Armed & Legged

armed & legged

Track Listings

1. Broken Cans

2. Raise a Glass

3. Corner Bar

4. Maggie

5. Black and Tans

6. Drunken Piper/Cork Hill

7. Paddy

8. Out in the Ocean

Armed & Legged,Jackdaw,P22 Records,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Armed & Legged

Average customer rating:

perfect for radio host
Perfect for what I needed
PERFECT FOR YOUR 4TH OF JULY PICNIC OR BBQ
Junior High School Band?

Music of the U.S. Armed Forces
American Military Band
Manufacturer: The Orchard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Military Band: Salute to the Services
Sousa's Greatest Hits
Forward March! Great American Marches
Three Hit Albums from the U.S. Military Bands
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs

ASIN: B000062XAV
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

Army Medley
Air Force Song
Anchors Aweigh
The Marine's Hymn
Star Spangled Spectacular
The Stars & Stripes Forever
Thunderer
America The Beautiful
Semper Fidelis
Navy Blue & Gold
Air Force Blue
An American Tribute
Washington Post March
American Patrol
Navy Hymn
The Star Spangled Banner
Taps

Customer Reviews:

perfect for radio host.......2007-04-10

CD of patriotic music, armed forces songs and SSB. My friend is hosting moring radio show and wanted to salute the armed services and was looking for a "normal" good Star Spangled Banner .. Well we got it in this CD. Fantastic. Used every morning with a different salute to different services. KTIB radio 640 in Thibodaux, La.

Perfect for what I needed.......2006-07-10

I bought this to use for a patriotic program at a Veterans Memorial. It was perfect for that, and I received several favorable comments about the music.

PERFECT FOR YOUR 4TH OF JULY PICNIC OR BBQ.......2005-07-07

EVERYONE LOVED THE MUSIC (all instrumental) AND WE FELT IT WAS VERY PATRIOTIC. WE SANG ALONG WITH IT, WITH OUR OWN PRINTED WORDS AND HAD A GREAT TIME LISTENING TO IT AT OUR PICNIC.

Junior High School Band?.......2005-06-11

Well, all I can say is I'm glad amazon.com offered a sampling. The musical prowess of the musicians brought back fond memories for me......from when I was in 7th grade and just learning to play the trombone. If you're tone deaf, then this is the CD for your Fourth of July Picnic this year. Meanwhile, I'm going to keep on searching.

Average customer rating:

Possibly my favorite Costello album
Classic Costello enhanced by second disc
rock's greatest one-two punch
Great album....
Exuberant Nerd-Wave

Armed Forces
Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

This Year's Model (With Bonus Disc)
My Aim Is True (With Bonus Disc)
Get Happy!!
Trust
Imperial Bedroom

ASIN: B0000787GM
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Accidents Will Happen
Senior Service
Oliver's Army
Big Boys
Green Shirt
Party Girl
Goon Squad
Busy Bodies
Sunday's Best
Moods For Moderns
Chemistry Class
Two Little Hitlers
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

Tracks:

Tiny Steps
Busy Bodies (Alternate version)
Talking In The Dark
Big Boys (Alternate version)
Clean Money
Wednesday Week
My Funny Valentine
Accidents Will Happen (Live)
Mystery Dance (Live)
Good Squad (Live)
Party Girl (Live)
Stranger In The House (Live)
Alison (Live)
Lipstick Vogue (Live)
Watching The Detectives (Live)
You Belong To Me (Live)
Chemistry Class (Live Solo)

Amazon.com

Armed Forces was the last title in a trilogy of albums that rank with the greatest three-LP series in pop-rock history. In retrospect, it also now appears to be the one on which the young Costello's pop tendencies peaked, right before they began to "mature" and grow less accessible. "Accidents Will Happen" features a melody line as beautiful as any ever written; "Oliver's Army" easily competes with the best of Abba and Brian Wilson among pop masterpieces. This is also where Costello's early themes--most notably romantic rejection equated with the horrors of neo-Nazism and modern politics--came together most precisely (the album's working title was "Emotional Fascism"). Rhino does its usual superb job, with wonderful remastering, in-depth liner notes by Costello himself (including a catty paragraph about famous groupie-author Bebe Buell, who often claims this album is about her), and a second disc of concurrent singles and alternate versions. Best of all are nine live tracks from the legendary June 4, 1978, Hollywood High School show, fully documenting that Costello & the Attractions were once among the all-time dynamic live rock acts. --Bill Holdship

Album Description

Produced under the direct supervision of Elvis Costello. Housed in a slim-line package, each rerelease contains a deluxe 28-page booklet with brand-new liner notes by Elvis Costello, rare photos, reproductions of memorabilia, and printed song lyrics. Album includes an entire second disc of bonus material!

