5 comments about Young Hearts: Complete Greatest Hits.

1. There is nothing like looking back and listening to some good old music. My daughter couldn't get over that we knew the song "The Joker".



2. This collection, although filled with good tunes from Steve Miller, only has three tunes from his first five albums, which were, in my hardly humble opinion, were his best. I have compiled a two disc compilation from my Steve Miller collection that I take on the road, and the whole first disc plus the first 5 tunes of the second disc are tunes I love from the first five albums.
   That's what's missing from the Steve Miller CD choices, a two disc comp. with equal emphasis on his whole career. Not even the box set offers enough tunes from the early years, where it really was the Steve Miller BAND, not just a bunch of guys rounded up for each album and tour.
   Most folks would be surprised at how great the his early material is/was.
   Check out his early albums, especially "Sailor", before they go out of print.



3. Let's see, Steve Miller's catalog began collecting "best of" compilations back with "Anthology," and then there was "Best of 1974-78" and "Best of 1968-73" and a more recent simple "Essential Steve Miller." OK, you get the point. My hometown boy has cut some great albums in his day and now that the creative juices have dried up, he's still raking in the cash with all these best-of collections.
   
   I haven't purchased any of them -- until this. Overall, this does a pretty good job of capturing Steve's highest points -- more than any of the other "best-of" compilations, IMHO. It's not perfect, thouogh. There are a few songs that are personal favorites (Song for Our Ancestors from Sailor, for example) that are left off. I got this as a download, so the songs that were left off I went and downloaded individually, so the 22 tracks on this compilation actually come to about 28 on my iPod, and I renamed the original album titles and just made the mp3s part of this.
   
   One thing that does stand out is the crisp remastering. Some of it comes from Steve's catalogue was partially remastered back in '73 when the 35th anniversary of Fly Like An Eagle was released. Others were remastered as recently as 2006. So, overall, the sound quality is very, very good. If you like Steve Miller and you're not wanting to own all his original albums, this compilations is, in my opinion, the best yet.



4. here it is all steves best in one small package.until now if you wanted his hits you'd have to buy multiple collections,but its has finally been put into one great cd everything from 1968 to 2003.sure their are a couple of fan favorites left off including "true fine love" which is a glaring omission,but nonetheless if you only want one cd from the steve miller band you cant do better.



5. The Steve Miller Band's expanded greatest-hits package is far from complete when it omits the Top 25 single "Heart Like a Wheel." We're also stuck with shortened versions of "Abracadabra" and "Swingtown." On the plus side, we have the gloriously uncut "Jet Airliner" and early classics such as "Livin' in the U.S.A." With a little more effort, this could have been the definitive Miller collection. Nevertheless, the best tracks - "Take the Money and Run," "The Joker," "Rock'n Me," "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Jungle Love" - remain essential.

5 comments about Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits (Volume 1).

1. At least three essential, MUST have Beach Boy's songs: "The Warmth Of The Sun", "In My Room", and "Don't Worry Baby", are missing from Vol.1. They are found on Vol.2, as well as the great classic "Endless Summer" CD.
   
   "Vol. 1" is not even close to a complete Beach Boy's collection...get "Vol. 2" with it, or BETTER YET.. forget "Vol.1" and "Vol. 2" and just get "Endless Summer" along with "Pet Sounds" and you will have a great collection of Beach Boys songs.
   
   If all you have is "Vol. 1", you are not at all getting the full picture. It would be like buying only part one of a two part movie DVD.
   
   (By the way, I also happen to think "Surf's Up" from 'Smile" is essential. That one song ALONE is worth the price of "Smile".)



2. Yes yes... I am back. There is no rest for weary Seers when it comes to public devotion (or self promotion). Anyway, summer is here once again, and the hovering egg yolk in the sky sends it's warm waves to everyone. Fortunately for me, my devoted fans sent me enough money to go to Malibu. So, a few days ago I caught a Seer jet (play on words there people - Lear Jet, get it?) from London. So, I arrived in California expecting the red carpet treatment. You know what I mean, a limo with a t.v. and wet bar, some beautiful woman to laugh at all my jokes, and a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel. You can imagine my surprise when they threw me into a taxi with a driver that looked like Columbo and had a woman that looked like Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies be my tour guide. We won't get into the accomodations. However, I must ask, how many of you have lived in a tent city with no running water? Please raise hands!
   
