Reviews Written By: A230OQI33XFCVBprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Nine Inch Nails - Broken | |
 | "Too much for an EP..." | 2009-09-12 |
| So you buy this, thinking you'll be getting an EP which kinda builds up the bridge between two full-length albums by including some sort of remixes, 12", B-sides, and then what you get back is something that maybe could work even better than any of those two, filled up with (perhaps) some of the best-ever tunes by Mr. TR.
BTW - for newcomers, "Wish" is not just another song; it's a NIN anthem. A very few tracks gave me chicken skin as this one live. AMAZING. | ||
 | Fito Paez - Abre Paez | |
| "Unique." | 2009-04-26 |
| Just give it a try, for good. You won't regret it. Trust me. | ||
 | George Benson - Absolutely Live (DTS) | |
| "Surprising." | 2009-04-25 |
| Just found this DVD bargain on a bookshelve today, and grabbed it for less than 4, as I've never seen no George Benson live footage material out on the market... boy, I've never spent such ammount that good. It goes from big band to jazz, from jazz to symphinic arrangements, and then to funk back to jazz, ending up with some sort of salsa, so easily and captivating that it freakin' rocks. Believe me: it will surprise you but, in the case it doesn't, at least it won't disappoint you. GR8. | ||
 | George Benson - Absolutely Live | |
| "Surprising." | 2009-04-25 |
| Just found this DVD bargain on a bookshelve today, and grabbed it for less than 4, as I've never seen no George Benson live footage material out on the market... boy, I've never spent such ammount that good. It goes from big band to jazz, from jazz to symphinic arrangements, and then to funk back to jazz, ending up with some sort of salsa, so easily and captivating that it freakin' rocks. Believe me: it will surprise you but, in the case it doesn't, at least it won't disappoint you. GR8. | ||
 | Queen - On Fire at the Bowl | |
 | "Very good." | 2009-01-17 |
| Having the chace to watch this performance is like having the chance to see why Freddy Mercury was a show alone by himself, able to shadow such a great bunch of musicians playing along with him in Queen, and even making them to look like amateurs at some points of the show... and not to talk about the "Paul Rodger's Queen", which looks like a garage ensemble if compared to the band you'll see perform on this DVD. Quite good on the sound and image, though it still looks like an old VHS, for which it deserves 4 rather than a full five star rating. Extras are really acceptable and fun, specially when the band talks about how good the lightning and the stage setup were by the time... Vintage. | ||
 | The Clash - Westway to the World | |
| "Good." | 2009-01-04 |
| Excellent overview not only of The Clash music itself, but also good when it comes to explore the spirit of why and how the band got formed, their highs and downs. Recommended for both fans and newcomers who want to know and understand a bit more about the band's roots and about a whole era context on the recent history. Production and packaging are just a bit simple, cheap... disappointing if compared to the contents and the extras. Worth buying though. | ||
 | The Cure - Bloodflowers | |
| "Essential." | 2009-01-03 |
| Perhaps one of the less (if not the least) pop album from Mr. Smith, this one's yet remains as my personal favourite from the whole Cure's catalog. The entire album sounds like if it was expressing different nuances from the same song, almost like a winter-mood symphony. As sad as powerful, the sound and the atmosphere built on every song is simply overwhelming. Quite an essential state-of-the-art piece for any commited Cure fan, as well as for any newcomer. | ||
 | George Winston - Complete Solo Recordings 1972-1996 | |
| "Music for being alone, not feeling lonely." | 2009-01-02 |
| I own this box set for more than 10 years already, and everytime I listen back to one of it's CDs it's like listening to it for the first time again... peace, joy, relax, meditation. Not recommended for everybody though. | ||
 | INXS - Live Baby Live | |
| "A Must." | 2008-12-28 |
| I have bought this one in VHS and a special CD edition back in the 90s as it was released, then I grabbed my DVD copy a few years ago and now I have this very specific DVD version, full of extras and even a "bonus" track which, by the way, could have been edited better... and now I guess I will be buying it again if a 'deluxe' edition hits the stores in 2011 celebrating the 20 years since the legendary Wembley Summer XS show - or hope so. It's simply a must for any INXS fan, and even the best way for newcomers to find out why this was named to be the best performing live band ever back in the days when this was shot, and why it should remain always as one of the Michael Hutchence's personal legacy. It's just great to see the full show again, along with the band commentary (or kind of), and the backstage and interviews extras recalling those good old days when INXS was at it's peak... only shame would be there's not the video for Shining Star, and the extras are a bit too short anyway. Sound, quality and extra features deserve a full five stars and make it a worth-every-penny pack. Great. | ||