Album Description

Produced under the direct supervision of Elvis Costello, this double CD includes a deluxe 28-page booklet with brand new liner notes by Elvis Costello, rare photos, reproductions of memorabilia and printed song lyrics. Also includes 17 bonus cuts on disc 2 (including 9 exclusive to this set) highlighted by previously unreleased recordings form the 1978 Hollywood High shows and printed lyrics. Bonus tracks - 'Tiny Steps', 'Busy Bodies' (alternate), 'Talking In The Dark', 'Big Boys' (alternate), 'Clean Money', 'Wednesday Week', 'My Funny Valentine', 'Accidents Will Happen' (live), 'Mystery Dance' (live), 'Goon Squad' (live), 'Party Girl' (live), 'Stranger In The House' (live), 'Alison' (live), 'Lipstick Vogue' (live), 'Watching The Detectives' (live), 'You Belong To Me (live) & 'Chemistry Class' (live solo). Rhino. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Possibly my favorite Costello album.......2007-06-08

Whoa, this totally rules. I won't say if it's better than This Year's Model or not, but I love it. Sure, it covers the same ground as the first two, but it's pretty well a perfection of Costello's mix of Stax-Volt licks, raw punksih energy, weird keyboards and paranoid lyrics. The singles (Oliver's Army, Accidents Can Happen, a cover of Nick Lowe's (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding) are all the best of the album, but listen closely to other songs: the brutal Senior Service; paranoid Goon Squad, satires Green Shirt and Big Boys; the bouncing, ironic Sunday's Best; and the sardonic, unsparing reggae ballad Two Little Hitlers. And Costello's signature sneer is in full force, which certainly rules.
I don't think every track is great per se, but there's a minimum number of duds: Party Girl and Busy Bodies are far from Costello's greatest contributions to rock, but they're tolerable. Highly recommended.

Classic Costello enhanced by second disc.......2006-03-15

With Nick Lowe producing, Armed Forces turned out to be an album of very catchy tunes, which masks the acerbic tone 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 has 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.

The new tracks include alternate versions and live recordings, demonstrating his magic as a performer. Armed Forces is a classic of late 1970s punk rock, but has always been accessible to pop fans and timeless in its melodious appeal.

rock's greatest one-two punch.......2005-12-05

Most of us, even with our very favorite CD's, will have one or two tracks that we will always skip over for no other reason than that they are not just quite to our taste. Well the performances on this album, and on This Year's Model are so flawless that I will not listen to any Costello music unless I am in a position to hear every single song on both of the original versions in one listening.

Musically, the arrangements are substantially more ambitious than his first two albums, but the instrumental sophistication is always serving the craft of the song - Nick Lowe's production really shines. Steve Nieve stakes his claim as one of rock and roll's all-time great sidemen - he provides incredible power to both the rhythm and melody in "Oliver's Army", "Goon Squad" and "Moods for Moderns".

But once again, the songwriting is nothing short of miraculous.
With This Year's Model providing the greatest songwriting performance in the history of popular music, it seems unimaginable that he could maintain that standard - but he does!;witness lines like "it's a death that's worse than fate", "who put these fingerprints on my imagination?", "are you ready for the final solution?".

The extra CD's that come with the originals now seem kind of like gilding a lily - I think aesthetically it might work better to take tracks like that and put them in one 'rarities' box, a la "Taking Liberties". However packaged though, both of these are must haves.

Great album...........2005-05-01

I'm not gonna sit and write a full scale review of this one tonight. It's a remarkable album, Costello's greatest lyrics. Lately it has replaced This Year's Model in my Top 10 albums of all time, based mainly on the combination of incredible hooks, tight musicianship, lush production, and Costello's best set of metaphors ever (although some good ones show up on all his albums). The main reason I'm writing this review is to point out the source of the "ERROR" being discussed in a couple of other reviews (stating that in the song "Chemistry Class," the CD skips on the word "Action")... WELL... If you'll listen closely you'll notice that it skips of the word "ACCIDENTS" - the record or CD "skipping" is an aesthetic production flourish. A musical "ACCIDENT." It happens on the vinyl, the double disc CD, the single disc CD, and every copy of the album ever. It's part of the song. Just wanted to clue you in. Anybody ever notice "All Tomorrow's Parties" by the Velvet Underground does the same thing?

Exuberant Nerd-Wave.......2005-04-24

This music is undenyably good. Very tuneful, melodious. Costello has a really cool voice. The bassist is very good . . . so why am I not crazy about this music? It's a question of taste. Overall, I find it too chirpy, too cutesy for my liking. I especially dislike the keyboards which are a little too dominant and add a sort of goofy circus-like quality that doesn't turn me on. Sometimes the organ fills remind me of church music or something along those lines which I'm not crazy about.

True, Costello's lyrics are witty, biting, cynical and clever. The peppy music serves as a nice contrast to his words. Costello is sometimes associated with punk rock (probably because of the timing of his debut album more than anything else), but his music isn't really like that, especially not this album. ARMED FORCES is more like New Wave/ (old school) R&B if you had to label it.

The song I like the most is the most rockin' one - "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?" and understandably one of Costello's most popular tunes. "Moods for Moderns" is also very catchy. I can hear the Bowie influence on that one which Elvis himself refered to in the liner notes (which are written by the man himself and quite entertaining).

I actually like a fair amount of Costello's music - "Watching the Detectives," "Pump It Up," "Brilliant Mistake" . . . I'm just more picky about which ones appeal to me, so I guess I don't really qualify as a fan.

On the bonus disk, the extra studio songs are good and would've easily been at home on ARMED FORCES. The live stuff is good too with more than decent versions of "Alison" and "Detectives" (though I still prefer the originals). The crowd is very enthusiastic. I really like the last one "Chemestry Class" which Costello does solo. It's nice to be able to hear his guitar so clearly for a change.

P.S. - To the die-hard fans who can't handle a different P.O.V. - I apologize for expressing this honest and objective opinion. I realize the main point of this forum is for fans like you to excessively praise everything the artists you love have released. Peace!

Average customer rating:

Accessible summation many musical styles
Simply wonderful and moving
Jenkin's "The Armed Man" - old theme, new sound.
Fantastic Choral
Is it Bach, is it Mozart or maybe it's Haydn; NO it's Jenkins!!!!