   Anyway, despite all that, my first day at the beach was most interesting. I went with a generous supply of zinc oxide on my nose to protect me from harmful rays, looked ever so sauve with classic sunglasses (you know the ones, from the 60's), and had the coolest swim trunks on that had prints of palm trees and barracudas on them. I was ready folks!
   
   So I sat out on my beach chair, and before you know it, the Norwegian Woman's Volleyball League set up shop right next door. Yes. I met them all and marvelled on how good they were when they started to play. Especially Ingrid and Helga. Their form, their defensive technique, their jumping up and landing! I didn't know volleyball could be so enjoyable. ;)
   
   But, let me get to this review before you all start throwing beach balls at me. As I'm there, I hear music coming out of my old transistor radio. On a day like today, what would be more appropriate than Beach Boys music?
   
   What we have here is part one of their greatest hits. And, if I must say so, it is quite the collection. Do remember, the Beach Boys virtually invented the surf craze in America. They were bearers of the American dream via the California dream. It was definitely youth oriented, and through the sixties they were the premiere American band.
   
   Why were they so successful you might ask? Well, they hit upon themes that were part of the youth experience for that time. The theme of sand and surf certainly with the offerings of "Surfin'Safai", "Surfin' U.S.A.", "Surfer Girl" and "Catch a Wave", just to name a few. Livin' life was an exhuberent joy to these guys. Within their songs you also get the main motifs of fast cars (i.e; Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "I Get Around")young love heartache (i.e; "Help Me Rhonda") and girls, girls, girls (i.e, "Surfer Girl", "Barbara Ann", "California Girls" and the inimitable "Good Vibrations"). In fact, as we speak, Helga is giving me an eye flirt. Talk about good vibrations!
   
   Brian Wilson was genius in how he wrote these songs, how he arranged them, and peppered them with their trademark harmony. Crystal clear rock music, thoughtful ballads, done with the aura of the beautiful California coastline. Did I forget to mention the most perfect pop tune in rock history "God Only Knows?" That's included here as well.
   
   In conclusion, The Beach Boys are as essential as the sun in the summer when it comes to that season. These tunes are ingrained into our consciousness with an indelible stamp. Nowhere will you find better music to covey the joys and trials of youth and the search to find that perfect wave. Now, I must go. Seems a terrible fight has erupted between Helga and Ingrid and it's getting ugly. Seems they both want me. Of course, this is the effect I have on women. Let me go see if I can convince them to share me. ;)
   
   I get around. cheerio -- Metamorpho



3. If you love listening to the Beach Boys or know of someone that does and need to get them a present, than this is for you. I bought this for my mom for Christmas along with some Elvis and she listens to it every week. It is kept in her car so she can listen to it on the road. A very excellent purchase.



4. This album I bought in middle school at BJ's in exchange for a mistakenly received duplicate gift for my birthday. This CD is the first of a three volume set of Beach Boys songs. These are digitally remastered so they sound great. This has most of the popular songs by the Beach Boys, but there are others spread out on the other two CDs. If you are a die-hard Beach Boys fan you'd want all three, if not you could probably just get this one for the basics.



5. When I picked this one up years ago I did so thinking I was getting the original hit single renditions of all 20 tracks. Only when I got it home, opened it, and pulled out the fold-out insert (which contains no liner notes whatsoever), did I find out that only tracks 1-3, 6,7, 9, 10, 12, and 14-17 were the hit single versions. The rest are either album cuts or alternate takes.
   
   The insert does provide a discography of the contents, but while it's a nice, clean compilation, it is still misleading in its title.

5 comments about Circus Money.

