5 comments about Beautiful Collision.

1. I was ready to write this one off, literally, after hearing it the first time, having written "no" next to where it was listed in my notes. So why did it keep haunting me? After a second, third, fourth listen, I became totally hooked. Runga's voice is so perfectly, crystal clear, and seductive, that she becomes absolutely irresistable. Jazz, piano pop, I don't know how to categorize this. It may take you a couple of listens, but if you like soft, intelligent jazz.pop.fusion, this may be for you. Five stars for the opening track, "Get Some Sleep," others get three, three 1/2, four ("Listening for the Weather"), but overall a four for this haunting cd.



2. The melodies are pretty dry, but if you're a big Bic Runca fan, then this is another worthy CD. When I listen to the lyrics, I feel like they are each a story on their own. Written in a style that might be fitting for standard country tunes. "Honest Goodbyes" gets my attention because some of the background instruments are placed so well. The flute or piccolo maybe it is, just captures the essence of the parting within the song. The lyrics don't grab me, even though they are well composed. I think the background noises probably help make this album a stand out for Bic Runga fans around, though I have not tried to concentrate so hard on the music to listen to every inkling. I like to be able to pick up on some things on a first or second listen, and this is not one of those type of CDs for me.
   
   So, I'm not feeling the music because I feel there could be more flair to the lyrics and the sound. Something more aggressive or more different and noticeable would help. I think her future album(s) will be worth waiting for.



3. Bic Runga's "Beautiful Collision" should be a part of every music lover's collection. The very first track on the album "when I see you smile," is a great example of the artistry that is Bic Runga. The album is full of rich imagery about love and all its abstract complexities, which is evoked through Bic Runga's very soft voice, that often veers towards ages past but is quick to bring you to the the present. The stand out track on this album is "Gravity" which I encourage everyone to listen to and you will come to know as I do that Bic Runga has taken the hard path down a road that may not lead toward an exuhuberant amount of records sales. But she has done a very noble thing and reqarded her audience as intelligent and is giving us music that respects and entertains us and will forever mark us as followers of her path toward making her kind of art



4. a friend mailed me this cd from new zealand and i had never heard of bic. the first time i heard this cd i hated it, and it was definitely a jump from all the indie and punk stuff he listens to, but this cd has become one of my absolute favorites.
   
   for me, the song election night is exactly what it feels like to be in love, and one of the most beautiful songs ever. my favorite.
   
   bic's voice is amazing, but while this is on my all time favorites list, i don't like the cd previous to this (drive) at all.



5. I just adore this CD, it's a really good soothing CD and I like it best when played straight through, though usually on a CD I'm jumping from one favourite song to another.
   I find Bic's voice very unique and I would recommend this CD to anyone I know.

4 comments about The Juliet Letters.

1. As a classical musician and rabid Costello fan, this is one of my favorite CDs. It's to be listened to from beginning to end, moving from melancholy to nostalgic to sweet to acid humor. The man's a genius, and he used great musicians to support the songs.



2. I would say this CD takes a bit of time to get into and it requires a bit of an open mind but it has become a regular listen for me. Elvis Costello's unique and enjoyable vocal and lyrical style is certainly present and that's reason enough to recommend this CD to any Evlis Costello fan.
   
   I can imagine some people may not like this CD so much. The sound of this album is for a particular taste and the sound/style of a string quartet is unwavering which may feel bland after a while to some ears. But there is nothing in poor quality about this CD and the composition is solid and creative throughout. They have gotten a lot of mileage out of a single instrumentation of 4 string instruments and a voice.
   
   I didn't give it 4 stars because that would suggest I had a particular issue with the CD, which I really hadn't. If 4 1/2 were available I would select that.



3. I give this a forth star because I still pull it out for the occasional listen. But it remains one of the most difficult CD's in Elvis' careening musical experimentation. What usually happens is I find myself wondering where these songs would have fit had they been recorded for other Costello albums. "Jacksons Monk and Rowe" obviously would have made it as a "Get Happy" song. "For Other Eyes;" "Imperial Bedroom." A folksy arrangement might have sent "Damnation's Cellar" to "King Of America." And so on and so forth....
   
   But the song sequence works wonderfully and the playing of the Brodskys never sinks to pedestrian. These folks obviously understood that they were going to have to throw preconceived ideas about playing with a "rocker," just as Elvis was trying to (as he put it) avoid the dreaded "crossover" sound. My major gripe with the album is that Elvis' voice isn't always up to the task ("North" fares much better in that department). And anyone looking for a "typical" Costello platter is in for a major shock. Of course, anyone trying to define a "typical" Costello disc is probably going to have a rough go of it.....
   
   That doesn't stop "The Juliet Letters" from featuring some fine work, including "The Birds Will Still Be Singing," which deserves a shot with a voice like Josh Groban's or Michael Buble's. Or maybe now that Elvis has his new beau, she'll do a full set of her favorites from the Costello/MacManus discography. Now wouldn't THAT be a hoot? (Think of the lush strings that abounded on "North," over a decade after "The Juliett Letters.")
   