 | Hall & Oates - Ultimate Daryl Hall & John Oates | |
| "Good + comprehensive." | 2008-10-08 |
| Very good and comprehensive career-spanning showcase. Shame it dimms out as it gets closer to its end, bringing from up-vibes 80s pop hits down to quite too slow easy listening ballads, but it's still a great album overall. Highly recommended for newcomers. Commited fans would prefer getting all their albums sepparately almost for sure. | ||
 | Tears for Fears - Tears for Fears - Tears Roll Down: Greatest Hits 82-92 | |
| "Amazingly speechless." | 2008-09-18 |
| There's just a few albums so emotive they can even tarnish my eyes, as I listen to... and this is one of them. Just dimm-off the lights, pump up the volume and let it take you out. | ||
 | New Order - Substance | |
| "A must." | 2008-09-12 |
| If there's a New Order album deserving to be part of any essential albums ranking ever, it would have to be this one. A bit underproduced, perhaps too much austere for such a great release, the music still deserves the full 5 stars with no doubt. Greatest Hits and Singles compilers from today should learn from the past by checking how this became probably the best ever out from New Order's discography, without having to spice it up with "new" releases that do not bring up anything new at all. The perfect introduction to New Order for any newcomer, and always a pleasure for a commited fan. A hit singles album like no one do anymore nowadays. | ||
 | New Order - Technique | |
| "A captivating mixture." | 2008-09-12 |
| Might not be the best album out there from New Order's discography for both the critics and specialized media but, however, it is definitely one of the most recommended and enjoyable for any newbie and loyal fan indeed, as it defines what this band is all about by blending the best from their both styles which result a captivating mixture: alternative guitar pop over an acid techno base, spiced up with Bernard Sumner's engaging voice. It just brings back the best electronic atmosphere from Substance revamped up with the guitars from Republic, making it the perfect link between both albums. Excellent. | ||
 | Arcadia - So Red the Rose | |
| "Worth a listen." | 2008-09-05 |
| Perhaps slightly under Duran Duran's mainstream/pop standards, but still worth a spin as it's much more elaborated and stylish than any of both Duran Duran or Power Station releases. Think about a progressive new wave Pink Floyd-ish version of Duran Duran. Collaborations from remarkable stars (Sting, David Gilmour and Herbie Hancock) helped to bring it up to a huge hit accomplishment, far away from the Power Station's success shadow. However, this one's still suits better to a relaxed listening environment, rather than to a dance radio station scenario. | ||
 | Ace of Base - Collection | |
 | "Disappointing." | 2008-09-04 |
| This collection is not truly representative from the band's career... several missing hits and remixes, and from the cuts included not all are really engaging as it was on the 90s.
Ace of Base might not turn to become a pop music classic as the years go by, but it's not as disappointing as this "collection" of misses. It might even look like a record label's maneouvre to discredit the band - and they did got it. Could have been a whole lot better... | ||
 | The Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia | |
| "Good music." | 2008-09-02 |
| If all cuts were as good as "Bohemian Like You", then it would deserve even a 6 star rating... but not all songs are like it, which doesn't mean you'll find a really bad one in here; it's just you won't find any better. However it's still a well crafted and carefully produced album, worth listening and recommended for any Dandy Warhols' newcomer and fan. Good music. | ||
 | Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory | |
| "The best from Oasis." | 2008-09-02 |
| Noisy britpop from the 90s, an alternative to US Grunge from the same era, ill-bred children and, of course, a very british Beatlesque touch contribute to build up a good modern rock album supposedly meant to last and remain as one of the classics forever along with releases from Rolling Stones, Beatles or Led Zeppelin. Actually it includes the so-called 'best rock and roll song of all times' (based on a local radio survey), "Wonderwall", which just makes it worth listening.br /br /Trivia: even Coca Cola did not wanted to detach from the album's success by suing the band for plagiarism, claiming that one of the songs was very similar to a famous 80's jingle they had... which was it?br /br /A bit overexposed it still represents the best of Oasis ever, apart from the 'curious' personality of the band members or, better said, their idiocy.br /br /Someone once said this is how beatles would sound in the 90's if they'd continued their career...br /br /Who knows? Who cares? | ||