1. A lovely album by someone who is, let this be clear before you listen, the main man behind Steely Dan, together with Donald Fagen. The line-up is the same as the Dan studio albums and the road crew I saw last year, so tight, so steady and well educated. Very relaxed, well composed and very very clever. So good to hear the man do this on his own. Walter Becker has clearly been influenced and gave his influences to... and that is what it should be like. I truly love the interaction and the voice of Carolyn Leonhart in particular. Good stuff and the real fan should have it.



2. I was blown away by this album. I enjoyed 11 Tracks of Whack but not as much as Fagen's first two solo efforts. Hence I mistakenly was led to believe that Becker was somehow not as genius as Fagen. This album proved me wrong twice over. Spectacular album. Many have mentioned the originality (or novelty as some more cynically put it) of the songs (reggae) but what has impressed me the most is the quality of the lyrics. Amazing.
   
   My faves: Downtown Canon, Darkling Down, God's Eye View, Bob is Not Your Uncle Anymore
   
   OK songs: Upside Looking Down, Circus Money
   
   If your a SD fan, there should be no need to recommend this album. And if you're not, then you should be.



3. I absolutely love Steely Dan. There has never been a time, nor will there ever be, when I couldn't sit down and listen to any of their albums and immediately take off right where I left off. SD music always sounds current and relevant and...there isn't anything like it. But the Steely Dan sound depends heavily on Fagen's voice and when it's absent, even with the great musicians, arrangements and production, WB just can't carry it off. Walter contributes at least 50% to the Dan songwriting and arranging so you have to give him credit for that but he just doesn't have the pipes to be the up-front guy. It must be tough to be the "other" guy especially when your counterpart is Don Fagen. To be fair though I must say that I've not been exactly blown away with Fagen's latest releases either. There's an unmistakable synergy that's missing in their solo efforts.



4. For all steely Dan fans; starving for new material; this album is for you.
   Although it is missing Donald Fagen; there is a Steely Dan sound in every track. Highly recommended.



5. I like this CD.
   It has touches of the first rate Steely Dan arrangements on it
   and Walters voice, the background singers and the reggae groove
   make this music distinctive.
   A fine effort from the man that is 1/2 of the Steely Dan duo.

5 comments about Gaucho.

1. From their debut album "Can't Buy a Thrill" to their incredible work with "Aja," Steely Dan had been defining itself as a very talented, innovative group with a unique flavor. Unfortunately, though every album before it had been excellent, Gaucho just doesn't live up to the Steely Dan pedigree.
   
   Gaucho certainly has its own flavor, which is readily recognizable within the first few tracks. "Babylon Sisters" is a great start and a well-known hit. "Hey Nineteen" is a fairly mediocre (albeit popular) song, and "Glamour Profession" is interesting, though not necessarily great. "Gaucho" is a very cheesy gospel-roots song that has a grating chorus, and the final two songs on the album, "My Rival" and "Third World Man," are downright horrific. The real highlight of the album is the track "Time Out of Mind," a really catchy and subtle piece that gets everything right, from the laid-back emotion to the keyboard riffs.
   
   There is a lot of apparent experimentation going on with many of the tracks on this album. It's really too bad that there are only seven of them, then, since so many of them are just not worth listening to. Your best bet is to download "Babylon Sisters" and "Time Out of Mind" and skip the rest of the album. Though it is nice to see Steely Dan try to be different all the time, they were bound to get something wrong.



2. "Hey Ninteen" is a great track, and "Babylon Sisters" rocks, but the whole thing sounds like the Dan on auto-pilot and, though it is a bit tiresome to judge records this way, doesn't come close to mid-70's classics like Countdown to Ecstasy and Katy Leid. The middle sction drags, and its a chore to listen straight through, even though the album only runs to 38 mintes. Still, "Hey Nineteen" is one killer tune. "The Cuervo Gold/ The fine columbian/ Make tonight a wonderful thing." Indeed, but read between the lines and this is as unsettling a song as the band ever wrote. It belongs elsewhere, apart from the remainder of an insipid record.