   The bonus disc has some fun things, including cuts from Costello's obscure "Deep Dead Blue" and - my personal favorite - he and the Brodskys covering "God Only Knows."



4. I was surprised to see that no one had written a review of one of Elvis Costello's finest albums in the 90's. "The Juliet Letters" certainly is an acquired taste; if you like contemporary classical music you'll enjoy this. The songs still have hooks even if they are played by violin vs. guitar or keyboard. The story behind this release is that there was an academic that answered letters written to Juliet (of the play Romeo and Juliet"). Never mind (as EC points out in his deluxe notes)that it was kind of creepy that someone would be writing letters to imaginery character much less one that had been "dead" for over 200 years.
   
   This reissue features the original album on the first disc. The highlights there are "Swine","I Almost Had a Weakness" with a great melody, "This Offer is Unrepeatable" and "Jacksons, Monk and Rowe". The last track is the closest to a "single" the album would produce. EC wrote, co-wrote with the Brodsky Quartet (some members of the quartet also wrote material solo as well). The remastered sound has better detail than the previous edition but otherwise seems much the same. If Costello and the Brodsky Quartet overreach at times, it's the over reach of talent and ambition not pretension.
   
   The bonus disc is the find here. Including tracks recorded for other projects with and without the Brodsky Quartet including Costello's favorite tracks from the "Deep Dead Blue" Ep released in 1993 recorded with Bill Frisell. We get a stunning version of "God Only Knows" recorded live with the Quartet as well as other material recorded live such as Michael Thomas' marvelous "Skeleton" and a powerful arrangement of the folk standard "She Moved Through the Fair" arranged by Quartet member Paul Cassidy. Two of Costello's collaborations with John Harle from the "Terror and Magnficience" CD are also included. We also get live recordings of "Put Away Forbidden Playthings" (a song that Costello was commissioned to write) as well as a trio of the Fire Suite pieces EC collaborated on.
   
   This is a terrific reissue mixing a number of unusual collaborations on the second disc. While fans who loved "My Aim is True" probably won't be playing this a whole lot Costello fans that love his rich material and unusual collaborations over the years will. This makes an excellent companion piece to "My Flame Burns Blue" Costello's jazz-rock-orchestral album recorded live. That terrific and unusual album has a bonus disc with excerpts from Costello's fine contemporary orchestral piece "Il Sogno" conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas working with the London Symphony Orchestra as a bonus disc. Both of these releases are well worth picking up.

5 comments about It's Hard to Find a Friend.