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Karl Jenkins: Requiem
Songs of Sanctuary
Adiemus II: Cantata Mundi
Diamond Music
Imagined Oceans

ASIN: B00005NDVJ
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

The Armed Man
The Call To Prayers
Kyrie
Save me From Bloody Men
Sanctus
Hymn Before Action
Charge!
Angry Flames
Torches
Agnus Dei
Now The Guns Have Stopped
Benedictus
Better Is Peace

Amazon.com

Karl Jenkins's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a departure from his Adiemus recordings into the more conventional territory of large-scale choral and orchestral writing, though his customary passion for mixing languages remains in full force with texts in English, Latin, and French. Jenkins has said that The Armed Man was inspired by the "L'Homme armé" masses that were popular in the 16th century, and he makes this debt clear with passages written in a neat pastiche of Palestrina-style renaissance polyphony. There are also echoes of earlier and later styles, including plainchant, medieval ballads, John Barry-style horn writing (think Goldfinger), and even a direct quote from Rigoletto (the choir imitates wind sounds at one point as in Act 3 of the Verdi opera). The smorgasbord manages to hold together, probably because Jenkins's obvious sincerity shines through every note. The London Philharmonic Orchestra plays beautifully, and treble Tristan Hambleton performs his solo with ethereal clarity. The National Youth Choir sings with vigor and accuracy, even if the young sopranos sound a little thin at the top of their range. If you liked the soundtrack to The Mission, this should press all the right buttons. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews:

Accessible summation many musical styles.......2007-06-12

Karl Jenkins is a contemporary British composer perhaps most famous for his music for the de Beers diamond commercial--the score that sounds like Vivaldi but isn't.

In this commissioned Mass Jenkins sets out to sum up War and Peace in the 20th Century (it was a millennial project) and he mimics if not just the music of the 20th C. at least the music that we listened to in the century, at times you'll think Faure, at other times Monteverdi (although the liner notes say "Palestrina.") The overall effect is like a score for a movie, but a good score at that. The broad selection of texts is itself derivative from Britten's War Requiem and in a tip to multiculturalism also includes a Muslim call to prayer (somewhat pretentious in a Christian Mass, I think).

The performances are strong with the National Youth Choir remarkably polished for their age and experience. Jenkins conducts and one could say "over conducts"--as others have noted, the emphases seem a bit forced and many numbers end with a sudden staccato, an odd effect. The recording is the result of multiple takes in many different studios and the resultant mastering reflects this: The CD in no way sounds like an actual performance of the work. As John Lennon said of one Beatles album, "Play loud" and it's impressive.

One man's pastiche is another man's familiar favorite and despite the lack of orginality this Mass is likely to have enduring popularity.

Simply wonderful and moving.......2007-01-11

What a wonderful way to remember the last century! What a way to meditate on the prospect of peace or war in this one. This selects from the styles and melodies most primal and meaningful. At least it seems so while listening to them. I first became familiar with Karl Jenkins Mass when it was selected for Sacred Concert on Sunday morning and was so taken with it I almost stayed in the car to hear the end rather than go into church from the parking lot! I searched for it at our local libraries that afternoon and not finding it there took the plunge to order it from Amazon to add to my already overstuff Amazon furnished house. With the way this century is going so far this mass has good reason to be played over and over again.

Jenkin's "The Armed Man" - old theme, new sound. .......2007-01-11

This a powerful, brilliant new musical plea for peace based on a very old, much used theme from centuries ago. The performance and recording are worthy of the music.While some passages are supremely beautiful, this is not elevator music - some juxtapositions of the sections are quite jarring (deliberatly so). However, it is a deeply satisfying work, well worth a careful listen.

Fantastic Choral.......2006-09-01

Once I heard a piece on the radio I had to have this CD. I was not disappointed at all.
There are a couple of songs on this CD that will blow you away!
I play this CD almost evry day. It is fantastic. I lend it to people and they want to keep it.
If you are into choral music, this is the CD to get.

Is it Bach, is it Mozart or maybe it's Haydn; NO it's Jenkins!!!!.......2006-08-19

This is one of the most beautiful Masses I have every heard and will have the pleasure to perform! It is truly a work of art. The Orchestral parts are just as important as the Vocal score. In most movements the orchestra doubles the vocal parts. Jenkins has brilliantly crafted a masterpiece and the power of the words, taken from many sources including the Bible and Rudyard Kipling makes this one of the greatest works of our time.

You must hear this Mass!!!! A must to perform!!!! A must to own!!!!

Average customer rating:

Eeww!
this land is your land
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs
Great Place to Start a Patriotic Music Collection

America's Favorite Patriotic Songs
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Brentwood
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

United We Stand: Songs for America
American Pride: Sixteen Stirring Patriotic Themes
God Bless America
Patriotic Country
Music of the U.S. Armed Forces

ASIN: B0000649N4
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

America, The Beautiful - Katherine Lee Bates
God Bless America - Irving Berlin
This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
The Star Spangled Banner - Francis Scott Key
Armed Forces Medley - The Caissons Go Rolling Along, Anchors Aweigh, Semper Paratus, The Wild Blue Yonder, From The Halls Of Montezuma - Don Marsh
My Country 'Tis Of Thee - Don Marsh
God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood
The Battle Hymn Of The Republic - Julia Ward Howe
If My People - Joel Lindsey
God Save America - Dean Diehl
The Stars And Stripes Forever Medley - John Phillip Sousa

Customer Reviews:

Eeww!.......2006-06-19

This is like the music to one of those theme park Celebrate America type shows. The musical arrangements have that hokey, somewhat dated, overly sweet and enthusiatic feel I hate. I thought I was getting the standard versions of these songs but what I got was the cruise ship extravaganza, yuck!

this land is your land.......2006-04-17

to think that "this land is your land" is a patriotic song is laughable at best, however is a common misconception of the song. you'd think that the creators of this cd would research the songs they put on the cd a little more, and find that "this land is your land" is actually a protest song (original lyrics contained lyrics such as "on that sign there it said private property/but on the other side it didn't say nothing/that side was made for you and me", an obvious attack on capitalism".