3. Having previously enjoyed Steely Dan exclusively on the radio, it's been a blast to get into their albums. I was under the mistaken impression that everything they've done sounds great, but essentially the same. Yes, they have a distinctive sound, but the variety on GAUCHO is impressive. When I'm not distracted by the funny, sardonic lyrics, the title track is actually a thing of great beauty. I sometimes wish it were in a foreign language so I could just soak in the gorgeousness of the unexpectedly hymnlike melodic turns and chorus. Overall, superb musicianship, instrumentation and arrangements reveal multiple layers and details that paint lovely, funky sound pictures. I don't know the personal sagas of Becker and Fagen, so I can't comment on the cynical, funny lyrics other than to say that nobody does cynical and funny better than Steely Dan. Even when I have no idea what the hell they're talking about, I'm seduced by the sophisticated synchronicity of music and lyrics. "Time Out of Mind" is an uplifting gem graced by the genius of Mark Knopfler, "Third World Man" is sad and sinister with a bit of Dylanish inflection, "My Rival" makes me laugh even as I'm bopping to the groove, "Hey Nineteen" is funny in the way only self-mockery can be -- and all of it sails along with some of the best hooks in the business. Hope I don't sound like a cliche, because GAUCHO sure doesn't. What took me so long? Better late than never...



4. Aja was Steely Dan's most popular album but it marked a departure from their previous methods of working with a full-time studio band in favour of working exclusively with session musicians. Unfortunately, the move did not turn out perfectly because much of the music on Aja turned out too relaxed, overly "layered" and lighthearted, lacking the intensity that had marked such albums as Countdown To Ecstasy or The Royal Scam.
   
   Three years and seven studios' work later, Becker and Fagen emerged at the tail end of 1980 with "Gaucho", which was their last album before drugs and depression caused them to disband for twenty years. With the music press of the day generally indifferent to pre-"punk revolution" stars, it is unsurprising "Gaucho" was coolly received even by those who previously adored Steely Dan. Many writers thought the band had lost the distinctiveness and power it had on its early albums and was moving far too close to bland pop music. Such songs as "Gaucho" itself, which tries far too hard to be humorous and "Third World Man" are quite emotionless and much too light for a band that once put out pieces like "Bodhissatva", "Do It Again", "Change of the Guard" or "The Royal Scam". The "Bodhissatva" sequel, "Time Out of Mind", with Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler guesting on guitar, has lyrics that impress in spite of being almost overtly religious (I admit I never saw that when I first listened) but the music, in spite of a clear, dense vocal from Fagen, could have sounded much better were the production crisper and more intense. The opener "Babylon Sisters", whose chorus should have rocked quite hard, suffers from the same problem and the song becomes less than exciting after years of listening.
   
   Nonetheless, "Gaucho" does contain two absolutely classic Steely Dan tracks that save it from being a waste of time. "Hey Nineteen" is pure funk with a wonderful lyric about the dreams of youth back in the late 1960s - and it has the same crispness and power the Dan produced time and time again on their first five albums. "Glamour Profession", a brilliantly-weaved tale of the underground criminal life of a professional basketballer, on the other hand uses the light production to create a psychedelic atmosphere that is truly hypnotic yet catchy. It is a pity the Dan were unable to replicate this sense of atmosphere more often on their last two albums before the breakup. When they try on the chorus of "My Rival", however, it shows how difficult creating one song like "Glamour Profession" actually is.
   
   All in all, despite two excellent songs, "Gaucho" is a rather disappointing farewell considering what the Dan did on their first five albums. Certainly buy these before checking out "Gaucho."



5. The last of the early Dan albums, and I say it's a pretty good one... I personally prefer all prior albums to this one but it is a fitting swan song fer everything Steely. Some awesome tunes like the title track, "Time Out Of Mind" (which features Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler on guitar-leads, and the only track with Michael McDonald backin' them vox up) & the radio staple "Hey Nineteen".
   The production & musicianship on the album is as-always flawless! I look at the album basically as the less accessible AJA, not necessarily a bad thing at all. But I would say if you aren't a total Steely nut yet then try out maybe AJA or Can't Buy A Thrill as firsties to git your whistle soggy first...