1. 
   David Bazan takes you through a lot of lessons of life: From learning about empathy from your father, to bad break ups, or finding faith, he goes through them all. In his band, Pedro the Lion, he collaborates with Jonathon Ford to create their 1998 album produced by Jade Tree, "It's Hard to Find a Friend." Seeing how only two people had to come up with so many musical components in the album it is expected to be a decrease in the quality; but Pedro the Lion blends so may musical styles to a perfect pitch that when I first listened to the album I had no clue that it was just two people jamming in a basement. And not only is the sound quality astounding, but the lyrics are thought provoking and strong, yet at the same time he maintains a tone of melancholic sincerity. David Bazan doesn't know all the answers, but he knows enough to know that he doesn't know all the answers and makes a statement about it.
   One of the ways he accomplishes the overlaying tone of the album is by creating miniature stores within most of his songs, which is also one of his main characteristics as an artist. In the first son, "Of Up and Coming Monarchs" Bazan tells a story about a man wishing to escape the draft and run away. Within the song he mixes in his views about war: "Swim with me/ And we'll escape all the troubles/ Of the present age/ Finally free/ The mermaids teach us/ How to breathe beneath/ The line that now divides action from apathy." The slow, catchy beats led by the switching of chords from the guitar make the song sound as though you are out on the ocean. The mixture of the sound and lyrics place you in a different world while still conveying Bazan's ideas towards war and makes the song delightful yet strong. Also, Bazan tells another tale in the song, "Big Trucks" by taking you into the world of a father teaching his son the lesson about empathy through a metaphor about the busy road. With an upbeat and captivating tempo Bazan sings, "There's real people in the big big trucks/ That you flip off when they get in your road/ You get so hacked but you pay no mind/ To the great big sign that says oversize load." With the fast tempo and child-like lyrics, Pedro the Lion creates a song that reminds you of the lessons that you learned as a child, and should always remember.
   Probably the only downfall to the album is in the song, "The Longer I Lay Here." It begins with a straightforward rhythm set by the drums and maintains the rhythm throughout the entire song; if only the rhythm was not so annoying and repetitive. Sadly enough, even Bazan lets us down with sub-par lyrics in the song such as, "It sounds so ridiculous/ But I just can't lick this/ I need a miracle/ Someone to help me/ myself."
   Although Bazan may have one low note, he makes up for it in the heart wrenching song, "Bad Diary Days." He tells of when he comes to knowledge of his girlfriend's cheating habits. In other musical artists about love affairs, there is always a great deal of resentment; but Bazan takes his own route and stays true with a genuine sincerity in all of his words. He comes across in a caring way in "Bad Diary Days" by crooning, "We barely ever fight/ She knows that I love her/ At first we made it every night/ But I don't want to bug her about it/ She just has a funny way/ Of loving me." The song is completely depressing because the poor guy is getting played but is still madly in love with the girl; it truly captivates the awkward shuffle between the suspicions to the realization of the messiness of an affair. "Bad Diary Days" sums up what Pedro the Lion is about, the lyrics are blatant and simplistic, yet heartfelt; Bazan leaves nothing out of his train of thought and that is what makes him such a great lyricist.
   As the album comes to a close, Bazan starts to bring his faith into his songs. The song, "The Well," discusses the parable about the woman and the well from the New Testament. But don't think Bazan's cynical views towards politics do not pertain to religion. In the "Secret of Easy Yoke" the song's melodies are greatly subdued and the lyrics stab the church: "I could hear the church bells ringing/ They pealed aloud your praise/ The member's faces were smiling...Their perfect fire annoyed me/ I could not find you anywhere." He calls out the hypocrisy of the church and even calls out on his own hypocrisy by saying, "I still have never seen you, and some days/ I don't love you at all." The song packs a punch yet without the vocals, the song just sounds somber and dreary and not at all spiteful. This observation illustrates how the juxtaposition of instrument and words can make an effective song. Bazan is sad about the insincerity of the church, this can be found in the sound of the song; Bazan is cynical about the insincerity of the church, this can be found in the lyrics of the song. Although his views are harsh, they are never up in your face; Bazan is just saying how he feels.
   Although Pedro the Lion keeps up a melancholic outlook on life throughout the album, the band finishes off on a high note in the song "Promise" by praising, "If I look up and the sky's not there/ Is there any reason that I should be scared/ When a promise is a promise I know." The rocking beat and almost cheery lyrics establish Pedro the Lion's purpose: To sing about real life. And in real life, there are times when things are depressing, but with an optimistic outlook life is bearable.
   Pedro the Lion wants you to listen as you think. David Bazan has ideas to share and he is sharing them with you through store that has a nice beat and a slow voice that soothes you; all the songs blend into a mix of short stories that pulses through your ears and leaves you contemplating the complexities of life.



2. pedro the lion has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. out of all the pedro albums i've heard, this one is my favorite. its perfect. its a perfect mix of slow folky songs to more dancable indierock.
   
   now sometimes i read reviews about pedro being 'emo'. i don't consider pedro the lion emo at all. emo is whine. when david bazan sings, its like listening to a sad man. not to say he is one, its just his writing style.
   
   back to the album. i can honestly say that the cd is one great highlight. songs like "big trucks" and "When they really.." are just amazing. great, upbeat writing. i love them. the slower songs are amazing, also. "bad diary days" and "the secret of.." are just amazing and "promise" is about the best ender to a cd ever.
   
   its a good cd. i've never written a review. i hope this helps.



3. If you want a smooth sound that takes ya away. And I know people talk about this being a christian CD ( Im agnostic ), but it's not imposing. It is good. listen to it and you'll know. Go to allofmp3.com to HEAR LONGER CLIPS than amazon gives you.



4. The first album by the only Christian band that I listen to. One thing that i love about this band that even though i usually dislike Christian music, i am not embarrassed to listen to. The way that David Bazan tells stories makes the listener feel like they are there with the character. But one must take into account that this music is very downbeat and slow at times, but is also surprisingly beautiful. This music is mostly simplistic with an emphasis on the acoustic guitar, but incredibly powerful. So buy this album, or really anything by this band, because you wont be dissapointed.



5. "The Secret of the Easy Yoke," moved me to tears and I am not a Christian. The honesty, the questioning, the doubt and the belief make this song one of this important band's most powerful statements. Musically simple, but like a great Beethoven melody, has the power to move mountains.

5 comments about Elk-Lake Serenade.

1. Hayden is a beautiful artist. This most recent album is put together very well, and the recording is tight. One of the best indie-artists making music today, suprised he isn't more popular. The album starts off with a short soft song, "wide eyes" and then moves on the country twinged "home by saurday", which is my favorite song. His lyrics are some of the best little stories ever told. Over all this album is worthy of anyones collection, but although I gave it 5 stars, Skyscraper National Park is my favorite.



2. I honestly don't know how I found out about this guy. It may have been through one of those online expeditions that I sometimes undertake in search of new music. However I learned of Hayden, it resulted in my looking for a copy here on Amazon and buying it without ever even having heard the guy. I can't express how extremely happy I am to have taken a chance on this. My next order on Amazon will be for the bulk of his catalog. I simply have to hear more of this guy.
   