America's Favorite Patriotic Songs.......2005-09-30

The title says it all.
Good old fashioned "goose bump" music.

Great Place to Start a Patriotic Music Collection.......2002-09-12

This choral collection features a majority of the best known and loved patriotic songs from our country's history. I'll admit I was a little leery of the choral part when I first picked it up, but I've found that, for the most part, it works really well.

It especially stands out on the acappella version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee." It's absolutely stunning. Other fun songs are "This Land is Your Land," which I really wasn't familiar with before I bought this, and a personal recent favorite song "God Bless the USA." I love having the "Armed Forces Medley" on here so I can learn these songs. And the instrumental arrangement on "Stars and Stripes Forever Medley" at the end has me taping my toes every time I hear it.

There are a couple missteps, however. I've heard better versions of "The Star Spangled Banner." I think one reason I'm disappointed with it is that they only include one verse. I love the other verses of our national anthem, and wished they'd included at least one more since they included multiple verses of all the other songs. Also, "If My People" and "God Save America," while find songs, just don't seem to fit here.

Tracks:

Lethal Killers
Rabble
The Catalyst
Tighter Noose
Waiting To Panic
Hunting (The Universe Breaks My Heart)
Armed To The Teeth
Sooner Or Later
Sailing Seas
Renegade
Maybe Then Someday
Goodbye Song

Customer Reviews:

one of the most underrated albums of the year.......2006-12-25

i usually don't write on these things (im actually against it b/c who cares what other people think as long as you connect w/ it) but i thought i would write one about this cd just in case people were on the fence about it.

Aside from the lyrics, the best thing about this album is that it really is an album; it doesn't have one song that stands out above the rest; they are all equally good and as a result it makes for a great listen start to finish. So basically, if you don't consider yourself a "singles only" kind of person, this is the one for you. what else can i say except sample all the songs...you might like them all.

so let down.......2006-07-07

I loved their first record. Incredible! Very refreshing and original so of course I expected this record to be great. I listened to it once.... and haven't since picked it up. I was that turned off! This is an extremly rare reaction for me. The record simply let me down. Nothing to hook me or even let me grasp on to.

A little disappointed after the adventurous "Humanistic".......2006-02-04

I've been waiting, like many fans, for up to 4 years for Abandoned Pools to give us something new. The debut lp "Humanistic" was exciting and a little daring, combining Modern Rock with spacey production, bitter vocals, and atmospheric melodies.

For "Armed To The Teeth," the excitement, at least for me, was very sparse. The instrumentation, though very good, seemed very "more of the same" to me, nothing new outside of the Alterna-box. The songs all flowed together very well, though sometimes a little too closely to each other, like the album was one long rock-radio friendly ditty.

It's a good album, just not great, and not very interesting. These songs didn't grip me in like "Remedy," "Blood," "Seed," and most of the other songs on the first album.

It also seemed like songs like "Rabble" and "The Catalyst" would have been much better with different production aside from the scattershot guitars thrown in solely for the sake of guitars being thrown in. Even songs like "Hunting" which had a great piano melody, seems like it was covered up to give it more of an unneeded edge.

Overall: Good writing and performance, but there isn't much that shines and sticks out.

Tommy's new sound: two thumbs up!.......2006-01-16

Humanistic was an interesting album in that half the songs were hard-edged rockers and the other half light-hearted pop numbers. Every song was pretty much the same, structurally; but it was still light years ahead of any other mainstream release for its time. Several years later, Tommy gives us something new: the Reverb EP and Armed to the Teeth LP. The new stuff is different than Humanistic, still I don't see how a fan of one album can dislike the other.

Whereas Humanistic contained two radically different styles of music (listen to Ruin Your Life immediately after LVBD), Armed to the Teeth is a product of mixing both styles into one. A bad thing? Certainly not...I believe the album deserves four solid stars.

The most important quality of the album though, is varying song structures. You'll still sense the occassional pop-like structure in the songs, but Tommy has made a giant leap in terms of songwriting. The album doesn't grow old on me the way Humanistic does.

Bad points of the album? Josh Freese is gone (not that Tommy's new drummer is bad...but c'mon, Josh is one of the best in the business). And the new version of Tighter Noose is about half as good as the one we downloaded years ago.

My favorite song: Sooner or Later. I love the structural progression and long(ish) instrumental segments scattered throughout. This song is a great example of Tommy's growth as a songwriter and musician, it's not just verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus, as is the case for every song on Humanistic.

It's an extremely high-quality album, an incredible sophomore effort. It comes VERY close to a five-star rating, and possibly deserves one, but I like to save that rating for truly special albums.

Great potential, but..........2006-01-11

Don't get me wrong, I loved Humanistic from the second I heard it. Tommy Walter, whilst not quite being a lyrical mastermind, had produced a well composed, interesting, creative, united album. The great thing about Humanistic is how natural everything sounds together - all of the songs complemented each other.