5 comments about Live Bullet.

1. If you are a Bob Seger fan, then you must own this album. It is probably one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. Many say he and the band sound better live than on any studio recording. Great cd, great songs, its hard to beat.



2. Most live albums are weak. Failing to capture the perfect studio sound or failing to capture the fire that is a live performance. Live Bullet is not one of these.
   
   At the time when Bob recorded this he had been around for a long time. He was a legend in Detroit, but almost unknown elsewhere. This was recorded in front of a Detroit audience that knew and loved him. Bob gives a career defining performance in this album. It is raw, passionate, and powerful. His rendition of "Beautiful Loser" captures the longing of a seasoned performer giving everything he has in one last effort to reach the top. This is quite simply, one of the best live albums ever recorded, by anyone. If you like hard edged Stones-like blues this is a very fine example of it.



3. My title pretty much sums it up. This is one of the best live recordings of the 70's. If you want hard charging, adrenalin pumping rock and roll in front of a live audience, get this disc.
   This should be in every collector's library!



4. Best live album ever recorded. This is the album that opened my eyes and made a huge impact on my music choices for life. This album originally introduced Seger to the world. It captured the sheer energy that the Silver Bullet Band was known for. If I was stranded and had one album to have and to hold, this would be the one. Songs such as the Beautiful Loser/Travelin Man medley with Nutbush City Limits brought Seger out of the doldrums of his Beautiful Loser album and these versions just rip it. The loneliness of the wailing sax in Turn the Page is worth the entire price of the album. It truly captures the old time rock with the promoter urging the crowd which one never hears any more. This should be in everybody's rock library.



5. If this CD only contained "Nutbush City Limits", "Get Out of Denver", and "Katmandu", it would be worth the price! This is essential Bob Seger.

5 comments about Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon.

1. Literally blinding, when I was listening to it, my eyes melted. But seriously, a collection of some of the more popular John Lennon numbers and ridiculously easy to listen to



2. this is a great album to have in your collection as it really is the very best of Lennon and his brilliant work - i think i got this used - and it was in excellent condition - all the favorites on it -



3. Outstanding words and music from the Man who made us all think about the finer things in life. I also recommend "Across the Universe", on DVD, for all you diehard Lennon fans. Great story and music. Thanks very much. Ron Caylor



4. ... your appreciation of lennon's solo output cannot be complete until you listen to/possess two of lennon's best albums : imagine and jl/plastic ono band.
   
   there are only two tracks from each of the two albums in this collection.
   
   with these two albums and this collection which also incidentally favors (6 tracks!)lennon's other great album "double fantasy", you will have a strong representation of lennon's best solo work.
   
   btw i cannot comprehend how anybody can leave out such a beautiful number like "hold on" from any lennon best of/collection.



5. The title of this album speaks for itself, the very best of John Lennon. It is the very best, I loved all the songs on this C.D. the price is definitely very good. It is very sad that this legend is no longer with us. It is not fair he didn't even have a chance to be knighted as Sir John Lennon like Sir Paul.

5 comments about Atom Heart Mother.

1. Another strange album from Pink Floyd. Not that it's that bad, by any means, it's just that they still don't know what sound they want. This is Pink Floyd's peak as a progressive band, but Pink Floyd are not known for being progressive now, are they? They're known for being spacey and out there. This isn't that out there. Well, the title track definetly is. Written in collaboration with Ron Geesin, a avantgarde composer. The suite is fairly impressive to be perfectly honest, and it does paint the way for future epics, but it loses momentum after a while. The main theme is terrific, very epic sounding and paves the way for The Wall even. Gilmour contributes more solos on this album, which is fine by me, I love me some Gilmour solos. Breast Milky, the second part, is kinda cheesy but still listenable. But, the middle parts are crap. They don't merge with the earlier parts at all, and for the most part, are noisemaking. Bah, Floyd, no more noise! The second side is ok though. If is a good song, another folky one from Waters. Summer 68 is a bit clumsy sounding, no real direction, but it has a decent melody. Fat Old Sun is my favorite, a nice pleasant song about childhood with a ripping guitar solo from Mr. Gilmour. Yay. Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast is boring, 3 completly different parts once again making a big suite with no real substance. Oh well. Yet another mediocre Floyd album. However, it would take another year before things finally gelled.