   Hayden Desser is a miniaturist. Whitman claimed to see God in every object and in a way Desser sees something marvelous in small things. His songs are focused on very distinct moments, easily demarcated moments. In one song he asks a woman to hold him so that his old girlfriend will be jealous when she sees them, but finds he can't be bothered to see if his girlfriend sees them when he holds this woman. He writes a song about how happy he is that his cat loves the spring. On a scarier level he sings of how he would have acted differently when his old love and her new lover were attacked camping by a grizzly bear. He sings of meeting a movie star who is filming a movie outside his house. Throughout all he expresses deep emotions, almost always soft, caring, reflective emotions. Once he does almost get angry, when his wife's former boyfriend visits them and is obviously regretful that he didn't stay with her. But even then the most he can bring himself to express is that he doesn't like the guy and wants him to leave.
   
   Many people have made comparisons between Hayden and the acoustic Neil Young. They sound vaguely similar, but there is less of an edge to Hayden (at least on this album), and a far greater delicacy in his songwriting. In some ways Hayden reminds me of Sam Beam aka Iron and Wine. Both writers are deeply poetical in their lyrics, both are acoustic, and both have gentle voices. Hayden, however, is a far more subjective songwriter, always focusing on mood and emotion, while Beam is willing to explore a greater range of subject matter. I would love to see the Canadian and the Floridian perform together. They truly do seem kindred spirits.
   
   My favorite song on the album is one of the most positive, life-affirming songs I've heard in a long time, "Don't Get Down." The sentiments expressed on the song are not terribly deep, but they are deeply moving because they sound so unforced and so sincere. He starts off simply:
   
   Don't get down
   Don't waste time on things you can't ever change
   I know we all do
   
   Somehow that affirmation that we all get down on ourselves for things we can't change or for hanging out with people we don't even like is made marvelous by that little phrase, "I know we all do," which makes the song both sympathetic and comforting at the same time and makes the singer part of the same fraternity. The song closes with the wonderful admonition:
   
   And find something that will make you feel
   Like every day's too short
   
   In other words, make the most of life while you can. This is just one of the many gorgeous moments on this album. It seems sometimes to me that our world is, at least in terms of music, a bizarro world like in the old Superman comics, where everyone seems to like terrible stuff and hates truly wonderful things. I've never understood how people like Dave Matthews can achieve stardom while vastly more talented individuals like Hayden or Eleventh Dream Day or Iron and Wine remain only marginally successful. This simply does not make any sense to me. In the meantime, before the aesthetic revolution takes place, if you love truly great, instead of merely popular, music, please do yourself and get this album.



3. A wonderful addition to the Hayden repetoir. This is a fantastic album as are all of his other albums. If you have a chance to see him live it's well worth it.



4. There are few bands or solo performers whose albums I can safely buy without listening to it first. Hayden is one of those artists. having been a fan for ten years I've come to expect a certain level of song craft and beauty from hayden, and Elf lake does not dissapoint. On first listening, it struck me that Hayden, an artist I never thought would be releasing CDs ten years later, is slowly but surely laying claim to his place in canadian music history. Indeed I do not think it an exaggeration to say that Hayden could turn out as prolific and important as neil young. Like Mr. Young, it seems that Hayden approaches his craft with one simple intention: to get you singing along. objective achieved.



5. Having been a fan for some ten years now, I can say that I grew up listening to Hayden. The Closer I Get had heavy play time when I first learned to drive, his follow up EP, Moving Careful, reminds me of my first girlfriend. Subsequent releases each have their own personal sentiments for me as I grew up and moved out. That is why I think his music is so memorable- it evokes such emotion in the listener because Hayden sings as if it is only he who can hear it. Elk Lake combines the roughshod melancholy of his earlier work with a new zeal and lightheartedness. One can only imagine how this musical evolution has come to be- Hayden is a very private individual, content to let his work stand on its own, without any interpretation from the author. Elk Lake expands Hayden's repetoire of instruments, it takes up where Skyscraper left off, and is a stunning testament to his musical genius. Those of you who can, please, see Hayden in concert. There you will experience his music in a fuller and more vibrant form than can be captured on CD. If not, buy the vinyl LP. I think the author would agree with me.

5 comments about Whole.

1. I remember the day that I got the newest Tooth and Nail insert in my Starflyer 59 album. I lived for the inserts. I remember reading about this band Pedro the Lion and their forthcoming album on Tooth and Nail. For some reason I remember it being called "lullaby". I looked at this insert everyday and had Pedro on my wishlist, and then the fateful day came and I bought the CD.
   
   My memory isn't what is should be, but I do know that the CD didn't leave my discman for months. Shortly after buying it I lost a very very close friend in a car accident. I can remember sitting on a big rock on top of a hill in my neighborhood listening to the track "lullaby" and crying.
   
   Pedro the Lion have been a huge facet in my life since that moment. I haven't heard or felt anything so honest and heartbreaking, and I don't know if I want to. After listening to this album for so many years I want to share it with the whole world, and i plan to when I turn it into my first short film. Keep an ear to the ground, you will hear it soon.