But with Armed to the Teeth, I feel like Tommy had a couple of dead on hits, maintaining a steady Abandoned Pools sound, whilst moving forward at the same time. And then there was everything else. Tighter Noose is the greatest example: the original version, released on the AP website some time ago, blew me away. I was very excited for the new album, but when I got to it, it spit out some overworked version of the song. In addition to making the rhythm slightly more ambiguous, Tommy changed the vocals to be more soft where they needed to be sharp, and turned to falsetto where it just wasn't needed. I think he tried to be a perfectionist with it, and ended up making things more complicated than they needed to be. Tighter Noose on the album just doesn't sound natural the way the old version did.

It wasn't just Tighter Noose though. There were a lot of things. Often the drums seemed a bit unnatural - they were too intense at the wrong moments, such as in Waiting to Panic, and Renegade. And in renegade, at the moment of explosion in the chorus, it really just seems like he was trying TOO hard... Often times it melds in with bits and pieces of, for lack of a better word, "cliches" in rock music.

I do take to the fact that Tommy tried to vary his vocals a little more on this record - a little more falsetto, in addition to other changes. But I think that Armed to the Teeth is a perfect example of individual limitation. Sure, it would've sounded great if he'd done it perfectly. But, either they didn't bother putting the time in to do so, or he just can't do it. I'd like to think that he can, and it certainly sounds like nobody bothered to make Tommy totally nail his vocal parts. If you don't believe me, listen closely to where he first enters in for Tighter Noose (very awkward sound that he makes). In addition to this, there are many other slip-ups including with actual intonation, and there is an example of that in Hunting (The Universe Breaks My Heart).

"But Nick, where are the positive remarks?" Well, believe it or not, I do have quite a few. I'll note that, despite its one little vocal flaw, Hunting (The Universe Breaks My Heart) is a great song, and well outside of old AP territory. Also, Lethal Killers and Armed to the Teeth are both great songs, even if they do lend themselves to old AP just a little. Rabble and The Catalyst, though, carry on their new sound much more, and, most importantly, connect Humanistic with Armed to the Teeth. Those are the [mostly] perfect, most natural sounding and unifying songs of the album. Everything else makes me question dear Mr. Tommy Walter, though, and I don't want to keep doing that.

And let me say that I too write music, and I know what it's like to overdo something, to under-work it in recording, and to generally make mistakes that threaten a song's integrity. And I think that that's partially where my dissatisfaction with Armed to the Teeth comes from - it's frustrating to hear an idol, someone I think of as one of those few masterful musicians, making the same mistakes as me.

Average customer rating:

Elvis completes his trifecta

Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & the Attraction
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

This Year's Model
My Aim Is True
Get Happy!!
Imperial Bedroom
Blood & Chocolate

ASIN: B000OHZJKU
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Tracks:

Accidents Will Happen
Senior Service
Oliver's Army
Big Boys
Green Shirt
Party Girl
Goon Squad
Busy Bodies
Sunday's Best
Moods For Moderns
Chemistry Class
Two Little Hitlers
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding

Customer Reviews:

Elvis completes his trifecta.......2007-05-06

"Armed Forces" was Elvis and The Attractions' claustrophobic pop masterpiece, loaded with melody and paranoia, fueled by cramped touring vans, hotel rooms and long stretches of listening to ABBA, Kraftwerk, Bowie and the Beatles while driving between gigs. It was also the last of the Elvis albums that mirrored the tightly wound image/cliched "angry young man" singer-songwriter of the new wave world. It also happens to be one of the most indispensable albums of the 70's.

Songs like "Oliver's Army" and "Two Little Hitlers" brimmed with neo-fascist imagery and highly charged sexual/emotional content, yet flourished with pop-hooks. "Accidents Will Happen" portrays a barely apologetic philanderer as he tries to explain the infidelities of his life, and uses one of early Elvis' frequent descriptions of romantic partners as a "victim." (Think of how many times that word appears on his first three albums.) Many of the songs bear unmistakable ominous threatening qualities, like the roar of "Goon Squad," the hushed fear that underscores "Green Shirt" and the implied threat of "they took me in the office and told me very carefully, the ways that I could benefit from death and disability" (from "Senior Service").

Nick Lowe deserves a good deal of the credit for keeping this album in check (and when is he going to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!?!). It is likely his pop sophistication that gave some of "Armed Forces" levity in its darkest points. It is also Lowe's one song - and the first cover to appear on a proper EC album - that brings the relentlessly downward outlook to a more optimistic close. "(What's So Funny About) Peace Love and Understanding" was the kind of song that, once Elvis claimed it as his own, provided a banner to his part during the formation of Rock Against Racism.

Unfortunately for this reissue, Rhino's 2002 double CD issue was also the CD that most justified Rhino's double disc reissues of Elvis' work. "Armed Forces" is the kind of album that more than holds its own as a singular entity, and the Ryko release that tacked the bonus selections on the same disc distracted from that sense of "piece" to me. So to have some excellent material on a bonus disc is just cream on the berry. Especially since it included the entire "Live at Hollywood High" recording as opposed to the three song bonus vinyl that was included in the original album. If it was possible to add a bonus star to an already 5 star album, Rhino managed that trick. That is the essential "Armed Forces." I understand that the rights to the EC CBS years catolog have turned over once again, but the double CD is really worth seeking out.

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Pure beauty
WHAT A GIFT!
Incredible voice - Incredible CD
The Best
Charlotte is NO match...