2. "Atom Heart Mother", i think is brilliant. It uses things that can't be found on any other Floyd album.
   1. Atom Heart Mother: The Best song the album and PF's longest song ever (Not Considering Shine on you crazy Diamond Parts 1 & 2) Its amazing, it barely has any fillers
   2. If, isnt that great. Its boring, really. Just Arpegios.
   3. Summer of '68, OMG that song is amazing, the 2nd best song on the album horns guitar bass drums keyboard
   4.
   5.



3. i own it and i like it. this is a damn good recording. reguardless of what the members of pink floyd say about it.
   i like it and if they dont like it they can kizzmyazz
   just reach for a peach as they said on their album meddle



4. 3 1/2
   
   Captures Floyd beginning to merge their psychedelic pathos with more constructed orchestrations, this splendid combination with next year's Meddle feels like a great double-disc (after all, many themes from the bloated Classical homage title track do reappear on the equally extended Echoes). Still, Beatles-channeling and all, Atom Heart is a worthy pre-DS addition.



5. This is definitely one of Floyd's wierder albums, but the Atom Heart Mother Suite is one of the best pieces they ever wrote period! Most bands struggle to write more than 20 minutes of worthwhile music in their whole career. Pink Floyd managed to do it on a single album.
   
   Even the psychadelic breakfast has its perks, strange as it may be.

5 comments about Harvest.

1. 
   A while back, Warner Brothers Japan re-released 12 Neil Young titles. The surprise was that remastered content appeared for the first time on most of them.
   
   The titles & WB-Japan catalog numbers are:
   
   Neil Young WPCR-75086
   Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere WPCR-75087
   After The Gold Rush WPCR-75088
   Harvest WPCR-75089
   On The Beach WPCR-75090
   Tonight's The Night WPCR-75091
   Zuma WPCR-75092
   Long May You Run WPCR-75093
   American Stars n' Bars WPCR-75094
   Comes A Time WPCR-75095
   Rust Never Sleeps WPCR-75096
   Live Rust WPCR-75097
   
   I picked up most of these, A/B'd them, and found them to be superior to the domestics. However, having purchased the domestic 2002 remasters of "Beach" and "Stars n Bars", I declined the Japan versions of those two titles.
   
   Unfortunately, while the Japan version is remastered, Live Rust is not restored to the original LP's running form, and remains still the bastardized version.
   
   If you own the U.S. versions, and you're a NY fan, I would seriously consider replacing them with these.



2. ...I'm a lot like you. I need someone to love me the whole day through."
   
   Folk/Rock at it's best. Simple acoustic chords, haunting lyrics, and poignant stories. Arguably, this is Neil's masterpiece album. The Needle and the Damage Done, is a wonderful lament for friends lost to drugs. Old Man is an ode to the caretaker on a ranch that Neil bought some time ago. Heart of Gold is just that...Solid! As a lad I spun this LP every night when I hit the sack. I had a Hohner harmonica and played along. This disc belongs in the time capsule of my life. Enjoy it for years to come.



3. "Dream up, dream up,
   let me fill your cup
   With the promise of a man."
   