2. I listened to the Whole EP a couple of days after my birthday just gone recently. I was pretty depressed and almost suicidal to some point.
   The first track I listen to was the titled track - WHOLE.
   
   What can I say about this particular song which has not already been said before countless times?
   
   My first instinct was to write the band off as a Lou Barlow/Sebadoh clone - but careful listening, and the state of mind that I was in at the time quickly put me right.
   
   This was a lot softer and more depressing than any Lou Barlow or Sebadoh track has ever been.
   
   I don't care much for the rest of the Ep, but the title track is worth at least $20 on it's own!
   
   Go out and buy this - put it on your christmas wish list, and pray to someone that you recieve it.



3. This is Pedro's first concept album. The first song is a high-minded rejection of the philosophy of Christianity, then the second and third track a descent into addiction, and the third is encountering Jesus again -- this time as the "hole fix it man" (or maybe that's "whole fix it man") only one who could maybe help. The fourth is about peace and rest, and the fifth is peace and rest. By taking us through this journey, Pedro is making an important point -- that following Jesus isn't a matter of intellectual assent, but of experiential need. Kierkegaard is all over this album.

   The standout song is the climax, "Almost There." This song is the bridge between punk and emo. We stopped listening to punk because we got tired of the yelling. You can be a rebel without being angry, and eventually all the screaming ends up just feeling overly dramatic. Emo takes the same emotions that drove punk and subliminates them. Anger becomes cynicism and aggression becomes passive-aggression for the sake of self-preservation: it's sort of "the only sane thing to do is to scream but as soon as I scream you think I'm insane." On "Almost There," the anger and desperation rises to the surface in the chorus -- dominant is Bazan's monomelodic, slow, almost boring emo vocal, but creeping up underneath it is a much more raw, desperate, punk echo. Having heard it, you can never hear that subdued, "boring" dominant vocal without at least sensing the echo of anger and desperation, and that's the heart of emo. I'm screaming, you just don't know it because you're not listening. The song is a masterpiece.




4. PTL use simplicity to the max. This is one of those hard to find albums that stuns you every time you listen to it, and puts you in an almost hipnotic state. A must have for any musician



5. this was my first pedro the lion cd, and it sure as hell won't be the last. i'm a little late on reviewing this, but it's alright. first off, if you've heard of pedro the lion, then you probably heard that they don't have the most complicated music, but for some reason and somehow, they make their music so..beautiful. bazan's voice is soothing, and you can't sick of it, actually you can't sick of any this. this music has tons of emotion in it, which is also a plus. a good example of this is on number 3, i think the song is called whole. anyway, if your looking for your first pedro cd, then this is a good buy.

5 comments about Armed Forces.

1. Amazing! Abba meets kraftwerk as sung by a twitchy paranoid buddy holly/woody allen composite. Live stuff on disc 2 really compelling



2. On his third album, Costello's lyrics are just as sweaty, cynical and paranoid as ever, but the music was opening up very steadily. No one would confuse this with the sort of songs he was releasing ten and fifteen years from now, but there was an unmistakable sense of flowering pop. In fact, there's hardly any hint of his ahead-of-its-time post-punk style on here (excepting the lyrics, of course).
   
   But "Armed Forces" doesn't suffer from it; in fact, its very trademark transition is what makes it rank nearly on par with his first two near-masterpieces. "Senior Service" and "Accidents Will Happen" are the two best, but check out the R&B funk of "Moods For Moderns" and the sharp lyrics and attitude of the potential-disaster-turned-marvel "Party Girl." Although he'd rarely be as good as this again, he out-lasted some of his populist influences (the deadly punk movement and Buddy Holly), and not just because he managed to, um, live.
   
   Best cuts: "Senior Service," "Accidents Will Happen," "Moods For Moderns" "Party Girl," "(What's So Funny `Bout) Peace, Love and Undersanding," "Sunday's Best," "Oliver's Army," "Green Shirt," "Goon Squad"



3. While his previous album (This Year's Model) was a jugular-grabbing blast of new wave sneer, Armed Forces is a sumptuous musical buffet. Although Elvis (and the Attractions) still have an obvious affection for all things mean and rockin', this album is just as informed by pop, soul, and disco as it is by rock and punk. The arrangements are often lush and spacious, casting aside the breathless, compressed fury of This Year's Model in favor of a more textured and intricate approach. Thankfully, Elvis Costello is a great, versatile songwriter and the Attractions (Elvis included) are a great, versatile band, so it all works incredibly well. The lyrics revolve around Costello's favorite topics: Bitterness, jealousy, paranoia, fascism, cynicism, and of course, love. The result is a more varied and sensual (if not necessarily better) album than its predecessor, and a major step forward in Costello's artistic development.
   