Pure

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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My Gift to You
Hayley Westenra
Odyssey
Celtic Treasure
Hayley Westenra - Live From New Zealand

ASIN: B0000TCP9A
Release Date: 2003-11-10

Tracks:

Across the Universe of Time
Never Say Goodbye
Beat of Your Heart
Pokarekare Ana
Who Painted the Moon Black?
River of Dreams
Benedictus
Hine E Hine
Dark Waltz
Amazing Grace
My Heart and I
In Trutina
Heaven
Wuthering Heights
Pokarekare Ana [*] - Russell Watson, Hayley Westenra

Tracks:

Silent Night [*]
Away in a Manger [*]
Mary Did You Know? [*]
Mummers' Dance [*]

Album Description

A major artist in her native New Zealand, with a performance portfolio that includes the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Russell Watson. Hayley's voice so inspired New Zealand opera diva Dame Malvina Major she offered to tutor her. The first edition of this album was one of the fastest selling records in the classical genre of all time, surpassing even Charlotte Church! This limited edition includes one bonus track on disc one, 'Pokareare Ana' (duet with Russell Watson), & a bonus four track Christmas CD featuring, 'Away In A Manger', 'The Mummers' Dance', 'Mary Did You Know?', & 'Silent Night'. 19 tracks in all. Decca. 2003.

Album Details

Limited Edition Version of the Debut Album from New Zealand Singer Hayley Westenra Comes with a Bonus Disc featuring Four Christmas Songs, Including a Version of the Loreena Mckennitt Song "The Mummer's Dance". Also Includes "my Heart and I" which Does Not Appear on the USA Version.

Customer Reviews:

Pure beauty.......2005-09-06

Ever since Charlotte Church turned into a tabloids' darling and a wannabe pop star, there's been a gap opened for a young, sweet-faced soprano. The best bet on filling it seems to be Hayley Westenra, a young singer/dancer from New Zealand.

The result: "Pure," an album that is reminiscent of early Sarah Brightman, back when she did folk songs and showtunes. Westenra sticks close to her classical sound with songs like the delicate "In Trutina" and the traditional New Zealand song "Pokarekare Ana," which is rendered with the backing of a a rather muddled male chorus and some swelling strings.

However, Westenra doesn't neglect more modern songs, and she does well in classical pop as well as straightforward classical. The big difference seems to be a bit of synth and a delicate guitar melody, in songs like the charming "Beat of Your Heart" and dreamy "Why Painted the Moon Black?" It's a smooth, thoroughly sweet crossover effect.

Westenra also eschews the usual round of classical-pop songs, like "Nella Fantasia." I love that song, but it's been done so many times. Instead, she opts for Maori lullabies, Vivaldi ballads, the neglected "Mummer's Dance" and the orchestral cathedral grandeur of "Benedictus." She even covers Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights," adding a modern feel to the finale.

That is not to say that every choice is an excellent one. "Wuthering Heights" has Westenra trying to sound more Bush-ian, while "Amazing Grace" is too simple vocally. Aside from those, her choices of song are excellent -- rich, uplifting and beautiful, and backed by a wide range of orchestral musicians, especially the strings.

There is also an accompanying EP, in which Westenra covers four Christmas ballads, and does them all justice. Her vocals are well suited to the dignified lyrics of songs like "The Mummer's Dance" and "Silent Night," although a bit less for the still-lovely "Mary Did You Know" and "Away in a Manger."

Her vocals themselves are not operatic, but they are strong, clear and sweet, without pretensions or dramatic flourishes. The effect is stunning, more given to magic and sweetness than to keeping to classical standards. Since this was recorded when Westenra was only sixteen, one wonders how good she'll be in ten years.

Despite comparisons to Charlotte Church, Hayley Westenra is more like Sarah Brightman -- a sweet-voiced singer, straddling the fence between classical and pop. An enchanting experience.

WHAT A GIFT!.......2004-12-20

I RECEIVED THESE 2 CDS AS A GIFT AND I LISTEN TO THEM FREQUENTLY. HER PERFORMANCE WITH RUSSELL WATSON (ON DVD)ON HIS TOUR IS WONDERFUL. I CAN'T WAIT FOR A NEW ALBUM. WOULD LIKE TO GET HER NEW SONG, BRIDAL BALLAD, FROM THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Incredible voice - Incredible CD.......2004-04-29

I recently saw Hayley on TV and had to immediately buy this CD. Her voice is so clear and pure, and her songs are filled with lyrical emotion.

It is an absolutely incredible CD that any music lover should have in their collection. My favorite song is Wuthering Heights.

The Best.......2004-04-27

Her album is the best, voice of an angel.......you can totally relakes to her music.

Charlotte is NO match..........2003-12-15

Hayley is just phenomenal. There is no doubt that she surpasses every other female artist in her genre. This CD is astonishing. My two favorite songs are "Heaven" and "Wuthering Heights". The first Hayley Westenra song I ever heard was "Heaven". It would not be the last. Her voice is like that of an angel. She has a smooth, serene sound, and she has an incredible range. If you want a more classical sound, you want her. It's not that gaudy stuff that people generally think of. This stuff has a beat... and it's not pumping with bass. If you're a fan of Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, or Mario Frangoulis... try Hayley Westenra, you won't regret it. I just can't wait 'til she comes to the states... that'll be a good day. She has a few Italian songs, but she's not heavy on the foreign stuff like some of the other artists of Opera / Classical. She's got a wonderful voice for a little girl... I'm a huge fan, Hayley! You roped me in, in about 2 minutes time!