   This was one on the first albums I ever bought, and it remains a favorite. Harvest is Neil Young's signature album with his distinctive folk-esque acoustic guitar and harmonica, and his deeply personal lyrics. Backed by "The Stray Gators," a group of country session musicians including Ben Keith on pedal steel guitar, Kenny Buttrey on drums, Tim Drummond on bass, and Jack Nitzsche on piano and slide guitar, along with backing vocals by James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, and Stephen Stills, Neil made history with Harvest. The album resulted in three hit singles, "Heart of Gold," "Old Man," and "The Needle and the Damage Done." The complete album setlist includes:
   
   1. Out On The Weekend (Album Version) (4:35)
   2. Harvest (Album Version) (3:11)
   3. A Man Needs A Maid (Album Version) (4:05)
   4. Heart Of Gold (Album Version) (3:07)
   5. Are You Ready For The Country (Album Version) (3:23)
   6. Old Man (Album Version) (3:22)
   7. There's A World (Album Version) (2:59)
   8. Alabama (Album Version) (4:02)
   9. The Needle And The Damage Done (Album Version) (2:10)
   10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age) (Album Version) (6:40)
   
   G. Merritt



4. This is one of the best cd's I have ever bought. I was looking through some of my dads old vinyl and came across this masterpiece. I HAD to get the cd. It's timeless. Simply amazing. Every music lover should have this album. I could listen to it over and over again. BRILLIANT
   Thank you Neil Young



5. 
   "Harvest", Neil Young's fourth album (1972), and commercial success at that. Still, for a supposedly commercial album it has some of the most harrowing, personal, and emotional lyrics I have heard to date (this is something that comes with much of Neil Young's work, and it's that side of him that I like best).
   Perhaps the best example of this is "A Man Needs a Maid", a song of isolation and lonliness. In honesty, I didn't used to like this one- long, slow, and those long notes during the refrain really used to bug me for some reason. But now, the more I listen the more I dig; the orchestration is a masterpiece (and I don't care how many people say it's overproduced, saying that about ANY song is, in my opinion, idiotic, since it obvious pleased the artist enough for him to release it as it was), and the lyrics, if not his best, are so personal and touching that I hate to knock the song, even if it isn't one of his VERY best. It's just a wonderful piece of expressive work. Easily at 4/5 level on its own.
   Other highlights, are Harvest (another one it took a me a little while to appreciate, but it really does have a poignant message about loneliness and love), Out on the Weekend, which, again, has grown amazingly on me, the classic Heart of Gold, Old Man, the fun Are You Ready for the Country?, and even Words (Between the Lines of Age). The rest: I like the tune and the political points in Alabama but I wasn't aroudn then, and I don't know enough to appreciate it fully; Needle... is great, just not at the same level as others,and There's a World, is one that, personally, I'm still attempting to penetrate (and I feel close), but either way, the biblical-sounding orchestra (did actually quote parts of this, or all for that matter, from the bible, say, one of the Old Testaent profits, just curious?) is, for once, just a tad much.
   All in all, however, this is a great album, 4/5. Not necessarily his best, but great nonetheless. Enjoy; this sounds just as "Young" as it did years ago!

5 comments about Heart - Greatest Hits: 1985-1995.

1. I received the Heart CD on time. It was like brand new. Heart is one of my favorite groups from the 80's era. I enjoy listening to them.



2. Very good CD, had all the songs I was looking for and was cheaper than the newest Heart CD.



3. Its a great Album!!! I've already DL to my I-pod nano. My fav. songs or I listen the most are "Never", "Nothin'At All", "Stranded" and few others songs as well. Heart You Rock!!! and They're Hot!!



4. Being a long-time Heart fan, it infuriates me when bands/artists that have been around for awhile (at least 20 yrs) churn out these "Greatest Hits" collections that only have half of the good songs from said time period with a bunch of fillers. Who decided the song list for this album, please?!? Where are "There's the Girl," "Bad Animals", "Secret",
   "I Love You," "Almost Paradise" etc.??? Heart has released at least 3 different 'Greatest Hits' albums that I know of, none of which include all of their great songs. So many good songs were omitted from this album that I would NOT recommend it to any die-hard Heart fans. Until Heart comes out with a TRULY cumulative box set (that includes the previously mentioned songs AND "Sweet Darlin'" from the early years) this consumer & Heart fan will continue to be disappointed & will probably end up buying all of their old albums on CD anyway. :(



5. very diverse cd covering a lot of years. I like it and my wife loves it.

5 comments about Modern Times.