   Armed Forces opens with the beautiful lament of "Accidents Will Happen," which sees Costello contemplating the death of a relationship while a dreamy piano-driven melody twists around behind him. "Oliver's Army" is a lush, candy-coated gem... with lyrics about military propaganda. Sandwiched in between these two classics is the hyperkinetic, unrelentingly vicious disco-punk of "Senior Service," which sees some ambitious young hothead gleefully contemplating a violent coup. There's also the pained, prematurely sober "Party Girl," and the tense throb of "Green Shirt." "Moods For Moderns" marries an infectious melody to a stomping rhythm and soul-inflected vocals, while "Sunday's Best" is a sharp, bitterly satirical, and unsettlingly catchy classic. "Two Little Hitlers" brings together the album's twin themes of political and emotional oppression, portraying interpersonal struggles as violent confrontations between megalomaniacs, and vice versa. Great melody, too!
   
   Yet another fantastic addition to the Costello catalogue, if y'ask me.



4. The bonus disc alone makes this worth most of the price. The Hollywood High live songs (9 of them) are amazingly well recorded, very energetic great performance, with an enthusiastic crowd that doesn't intrude on the music. If you remember the live "El Mocambo" bonus disc that was part of an EC boxed set several years ago, well this is FAR better than that. The Hollywood High set alone could have been released as a great live CD, possibly the only reason it wasn't was because it would be seen as too short. The "bonus disc" here has other songs (B sides, etc.) not from the original "Armed Forces" which are worthy and interesting as well.
   
   As to the original studio album ("Armed Forces", the supposedly main disc), it's great, though not up to "This Year's Model" which is easily my favorite EC album. The lyrics on the album are especially great. One problem I have though is that the sound quality should be better. I don't know what the problem is, if the source tape is somewhat degraded or if the remastering has been over or under done. It's not terrible, just seems like it should be substantially better fidelity for a recording of a successful (by then) artist at that point in time. That's why I'm knocking off one star, otherwise it would get five stars from me. But the Hollywood High part alone would get five stars, so you might think of this as a great live album plus bonus studio tracks.



5. With the legndary Nick Lowe producing, Armed Forces turned out to be an album of very catchy tunes which masks the bitter satire of the lyrics. The arrangements are especially great on songs like Busy Bodies, Green Shirt and Big Boys. My favorite track is the lilting ballad Oliver's Army, but every single song is tuneful with a unique pop appeal. Costello is amongst the most literate and versatile of rock musicians and especially on this album, the tight writing and clear melodies are prominent, whilst The Attractions must be the best band he ever recorded with. Armed Forces is classic of late 70s poprock.

5 comments about Prom.

1. As much as I love the Indigo Girls, Amy Ray's solo albums have blown me away. This is another amazing effort by her. Not as raw as her first ("Stag"), but still wonderful. It sort of takes you back to high school and she speaks so well to everything you hated about it!! Awesome.



2. Amy Ray is great as part of the Indigo Girls and but is equally great as a solo act. This is a fantastic CD. I didn't expect to like it as much as I like the Indigo's music, but I did. If you are a long time Indigo's fan, it is a little weird at first. It seems like something is missing (Emily), but then as it gets more familiar you realize she's fantastic solo. A little edgier, a little more hard rock. I bought this CD along with the new release from the Indigo's, Despite our Differences, and they've gotten equal airplay. Amy definitely knows how to rock solo or as a duo, you will not be disappointed with this one.



3. I love this cd so much! The lyrics hit right in the gut and the songs are set to beats that really reel you in. Put it out for good, cover for me and let it ring are my favorites but there's not a weak song on this album period. I love the stripped down sound, the high school choruses, everything. Amy, you're great!



4. amy ray is such a talented artist and i love all her music. i litsen to this cd all the time it never gets old to me...thats how great it is. i loved all her work with the indigo girls but shes good as a solo artist as well. all the songs are great from start to finish. so if you want to support some real music...then pick this cd. you wont be disappointed trust me.



5. Game on, this is good stuff! To be honest, I wanted to like Ray's first solo Stag a lot more than I did, which is why I walked, not ran to Prom, But then that was before I caught the Indigo Girls last summer, where Ray and her mandolin wowed the crowd with the anthem Let It Ring. It was the first time I'd heard it and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
   
   The theme throughout is pretty obvious, it's called Prom, after all. But it's also pretty obvious that you didn't have to grow up queer in small town rural America to feel like a freak. The sentiments of adolescent angst and isolation are universal, after all. But beyond waxing poetic about adolescence, there are some great cuts offering stories of love's trainwrecks and dissatisfaction with the music industry, as well.
   
   This album is less gritty than Stag and the sound is a lot more refreshing and graceful than you might expect. This outing is to Ray as All That We Let In is to Indigo Girls.
   
   The album showcases the elements we've come to expect from Ray and the Indigo Girls: unflinchingly honest lyrics coupled with uncompromising musicianship. Those are rare commodities in today's music industry. Unleash your inner awkward teenage/freak/geek self and enjoy the Prom.

5 comments about Lost in Space.

