are talented with guitar & piano lines that wiz past with great speed & skill. Maybe the music is too heavy handed for the topic mater, or too 1970ish in style, or maybe Neal Morse is more of a song writer than a singer? Maybe I am too careful when it comes to over religious expression & worry about strange things that certain artists have done in the past, for example Pink Floyd's CD "Animals" which in one song rewrote Psalm 23 to its antithetical meaning. Don't get me wrong, at least Neal Morse didn't take that route. In fact he tries his best to honor Jesus Christ & God the Father as stated in the back cover. I guess I was excepting something more original; progressive rock with an updated style. I heard this type of music before, I was a big fan of progressive music in the 1970's, & have heard carbon copies of ELP as in the German group Triumvirat, even if their CD "Spartacus" sounded more even in topic mater than any CD of ELP. There were also carbon copies in the 1970's of Yes as in the American group Sky Castle, & a near carbon copy of Genesis as in the French group Ange.
   
   Best advise: read more of the reviews both pro and con, listen to the samples, then decided if this music is for you.



2. Yet another great solo album from Mr. Morse and company. Along with his usual cohorts Portnoy, George, and Keaggy, the album also contains appearances by Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings / Transatlantic / Kaipa), Steve Hackett (Genesis), and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), and Neal's brother Alan (Spock's Beard). The album is basically one long piece divided into 12 sections. Everything that Morse does well can be found here. The subject matter this time around seems to have something to do with Christian history in relation to today, although I am not exactly clear on exactly what some of the references are. There is not a lot more I can say about this one. If you enjoy what Morse has done before you should love this one. If you don't this probably will not convert you.



3. Progressive rock's Neal Morse is a very extremly talented dude. ? is a masterpiece in Progressive rock. I am Roman Catholic and love the lyrics in this album. Iam not a religious freak, but the lyrics remind me of who I am. As far as the song writing,it is so good! You have to be a talented self indulgent person to write music like this. Even though it stretches the limits,(well this is progressive rock isn't it?) it will grab you and keep you there for the ride. Neal has some great talent to back him up too. Neal's presence in Spock's Beard will be missed, but if he keeps making great music like this, I will be coming back for more.



4. I figured I'd write my review on this since I wrote a review on Sola Scriptura today. With this release Neal really isn't trending in any new direction musically. The overall concept is a good one for the spiritual angle. No one in Christian music today is taking theme's like Neal and exploring them musically. Christian artists today are very staisfied to record the same worship songs over and over and over again hoping the public will buy them. Neal, at least, has the guts to step up and deliver a solid performance and deliver some very unique material that not one Christian artist would even consider doing today. Hats off. As always this cd has all the trademarks of Spock's and Transatlantic which goes without saying that it blows away anything else out there.



5. I won't re-hash what the other reviewers have already said so eloquently. To sum it up, this album is indeed wonderful, "a masterpiece," and IMHO should be added to any serious prog rock listener's catalog. There simply aren't many artists/bands out there today putting out this level of quality music. To dismiss Neal Morse because of his lyrics will cause you to miss out on some outstanding, cutting-edge music.
   
   As an open-minded Christian, I would like to offer this up to all the non-religious reviewers. I happen to like the group Pagans Mind (now what is a Christian doing listening to them?). I like them because they totally rock. Yes, they may be singing about aliens, constellations, and other worlds (kinda cheesy), but I can get past that and enjoy the music: mind-bending guitar work, hammering drums, and the soaring melodies.
   
   All I ask is that you do the same with Neal Morse...enjoy the music because it is absolutely top-notch, and keep an open mind when it comes to the lyrics.

5 comments about Plastic Green Head.

1. I was a little more then impressed with this album when I first purchased it. It has some of the heaviest Trouble songs, they have ever performed, with more then a few standouts..Worth the ten bucks, believe me.



2. After a handful of blistering doom metal albums in the 80s, Trouble turned to more groove-based rock with a dazzling psychedelic edge for "Plastic Green Head" and its predecessor "Manic Frustration". This departure in sound left a lot of fans unhappy, but I've always enjoyed Trouble's 90s output, and especially this album. While the songs lack the same relentless heaviness that can be found on albums such as "Psalm 9" and "The Skull", many do pack a punch, and certainly a heavy nod to Sabbath. They also showcase improved and more concise song writing, enhanced melodic vocals from Wagner, and an irresistible psychedelic tinge.
   
   Doom and heavy metal fans will find joy in "Plastic Green Head". The crunching title track opens the album with a blast, full of prevailing riffs and Wagner's distinctive melodic vocals - a combination that has worked over the years for the band, and continues to shine. Other big metal outings include album highlight "Opium Eater", "The Eye" and "Long Shadows Fall". These songs keep the album flowing and your head banging, and all showcase a sense of the band's refinement with none of the songs seeping over the 5/6-minute mark. What separates "Plastic Green Head" from the masses of standard 90s rock and metal is the band's bent for psychedelic melodies and harmonies, best shown by the stunning cover of "The Porpoise Song". Combined with the beautiful ballad "Requiem" and the excellent melodies of "Flowers" and "Hear The Earth" this album contains some wonderfully unique and infectious songs. Fans of their older releases should enjoy this release, as it is not a complete departure from the doom styling. Fans of 90s rock and psychedelic rock should really love this underrated gem.



3. At first, I didn't realize this was the same band that put out 1991's 'Manic Frustration'. As I remember seeing these guys on tour as support act for Savatage back in the day. Basically, very good '90's heavy rock. About every cut on this CD rocks, but the tunes I dug the absolute most are "Flowers", their unlikey cover of the Monkees "Pourpose Song" (totally caught me off guard), the wailing "Hear The Earth", "Long Shadows Fall" and another outrageously killer cover, the Beatles "Tomorrow Never Knows". Might possibly appeal to fans of My Dying Bride, Obsessed, Sleep and Electric Wizard.



4. The 6th outing in 11 years, in much the same rocking vein of the prior releases, shows genuine interest in bringing a quality product to market. This is probably my favorite of the bunch, with good songs and sonic bliss.
   
   I've been into music for 30 years, and up to 1998, I hadn't even heard of Trouble, until I purchased Martin Popoff's "The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal". I picked up PGH 1st, then proceeded to find all 5 other discs before 1999 was over.
   
   Do yourself a favor and stockup on all of their discs before they become rare, and for more unrecognized bands, the good read mentioned above.



5. I got into Trouble a number of years ago when music stations on digital cable were just becoming mainstream additions to the cable lineup. I head Flowers off of this album that fair day and loved the vibe it was given to me. I quested desperately to find their work, but sadly always came up empty until finally a few weeks ago i found some, and this album happened to be one of them.
   
   First off, what an album! Brilliant guitarwork, thumping bass and steller drumming spotlights Trouble at their tightest and most well oiled lineup maybe ever...while the vocals are screechy sometimes, while other times they are blissfully melodic. Requiem is one of the most beautiful pieces of music that i have ever had the priviledge of listening to, and for that I am very happy that I found this band. The title track is very fun and heavy, and the covers of Carole King and the Beatles are both fun and inspired works that are almost worth the cost of finding this gem.
   
   Trouble is a band that constantly got written off in the savage undertones of other thrash bands like Metallica and Megadeth and the doom metal godfathers like Candlemass because they combined the doomy atmosphere of Black Sabbath with the thrash virtuosic guitarwork of a thrash icon. If you are a new fan, keep looking until you find every album by this act. Trust me, you shall not be disappointed!