1. Modern Times by Dylan's latest release is a very good record. Modern Times became Dylans first #1 in the U.S. since his 1976 release "Desire". There are many fine tracks on this record, i.e., Spirit on the Water, Someday Baby to mention a few. The book-let is very thin and contains no lyrics. The photograph on the cover looks like a shoddy work with photoshop but apparently Bob liked it. His lyrics are filled with religious allusions and I most say that I liked them alot. 4 well deserved stars!



2. I love this new collection of Dylan songs and I consider myself quite lucky since I was born in 1986 to be hearing New Dylan material after all he has been thru.I know a lot of people just cannot get over his voice and that doesn't really surprise me.Most people don't have the stomach for the amount of Raw Emotion that goes in it.I've heard people say his singing sounds like He's dying.And you know what;after seeing him live twice in the last two years,I must say I agree.When you listen to this man sing to you live in concert,it sounds like someone who wants to die onsatge.It's almost like his deathwish maybe.I am almost certain that how ever long Dylan live's he will be doing what he has always done.And quite honestly if you look at it all in perspective Bob Dylan has always been the artist in it for the long run.He's not even doing this work for himself,he's just doing it cause he's got to do it(watch the '65 interview)He has said "I see no end".I can't wait for "Tell Tale Sign's" to be released and maybe if were lucky he will have an album of more new songs to share with us soon.



3. After 4 spins, I've decided that this is not my favorite of Dylan's work. The only track with which I somewhat connect is the final track "Ain't Talkin'" where the somber mood seems portend a revelation, "They say prayer has the power to heal, so pray for me mother; In the human heart an evil spirt does* dwell, I'm trying to love my neighbor & do good to others, but oh mother, things ain't going well." The rest of the songs have almost no melodies with arrangements that blend from one into another. This week, Bob's son Jakob's "On Up the Mountain" is #1 in my personal top ten. Seeing Things is a far superior set to "Modern Times," if it's fair to compare. At this point, Dylan can of course do whatever he wants and it will be published; but this is his weakest set in quite awhile. Because it is Bob Dylan, it will have an honored place on my shelf, which I will faithfully dust from time to time. Taxi!
   
   *according to my ear



4. I admit, I was slow to buy the newer Dylan CDs. I'm more into Jakob and the Wallflowers than his Dad, now. But, I heard just one song from this CD and started checking out the cuts--well, it's worth buying the whole thing.
   
   Dylan's been backed by everyone, but this band is the best--even better than The Band or Grateful Dead, which I didn't think was possible. I think the reason is these guys were assembled by Dylan for Dylan.
   
   The songs are dark and long. Dylan's voice is a throaty rasp, but he's a lot more understandable than his earlier work.
   
   My favorites:
   
   "Ain't Talkin" talking about a man who's gonna get gone.
   
   "The Levee's Gonna Break" good old Southern style song with a gut punch. This literally sounds like a classic folk song, rather than something new from Dylan's pen.
   
   "Workingman's Blues #2" lament about the condition of working today, including outsourcing.
   
   Rebecca Kyle, August 2008



5. My first Bob Dylan CD was a Greatest Hits compilation which introduced me to the Bob Dylan of late (Things Have Changed, Summer Days, Feel My Love, etc). After hearing those songs, I knew I had to get Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft and Modern Times. Love and Theft is the only CD I haven't gotten yet.
   
   Modern Times, for the most part, at first seemed a tad slow, if you will. But like a lot of Dylan's material, the more you listen, the more you pick up and begin to appreciate it. I wouldn't put it up there side by side with Time Out of Mind, but it is a close second.
   
   Dylan's voice is definitely in the "gravel" catagory, but that makes this material work in my opinion. Coupled with the great music, the songs would never sound as good with a "clean"-voiced singer.
   
   I got the special edition with the DVD. Love the videos. The Grammy performance of Lovesick is second to none. I didn't catch it at first, but the Things Have Changed video doesn't include the second verse of the album song.."This place ain't doing me any good..." Disappointing.
   
   All in all, this is one of Dylan's best. My kids can't stand it which makes it all the better to me!!