1. This Super Audio CD version from Mobile Fidelity contains a regular stereo CD layer and a stereo SACD layer. The sound of the SACD layer is simply fantastic. There is not a hint of grain, sharpness or other fatiguing factors normally associated with regular CD PCM digital playback. This allows you to really crank up the volume without feeling assaulted. The bass has depth and Aimee's voice comes out and surrounds you. The care and time spent in the crafting of this recording is obvious from start to finish and Mobile Fidelity has done a masterful remastering job. The music is melodious and the lyrics are as thoughtful, insightful and lovely as any I have heard. A 45 minute fall into the dream of the astronaut.



2. Yes, this is an incredible album. How does it sound so good?

   I do not own this 'Original Masters Series' edition, however, the exta fidelity comes from the SACD portion which MUST be played on a CD player compatible with the SACD technology or a DVD player capable of playing SACD. Can't vouch for how good the standard audio portion of this special version sounds, but, if you all say it sounds better it must. However, the SECRET to why this sounds so good in the enhanced version comes next:

   What is SACD? Can't remember what it stands for, but, it is basically a remastered, or, remixed version with 5.1 discreet channels of audio.

   This means that if you play this in a SACD compatible device, there is a separate audio signal for EVERY speaker on the system. This greatly improves the mix and gives a much fuller sound. For instance, normal stereo has two discreet channels of audio, known as left and right. SACD and Dolby Digital (DVD 5.1) has exactly that, 5.1 channels. Front Left, Center, Front Right, Rear Right, Rear Left and a subwoofer. SACD might even have a Rear Center, making the total 6.1.

   If you have played a DVD movie on a Dobly Digital 5.1 system, you know what I'm talking about.

   Didn't know that Lost In Space came in a SACD version. I dont have that kind of equipment. Wish they put it in a DVD enhanced 5.1 version, cause I'd love to hear it!!




3. My boyfriend bought me this CD as a gift. At first I thought he was nuts because, not only do I already have the CD, but, the one he got was also more expensive. But...hate to admit it...he was right. This one is amazing. It's a special "audio geek" edition and the sound is incredible. Aimee Mann has such an amazing voice. I liked her way back when when she was in the 80s band Til Tuesday, but she's matured and sounds better than ever. The album is consistantly strong throughout--no fluff.



4. I really like this album a lot. The song writing is consistant and there isn't a throw away tune on the whole disc. I especially liked how the regular CD of this album sounded. So when I saw that the Original Masters had redone this I was skeptical that it could sound any better. I bought this on impulse and found it really hard to part with 30 bucks for a disc! Ouch!

   It was worth every penny. The remix job they did on this really makes a difference. Ms Mann's voice has more clarity, the bass is much more solid and the overall presentation is clearer and cleaner sounding.

   I also found out when I opened this disc that it has some extra super duper high fidelity layer on it. That is to say that it played and sounded great on my CD player. But the Original Masters guys have put another layer of the same music with even better sound. I find it hard to believe it can sound even better, but you have to buy a special sacd player to get the extra sonic benefit. Hmmmm is this just another way they can get me to buy new hardware or is it really an improvement on sound? The local hifi shop here has these sacd players and I am going to check it out. I'm skeptical. However withthat said the CD layer of the Original Masters is superior to the regular issue hands down.

   Anyway I highly recommend this disc! Big time! It's worth the extra $$. It totally brings you closer to this amazing recording session.




5. I have a friend who works for Sony & have heard my share of SACDs. This is hands down the best SACD I have ever heard. What "MoFi" did for the CD format with "Dark Side of the Moon", they have now done again with their new Ultradisc SACD format. First off, credit where it's due: The aLBUM is a winner... Mann's voice, her songwriting & the production are beyond top notch - this is a must have album in general. But hearing it on SACD is truly a revelation. I feel like a kid again hearing great music for the first time...

5 comments about Kojak Variety.

1. The song days blows my mind every time I hear it. If you love Elvis Costello this is a great set. It has a very classi sound. It oozes nostalgia.



2. A mediocre mess at best. I've heard the bonus CD on the Rhino reissue is good, but I'm not willing to subject myself to the original 'Kojak' again.



3. The bonus disc on this album is really wonderful, quite possibly my favorite bonus disc of all of the Rhino reissues for Elvis Costello. It's an interesting collection of Elvis taste in music and his influences.



4. One of the best things about the prolific, complex Elvis Costello is that he is steeped in popular music. Some of his best records, from the Stax/Motown inspired Get Happy! to the Burt Bacharach collaboration Painted From Memory, wear their influences on their sleeves, but it's okay, because he's so creative and he loves the music so much. Sometimes, I think his encyclopedic knowledge causes his reach to exceed his grasp; he can be as great as his heroes, but not as great as ALL his heroes.
   