 | The Cardigans - Gran Turismo | |
| "Things change... bands evolve." | 2008-08-30 |
| First of all: this album doesn't sound like "Life", "Emmerald" or "First Band on the Moon". If you want music like the one on any of those albums, go and grab them as you may get disappointed with "Gran Turismo" as a few reviewers here did. This is simply a different Cardigans sound, which reflects the healthy evolution of a band, moving away from positive cheesy fun pop for a younger audience to an electro-guitar-led trip-hop, much more labored, self-conscious album, a bit too far away from the mainstream. And that's just great from my side. Hypnotic. Inspired. Slow enough. Fast enough. Sophisticated. Stylish. Cool. If I wanted The Cardigans to sound always the same as they did on their previous albums, then it would be much easier to push the 'repeat all' button on my CD player when listening "Life" or "Emmerald". It would also save me some bucks by the way... | ||
 | Modjo - Modjo | |
| "Stimulating." | 2008-08-30 |
| A few house albums result so engaging and catchy as this one... Superb samplers, positive gooves and amazing bass guitars make this one simply a must for any electronica and dance music fan by bringing both house and disco music together with an elegant touch of style up to the highest levels.br /br /Imagine Daft Punk meets Jamiroquai, and revisit Chic's catalogue... sometimes it even seems Bernard Edwards being part of the band on the guitars.br /br /If you can manage to get the special edition with the additional CD full of remixes and versions, you just get prepared to never stop listening to these chaps.br /br /Great! | ||
 | Modjo - Modjo | |
| "Stimulating." | 2008-08-30 |
| A few house albums result so engaging and catchy as this one... Superb samplers, positive gooves and amazing bass guitars make this one simply a must for any electronica and dance music fan by bringing both house and disco music together with an elegant touch of style up to the highest levels. Imagine Daft Punk meets Jamiroquai, and revisit Chic's catalogue... sometimes it even seems Bernard Edwards being part of the band on the guitars. If you can manage to get the special edition with the additional CD full of remixes and versions, you just get prepared to never stop listening to these chaps. Great! | ||
 | Warrant - Cherry Pie-Dirty | |
| "One of the best from hair metal." | 2008-08-26 |
| For me, this is perhaps one of the best albums back from the hair metal era. Lots of memories arise each time I play it... A good sound legacy from a specific musical history moment recorded here, no matter how cheesy it may result, now and then. Some lucky folks with no past on their lives laugh today when they look back at the band and listen to its songs, no matter if they were the best Warrant fans back on the 80s... lucky that none of them seems to have no past and never liked something like this before. Worth every penny if you're in it for a bit of cheesy hair metal sound from the 80s. If you're ashamed of it, then just turn back and laugh at it. The true sound of Warrant, with a couple mainstream smashing hits. | ||
 | Andres Calamaro - Alta Suciedad | |
| "A stable album." | 2008-08-23 |
| Five stars because, perhaps, this one is the most mature and complete album out from all Andres Calamaro's discography, which also flag the end of an era on his career as the following releases would have a lesser media impact and be quite more experimental rather than focused on mainstream. Probably the best one to listen if you're a Calamaro newcomer as it exactly portrays his musical background and sonwriter talent. A stable album, with no surprises or exaggerations, which maintains a balanced tone, just euphoric enough and just sufficiently paused, worsen as the end of the record gets closer. A good example from the so-called "latin american Bob Dylan"... | ||
 | Sting - Ten Summoner's Tales | |
| "Sting's best solo record." | 2008-08-23 |
| (more than...) Ten standalone songs not tied up between each other build a non-conceptual artwork, full of remarkable moments a few masterpieces and a couple of breakdowns, bringing Sting back from the shadows of dark jazz, politics, lost causes and death apology to the pop mainstream he left behind when The Police broke up at their success peak, almost a decade before, much more optimistic and colorful than his previous solo efforts proving, by the way, that musicians are not necessarily good politicians as well... Simple pop songs and understandable lyrics under a solid musical foundation, with a pinch of jazz influence, altogether make this album a worthy piece. No matter what the critics experimentalists said, this is Sting's best solo album. Stop. | ||
 | The Beatles - The Beatles 1 | |
| "Just #1s. That's it." | 2008-08-20 |
