Electropica [Import]

Electropica [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The Future Sound of Rhumba from the Remnants of Mano Negra. Also features Appearances by Femi Kuti.

Tracks:

Don't Know Why
Seven Years
Cold Cold Heart
Feelin' The Same Way
Come Away With Me
Shoot The Moon
Turn Me On
Lonestar
I've Got To See You Again
Painter Song
One Flight Down
Nightingale
The Long Day Is Over
The Nearness Of You

Amazon.com

It is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her 22 years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognizable, blending shades of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" alone are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to such masterpieces. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit, and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience and some careful listening to artists like J.J. Cale and Shirley Horn is the knack of remaining low-key without sounding sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross

Amazon.com

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Feels Like Home
The Little Willies

Customer Reviews:

Simply addictive!.......2007-07-12

This is her best album!
Her voice is unbelievable, the delivery is amazing and the lyrics are stunning!

Haunting sounds.......2007-07-06

For 3 months, my Norah Jones CDs have taken over my car stereo. This woman is very talented!

The phenom Ms Jones.......2007-06-27

This is such an outstanding production, so much better than the later(I think) CD. Miss Jones should be careful which guitar players back her up. She should stick to Bill Frizell or maybe she should try Mark Knoffler, if she can get him away from Emmy Lou.

Glad i bought it ( Part II )...!.......2007-06-20

I knew that Nora Jones was good music but i had no idea just how good...My sister-in-law bought me this CD for Father's Day...i have listened to it 3 times today. The way i would describe her lyrics and delivery is equal to "Musical Rose Petals". So smooth and so inviting is her voice. I really love the Piano work also. Her birth name being "Geethali",Nora Jones along with the likes of Michael Buble have added a nice,new,fresh selection of music to today's currently enemic sound. This album made her only the second artist ever to sweep the "Big Four" being Album,Song,Record,& Artist of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2003. Standouts for me include: "Come Away With Me","Don't Know Why", and i really like her rendition of Hank Williams SR.'s "Cold,Cold Heart". With her throw back to Billie Holiday/Roberta Flack days voice coupled with a very welcomed piano based style, Nora Jones can take me away anytime! If you've waited to give her a listen ,as did I, do yourself a favor and don't wait any longer.

I'd Love To...........2007-06-05

Okay, she's not quite a standards specialist, but a lot of people think Norah Jones is well on her way to setting some new standards of her own.

The daughter of famed Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar, Jones grew up in Dallas with her mother, and her work is firmly rooted in the dry Texas soil. The youngest in this survey (she was born in 1979), Jones burst on the scene in 2002 with this debut album of nine original songs plus a handful of country and pop standards. Renowned for her sweet and soulful set of pipes, Jones has often been compared to Billie Holiday. There's also a touch of Roberta Flack and Emmylou Harris in there.

Come Away with Me is an honest-to-goodness country-blues recording that you can sit back with on the front porch rocker on a brisk autumn afternoon. Sort of like an early James Taylor, Jones mixes a little bit of country, folk, and soul into a collection that's the perfect antidote to today's insincere fare. The public must have sensed the same thing, because it bought this CD in boxcar loads, and in 2003 Jones walked away with eight Grammies, including album of the year and best new artist.

The title track, written by Jones, is the first new song I've heard in a long time that's utterly believable. "Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you," she begs, and it's as though she's singing it to you, personally. To Hank Williams's "Cold Cold Heart" she brings an R & B feel, petitioning in anguish to her lover man to come back, body and soul. "I've Got to See You Again" is an exquisite modern torch song in the same vein, while "One Flight Down" is an upbeat tune with chord progressions right out of Paul McCartney's Wings songs, like "Carry That Load." She ends with Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You." Close your eyes, let Jones's words envelope you with their soulful caress, and you'll sense that she's a lot nearer than your living room speakers.