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Live from the Armed Madhouse
Greg Palast
Manufacturer: Alternative Tentacle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Armed Madhouse: From Baghdad to New Orleans--Sordid Secrets and Strange Tales of a White House Gone Wild
Terrorstorm - A History of Government Sponsored Terrorism

ASIN: B000P46MMQ
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Reporting From Exile
Yogi Berra's Ivestigative Journalism 101
Dumpster Diving For Votes
Indian Indecision Day
Provisional Democracy
Caged
Ballots In Body-Bags
A Million Conspiracy Nuts Can't Be Wrong
I Smell Grover Norquist
I Smell James Baker III
Iraq and OPEC
Saddam Does the Jerk
Mr. 5%
The Assassination Of Hugo Chavez
Petro-Dollars
'Am I Getting Through To You Mr. Beale?'
The Chavez Challenge
What Are We Going To Do About It?
'Mr. Beale, Meet Mr. Palast'
Busted & Bloody

Album Description

Greg Palast NY Times bestselling author and award-winning investigative journalisthas spent the last thirty years getting the goods on the corporate con men, political hucksters, and "free-trade" gurus who would auction off your children's future to the lowest bidder. Greg Palast Live from the Armed Madhouse, a follow-up to Weapon of Mass Instruction (Virus 312), is Palast's most provocative and caustically funny yet. Armed with over fifty classified documents, confidential memos, and secret plans liberated from the Pentagon, FBI, World Bank, and ExxonMobil, Palast cuts through the TV news baby-talk. It was Palast, for BBC TV, who first uncovered how Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris stole Election 2000. Harris calls him "twisted," and here's the new twist revealed in this CD: Palast tells you that Kerry won in 2004 and 2008 is already fixed. Palast's reports have been exiled from America to British Broadcasting Corporation's top current affairs show, Newsnight, and England's Guardian newspapers. Author of the New York Times bestseller, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Palast turned his skills to journalism after two decades as a top investigator of corporate fraud and racketeering. Awards bestowed on his work include: George Orwell Courage in Journalism, Patron of the Trinity College Philosophical Society, Guerrilla News Network's Guerrilla of the Year, and many more. This speech was recorded in 2006 at the Fletcher Lounge, University of Tampa.

Average customer rating:

Great Music, Horrible Disc Quality
BLOW UP THE VAULTS!!!!!!
Exellent reissue
Great Albums, Horrible Release
I don't know what band that is, but it's not Anthrax

Fistful of Metal/Armed and Dangerous
Anthrax
Manufacturer: Megaforce
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spreading the Disease
State of Euphoria
Persistence of Time
The New Order
The Dio Years

ASIN: B0007N19M8
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

Deathrider
Metal Thrashing Mad
I'm Eighteen
Panic
Subjugator
Soldiers of Metal
Death from Above
Anthrax
Across the River
Howling Furies
Armed and Dangerous
Raise Hell
God Save the Queen [Non LP]
Metal Thrashing Mad [Live]
Panic [Live]
Soldiers of Metal
Howling Furies

Customer Reviews:

Great Music, Horrible Disc Quality.......2007-01-26

This is the simple review: the music is killer. Neil Turbin is great.

Music is 5 stars. Disc quality and editing is - 2 stars.

Here are the problems: The disc sounds bad. Also, there is an unforgiveable 2 second gap between each song. The gaps exists even when the song is supposed to blend into the following tune. It was so annoying that I put my CD on Ebay.

BLOW UP THE VAULTS!!!!!!.......2006-01-21

YES! Here's what I was hoping to find! FISTFUL OF METAL and ARMED AND DANGEROUS together on one release. This, my friends, is the ANTHRAX story chapters ONE and TWO together on one KILLER compilation.
Now, I am here to tell you not to listen to ANYBODY but me on this one. FISTFUL is such a cool record, I can't believe how many people are knocking it. NEIL TURBIN only sang vocals on the one album, and yeah, they are a bit outrageously high pitched, but the speed and killer licks will whip yo' hide. No joke. It sounds like it was recorded inside of a trash can, but man can it rock... Play loudly.
Keep the volume as loud for ARMED AND DANGEROUS. This record introduces a young sounding JOEY BELLADONNA before he really claimed his sound. Here we get him covering some TURBIN material, and we get him on a couple early live outings. I love early THRAX, SPREADING THE DISEASE is probably the best album, but I get all jazzed up when I hear a real classic early eighties metal track that was recorded on zero budget. This is underground New York Garage sh*t and it is wicked f'in awesome. If you are an ANTHRAX fan and have never heard these albums.. do yourself a favor and pick this up!

Exellent reissue.......2005-07-21

Don't be fooled by the moron below me, this is the exact same sound qaulity as the original 'Fistful of Metal' CD that came out in the early 90's. I bought this to replace my old scratched up copy and it sounds great. It is definatly worth it, now even more because it includes the 'Armed & Dangerous' EP as well. For some reason, these two Anthrax releases were very hard to find, and i always thought 'Fistful' was greatly overlooked and neglected, so i am glad Scott Ian and crew have not forgotten their awesome debut album and decided to reissue it for the 20th anniversary.