| Appart from a couple 4-star cuts, this record is just amazing. It has all The Beatles' singles that went up to #1, in US and UK charts, arranged chronologically. You may like it more or less, but you can't deny all the songs here defined the whole sound of contemporary pop/rock music, even till today, no matter how hard the critics are. It may still lack a few other excellent songs from the band deserving to be on a greatest hits collection, but you may still try to get them sepparately by looking for the career albums. These are just #1s. Not more. No less. | ||
 | Big Audio Dynamite II - The Globe | |
| "The best record from B.A.D." | 2008-08-18 |
| Despite the previous comments here, I would still strongly recommend this one for any B.A.D. newcomer, rather than grabbing a greatest hits or a different record - you won't be disappointed. A strong second release from B.A.D. (yes, no matter how the band was named it's still a Big Audio Dynamite's record...), including a few dance-rock gems featuring experimental samplers and some other worthy elaborated songs. Just a couple or not more than three cuts might force to pull down this review from 5 to 4 stars... IMPORTANT: don't expect any Clash-alike sound!!! | ||
 | The Divinyls - The Divinyls | |
| "Not only "I Touch Myself"..." | 2008-08-15 |
| Though it seems at a first glance that the only good song of the whole album would be "I Touch Myself" this is actually a complete work, filled up with a few good cuts, carefully produced and arranged, appart from the smashing hit single mentioned which, however, makes it worth enough. Christina Amphlett's voice is astonishingly unique, which surely made her one of the most important vocalists from Australia, if not the most relevant. And it is fully demonstrated in this album... | ||
 | Cocteau Twins - Milk & Kisses | |
| "A very good standalone farewell piece." | 2008-08-15 |
| This one's my first and, so far, my best Cocteau Twins album. Despite the critics and the previous comments here, I can only tell that after listening it you feel somewhat disappointed, not because of the music itself, but because of the fact of disbanding... It's a shame the Cocteau Twins didn't continued with their career evolution as they sounded on this album. It might happen that, if compared with other 'Cocteau' albums, this one sound a bit boring or uninspired but, however, if enjoyed as a standalone piece (just as what it is), you'll find embraced by hypnotic guitar melodies and vocal harmonies fitting all in place. It's similarity with Lush's "Spooky", produced by guitarist Robin Guthrie, is just undeniable. A very good standalone farewell piece, probably not as good as their previous ones but still worthy. | ||
 | Lisa Marie Presley - To Whom It May Concern | |
| "A surprising debut." | 2008-08-14 |
| After listening for the first time, it can't be denied it comes as a surprise this album is really good indeed... however, this is a very interesting and quite explanatory example of how important production is over the music industry. I guess that about 80% of the whole album's success is due to the carefully mastered sound production, on both the instrumentation and voices, including the overdubbed background vocals. They achieved much more on the console than on the writing and the creatives, though these can't be underestimated anyway. It might be disappointing for those waiting to hear any reminiscent of Elvis on her daughter's voice and music style. None of those can be found accross the whole the album... It's much more a dark ambience sexy-voice folk-ish gothic styled, rather than rockabilly or standard mainstream pop. Think about a kind of Evanescence-meets-Sheryl Crow. Good debut or, at least, good enough for escaping a little from the shadows on her past marriages and other unfortunate occurrences in the media. | ||
 | Harry Belafonte - "Harry Belafonte - All Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 1" | |
| "Filled with classic, fun and emotional." | 2008-08-14 |
| For all those who do not know the musical legacy of Harry Belafonte this would be an excellent starting point. Filled with classics, fun and emotional, it has everything a Belafonte's "greatest hits collection" must have. | ||
 | Charly García - MTV Unplugged | |
| "A personal milestone." | 2008-08-08 |
| Taking into consideration the strong limitations of the MTV "unplugged" format and the fact that, almost for sure, Charly was completely drunk and wasted whilst recording the show, this album can be considered a success just for the fact of existing, as it could never have been recorded... A good selection and a superb supporting band, including the late Maria Gabriela Epumer, make this album worth enough and a personal milestone on Charly GarcÃa's heritage, by renewing the sound of several hit singles and greatest songs given the difficulties of working with a conductor with his head lost on another planet. From this point onwards, Charly's career began a slow but relentless decline, which also makes this album a good restrospective of an artist that left all his best on the past. Good for newcomers and commited fans as well. | ||
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