Average customer rating:

Hmmm, go back to Broken Social Scene and let this siht die, please
Another great album
Two stand out songs
Delicately Beautiful
Time to Let it Die

Let It Die
Feist
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Reminder
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Open Season
Fisherman's Woman
Back to Black

ASIN: B0008KLVW8
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Gatekeeper
Mushaboom
Let It Die
One Evening
Leisure Suite
Lonely Lonely
When I Was A Young Girl
Secret Heart
Inside And Out
Tout Doucement
Now At Last

Amazon.com

Canadian singer Leslie Feist has served as a guest vocalist for Norwegian folkies Kings of Convenience, Toronto power-pop troupe Broken Social Scene, and - under the frightening moniker "Bitch Lap-Lap" - the hairy female rapper Peaches. But her unruly resume hardly prepares you for the emotionally rich, softy sensual music on her major label debut. Moving from tortured torch songs such as "Lonely Lonely" to pulsating originals like "Mushaboom," it also contains stunning remakes of Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart" and the Bee Gees' "Inside and Out," tunes Feist not only makes her own but effectively uses to dissect her romantic desolation. "Don't you wish we could forget that kiss?" she smolders on the title track. Not in this lifetime. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Hmmm, go back to Broken Social Scene and let this siht die, please.......2007-07-10

Fiest runs the gamut of musical styles from A to B on this record, from soul (ish) vocals to Norah Jones-like musings to out and out disco which was bad enough the first time - may the BeeGees rot in hell. I guess it's ok if you're an "indie" artist to regurgitate past musical styles that weren't too good to begin with and add a few electronic flourishes so you won't be accused of being too too retro and then add some dishpan shallow boy/girl lyrics and voila - pop genius! Fieist manages to be both sultry and sucky at the same time. Well at least all I lost was time having downloaded it, listened to it twice and deleted it. Not my bag, dad.

Another great album.......2007-07-06

I only found out about Leslie Feist in an LA Times article in early July 2007, and bought a couple discs on a lark. Good investment. This lady is gonna go far. A less mature work than The Reminder but very high-quality work.

Two stand out songs.......2007-06-18

I would rate the songs I like at 5 stars each but can't rate the cd any higher than a 3 since there are only two period. Her voice is sweet and velvety but I just don't play it that much.

Delicately Beautiful.......2007-06-12

There is one particular word for describing the sound of Feist.

Refreshing.

This '05 debut album for Feist is crisp, clear, and melodious. Right from the moment "Gatekeeper" grabs your attention you're hooked, and glad to be so. It's hard to place Feist into any one category of music. She makes me think of a possible Norah Jones wrapped in a modern shell of jazzy, loungy, and slightly Indie influences. Like nothing you've ever heard, certainly not in the last few years. Her more recent album, The Reminder, is capturing most of the attention of listeners right now and rightfully so, but this work is not to be forgotten. For a debut solo album, Let It Die seems to lack no maturity, and to think that it was recorded in a mere week amid her many international tours of '05! These songs show no hint of being mindlessly crammed onto a record ready for the shelves. In fact, it shows no haste at all. Simply the most relaxing music, but not to the point that it's short on pop, albeit in a very subtle way.

"Mushaboom" picks up the pace followed by worthy-of-flagship-status "Let It Die". All of the next three tracks are gold when you arrive at the strange tale of "When I Was a Young Girl" to which there is nothing I can compare it to except maybe Norah Jones' "Sinkin' Soon". "Secret Heart" is a fun little inquiring kind of tune with nice subtle vocals. Now we come to the place that the critics really rave about here. Feist's remake of one of my favorite Bee Gees songs "Inside and Out" is killer. The Bee Gees did such an original good job on it that its tough to say this one's better, but its close. Alot jazzier to boot. After you finish jivin' out, you arrive at unexpected "Tout Doucement". Feist's surrounding influences shine out in this jaunty little tune, so jaunty that you feel like you're strolling down a sunny avenue in Paris one morning on your way to a little cafe. Afterall, it was recorded in Paris. This charming tune will tell you that. Last we have "Now At Last", suitable but certainly not least. Of all the songs on this album it seems that this one above all others was made for Feist. Simple, delicate, and just really nice.

You simply must check out this one of a kind CD, certainly one of the best of '05. Enjoy

Time to Let it Die.......2007-05-18

I read that Feist was a sort of Norah Jones on steroids. I like Norah Jones but I'm not crazy about Norah Jones. I wanted originality. I wanted a jazz singer with a little more punch than Norah Jones. After making it through the first 8 tracks of Let It Die, I did. Feist needs steroids. Her voice is weak. There's a sexy breathless style common these days and then there's "I have no lung capacity". Feist seems the latter. Steroids could help.

Sorry, I didn't like it. The sound quality is poor which may contribute to the artist's poor performance. 2 stars because it's different and different is good. I don't think things will get better in future releases because the talent doesn't burst through. There's talent in her but not in the quantity to smash into your CD "Top Played" list.