It is a short album, only around 35 minutes or so, but the EP included makes it longer. 'Fistful of Metal' is probably the most brutal Anthrax album, for one thing, they had this guy called Neil Turbin who could scream his head off. It is very raw sounding and sounds nothing like any of their later albums, in fact you might think it is a completely differant band. Of the big four debut albums (the others being Kill Em All, Show No Mercy and Killing is my Buissness) this is my favorite. My favorite cuts are DEATHRIDER, METAL THRASHING MAD, SOILDERS OF METAL, SUBJUGATOR, ANTHRAX, DEATH FROM ABOVE and the cool Alice Cooper cover I'M EIGHTEEN. What ever happened to Neil Turbin? i think they should of held on to him, i like Joey too, but why would you just kick out some one that talented? Oh yeah, the drumming on this album is insane, just listen to Charlie on this thing with his double bass pedals, he was all about speed back then i guess, but he would become better and more inovative. Scott Ian is the best here though, he came up with the best riffage back then (still does) and this album showcases it perfectly. I would say that you should definatly give this a try if you harbor any interest at all in early 80's thrash or even metal in general, it is such a fun record. Keep in mind that it was 1984 and they were still an underground band back then, so the production is kind of horrible, but the music is so good that you will get over that, come to think of it, what thrash album ever had GOOD production anyway? remember that this was a gendre noted for its attacks on any kind of commercial "polished" form of metal.

Anyway, this album is worth finding if you like thrash in the vein of early Metallica, Exodus, Slayer or even Metal Church.

Great Albums, Horrible Release.......2005-06-15

Fistful of Metal is one of the all time great metal albums. Unfortunately, this release sounds like it was sourced from 96 kbps mp3s. Buyer beware. Buy the original releases instead. You'll be more satisfied with them.

I don't know what band that is, but it's not Anthrax.......2005-03-07

Man, most bands have got weird sounding debuts, but Anthrax really takes it to another level. This is nothing like 'Spreading the Disease', even though it was only a year earlier, and has very little thrash in it. This is pretty much pure speed metal from beginning to end, mostly Judas Priest worship type stuff. It's pretty entertaining, though certainly not all that hot, so I only really recommend this to very, very serious Anthrax fans. If it weren't a historic curiosity, 'Fistful of Metal' would still be kinda amusing, but not enough so to make it worth having. Same goes with the 'Armed & Dangerous' ep, which comes along with it.

'Fistful of Metal' has probably the crappiest production I've ever heard on a metal album outside of Black Metal. Not very loud, lots a static at times, no real depth or thickness. Too bad they didn't remaster it. Turbin is quite an amusing vocalist. He's about as over the top as they come, with a rather unbelievable amount of shrieking. As with most of this album, he's fairly entertaining, if not exactly very good. Everything on 'Fistful' sounds pretty much the same, with the exception of the cover, 'Eighteen', which still has much the same tone and feeling, it's just slower, mid-paced hard rock rather than speed metal. The songs they'd later do for 'Greater of Two Evils' are the best ones here. 'Death Rider' and 'Metal Thrashing Mad' are both total stompers, lots of fun and energy, and 'Panic' isn't too far off, with a particularly nice little lead section. Everything else on here at least sounds pretty good while it's on, even if it isn't all that memorable.

'Armed & Dangerous' hasn't got much new material, but it's still kinda interesting. The title track is the same as on 'Spreading...' and other than that we've got a buncha Turbin songs with Joey on the vox, a song called 'Raise Hell' and a cover of 'God Save the Queen'. The re-done Tubin songs are pretty decent. Live in the studio, but they actually tend to have better production than on the debut, and Joey does some shriekier, vox than he'd typical do, kinda mixing his own style with Turbin's. 'Raise Hell' is kinda blah, just sorta a more primitive version of the stuff they'd do on the next album. It's alright, but not up to Anthrax's standards. I've never been a Sex Pistols fan, so the 'God Save the Queen' cover doesn't interest me too much, though it is pretty funny to hear Joey try and sing a punk song.

Well, that's it. Not very good, but still sorta fun and interesting, and worth a look for serious Anthrax fans. No one else need bother with it.

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Great Classical Spectrum

Classic Chillout, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Chillout
Euphoric Classics: A Classical High
Jazz Chillout
Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album
Classic Chillout Album

ASIN: B00005Y49H
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Any Other Name - Nikolaj Bloch
Vision - Richard Souther
Song Of Tears - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Largo - Reginald Kilbey And His Strings
Hedwig's Theme - Nic Raine
Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
II. Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Philharmonia Orchestra
Cavatina - Manuel Barrueco
Eddie - Michael Nyman
Espiritu - Thomas Otten
Cinema Paradiso Love Theme - Ennio Morricone & His Orchestra
Pavane - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Goldberg Variations - Maria Tipo
Agnus Dei - David Hill
II. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Canzonetta Sull'Aria - Gianna Rolandi

Tracks:

Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra
Aquarium - Katia & Marielle Labeque
Barcarolle (Les Contes D'Hoffman) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Jean De Florette Theme - Toots Thielemans
La Valse D'Amelie - Yann Tiersen
Love In Slow Motion - The Planets
Heart Of The Volunteer - David Temple
II. Adagio - Ton Koopman
Nimrod ('Enigma' Variations) - London Symphony Orchestra
Going Home (Largo) - Izzy
Sarabande - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Facades - John Harle
Panis Angelicus - Halle Choir
Teleplene And Rubber Band - Simon Jeffes
Agnus Dei - National Youth Choir Of Great Britain
II. Romance - Garrick Ohlsson
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
II: Andantino - James Galway
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - Cecile Ousset
An Ending - Brian Eno

Album Details

Instrumental Chill Out of the Classical Variety, Not of the Dancefloor. Chill Baby!

Customer Reviews:

Great Classical Spectrum .......2005-03-21

These cd's are a great set of varied classical music. Pavane is my favorite. Additionally, Classical Chillout 2 offers theme music from Harry Potter and it is very well done.

Music:

Music

music