   But no matter for this CD. "Kojak Variety," both the original album and the surprising, generous bonus CD, are relaxed cover versions of music by writers who've inspired him all his life, or whose talents he admires today. Paul McCartney. George Gershwin. Mose Allison. Gram Parsons. Holland-Dozier-Holland. Ray Davies. Jerry Garcia. Jesse Winchester. Bruce Springsteen. Bob Dylan. Van Morrison. Ray Noble. Paul Simon. And more. The first disc is just a remaster of the album that came out to little notice in 1995. It is unjustly neglected excellence, made especially so by the fantastic backing musicians whose collobarative arrangements are deeply enjoyable. It's an interesting combo--the avant guitarist Marc Ribot, but also the old-timer James Burton. Former attractions drummer Pete Thomas, but also session aces Larry Knechtel and Jim Keltner. It works great.
   
   The second disk is not like most reissue/extra track packages, in that it is not outtakes, but other "cover" versions Costello produced under a variety of circumstances. The best music on the bonus disk--maybe the best music in the whole package--are the demos Elvis did of other people's songs in the style of George Jones, hoping to convince George Jones to boost his career by covering tunes like "Brilliant Disguise" by Springsteen or "Congratulations" by Paul Simon. These versions are even more relaxed and confident than what you find on the first disk. The rest of it is a mix of Irish music, jazzy stuff, and tunes he contributed to tribute albums for, among others, the Grateful Dead and Gram Parsons. It's all worth hearing.
   
   If Costello's albums of original material ever start to seem too fussy or over-written, pull this disc out for some perspective.



5. When "Kojak Variety" was first released it was ignored by most EC fans and mentioned by critics as an example of a lack of inspiration on EC's part. Nothing could be further from the truth. While "Spike" and "Mighty As A Rose" demonstrated EC's diversity over the course of a single album, "Kojak" demonstrates where that inspiration originally came from. What's best about this reissue is the second disc included here. With thirty (!) remakes of classic contemporary and older rock 'n' roll gems, the second disc makes this the gem of the recent EC trio of reissues.
   
   Covering Springsteen's "Brilliant Disguise" and a number of other songs to convince George Jones to tackle better material makes for great listening. It tells you 1) Who EC listens to and 2)How great he can be covering other people's definitive versions of their own songs. The gem here aside from "Brilliant Disguise" (which I had as a CD single)is the remake of Paul McCartney's little known gem "Step Inside Love". The song was written for Petula Clark but it sports one of McCartney's lush and innovative melodies. We're also treated to an alternate version of "Pouring Water on a Drowning Man", Arthur Alexander's "Sally Sue Brown", Van Morrison's "Full Force Gale", The Grateful Dead's marvelous "Ship of Fools" and a gem I had never heard before called "My Resistance is Low".
   
   The liner notes are extensive and cover the sessions for the album as well as why EC decided to cover the material he did. Oh, and we finally find out where the enigmatic title comes from as well (there's even photographic evidence to back it up). A delightful covers album. While I've always liked "Almost Blue" (and the reissue has some delightful additional material as well), I've always been more of a rocker at heart. Here we get a glimpse into EC's heart full of rock 'n' roll and soul.

5 comments about Drive.

1. Bic Runga is a smart.intelligent writer with a voice like Viagra.I love this Cd so I will be getting her other releases.It's mood music for the romantic.



2. I bought this album back in '98 or '99 based on the strength of the song "Sway" alone, which I had heard on the radio and instantly fell in love with (I loved it so much that I called up the radio station to ask the name of the artist immediately after the song ended and I NEVER call radio stations!). The album overall does not disappoint either. While I think the melodies and lyrics are very good on the album, it is Bic Runga's voice that is amazing to me and leaves the lasting impression; her voice is beautiful, crystal clear, feminine, powerful and haunting. Her singing voice is truly memorable and one of my favorite female voices. I am surprised this album was not a bigger hit as it is worthy of more praise and popularity.



3. I first heard Bic Runga in the first American Pie, believe it or not. (How I'd missed her before then, I'll never know.) After the movie, I had to find out who she was and how I could get more of her. Her voice is incredible. Her clarity is like nothing I've ever heard before, and to top that off, she is a talented writer as well. Her melodies are unique, I can't every get them out of my head. Her lyrics are honest and clever. I'd recommend this album to anyone.



4. I didn't appreciate this album to the extent that I should've when it first came out. The one track that stood out most for me was "Sway". To this day, that is one song that still occasionally plays in my head. Melancholy, heartfelt and shameless to the caliber you'd expect from iconic acoustic predecessors like Tori Amos, or neighbouring Australian band George.
   I was too young and stupid to give this album the recognition and credit it deserved. I lost it for a number of years and then found it again earlier this year and was curious enough to give it another whirl. Now, I am absolutely stoked at what a brilliant debut album this is. Bic Runga has kept a low-profile in Australia since she first came out (I don't know about New Zealand). I don't think her music has been commercially embraced but I believe her style is best suited to quiet nights indoors or long drives as it has a smooth slow-rock feel. It's sorrowful and beautifully written. She writes very much like a poet and has an incredible voice. This album is definitely a remarkable stand-alone debut that deserves a chance.



5. It was an average CD. I would only recommend it to serious Bic Runga fans.