Average customer rating:

bluestastic
Wonderful Soundtrack!
At least this snake isn't moaning on a plane!
North Mississippi Hills blues sampler
Stack-O-Lee from RL Burnside CD "Well, Well, Well..." on MC Records

Black Snake Moan

Manufacturer: New West Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Delta Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Black Snake Moan
10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)
Grindhouse: Planet Terror

ASIN: B000L211NC
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

Opening Theme / Scott Bomar
Ain't But One Kind Of Blues / Son House
Just Like A Bird Without A Feather / Samuel L Jackson
When The Lights Go Out / The Black Keys
Standing In My Doorway Crying / Jesse Mae Hemphill
Chicken Heads / Bobby Rush
Black Snake Moan / Samuel L Jackson
Morning Train / Precious Bryant
The Losing Kind / John Doe
Lord Have Mercy On Me / Outragious Cherry
Ronnie and Rae's Theme / Scott Bomar
The Chain / Scott Bomar
Alice Mae / Samuel L Jackson
Stack-O-Lee / Samuel L Jackson
Old Black Mattie / R.L. Burnside
That's Where The Blues Started / Son House
Mean Ol' Wind Died Down / North Mississippi Allstars

Amazon.com

This soundtrack to the film written and directed by Craig Brewer is as steeped in the Southern blues as his Hustle and Flow was in hip-hop. The biggest surprise here is how well actor Samuel L. Jackson (who seems to have a thing for "Snake" films) holds his own as a blues singer against selections from Son House and R.L. Burnside. He sounds like a throwback to the classic Delta bluesmen on "Just Like a Bird Without a Feather," does a convincing take on the Blind Lemon Jefferson title track, and rocks the juke joint on "Alice Mae" and a down-and-dirty recasting of "Stack-O-Lee." Produced by the Bo-Keys' Scott Bomar (who also scored Brewer's previous movie), the 17-cut soundtrack features a kaleidoscopic array of blues, from the primal throb of the Black Keys' "When the Lights Go Out" and the funk of Bobby Rush's classic "Chicken Heads" to the spiritual lilt of Precious Bryant's "Morning Train" and the North Mississippi Allstars' expansive finale, "Mean Ol' Wind Died Down." --Don McLeese

Album Description

Black Snake Moan, the latest film from Hustle And Flow director Craig Brewer, tells a tale of love, betrayal, sex and salvation. It stars Samuel L Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake. The film take place in Memphis, Tennessee and the local blues music from the area is a central part of the movie.

The soundtrack includes some classic and current blues artists including Son House, R.L. Burnside, North Mississippi Allstars and the singing debut of Samuel L Jackson.

While the Black Snake Moan soundtrack presents the best musical moments of the movie, as a stand-alone document, its seventeen tracks weave together a raw depiction of today's North Mississippi scene: a little bit country, and a little bit rock'n'roll, both built on a bedrock of primitive blues.

The Black Snake Moan soundtrack is a must have for fans of the film, the Blues, Samuel L Jackson or just a music fan looking for something very cool.

Customer Reviews:

bluestastic.......2007-03-19

This soundtrack to the excellent film was obviously put together by people who both know and feel a responsibility to the blues. Samuel L Jackson adds vocals to four tracks and does an admirable job; on 'Just like a Bird Without a feather' he more than holds his own alongside classic blues singers like RL Burnside and Jessie Mae Hemphill. John Doe--from the punk band X--adds a track as well that fits in much better than one might think.

Wonderful Soundtrack!.......2007-03-11

Watching the movie I was overwhelmed by the greatness of its soundtrack, and after purchasing this CD I was pleased to see that everything still seemed as wonderful. I am not a blues afficianado, but I do appreciate good music. I think that most anyone could enjoy this soundtrack.

At least this snake isn't moaning on a plane!.......2007-02-28

On this relatively good collection of mostly blues tunes, the main curiosity item is to see how well actor Samuel Jackson carries off the singer role. He sings four songs on this soundtrack CD, and acquits himself pretty admirably, although the standard comment about the day job does apply here. Otherwise the theme is the blues, but actually several of the tunes swim in that deep, dark water where blues, soul, gospel and rock 'n' roll meet. I thought the John Doe cut was excellent, and I also really liked the R&B leanings of the Bobby Rush track, and the Black Keys song is pretty great too. The score cues by Scott Bomar provide nice atmosphere in a Ry Cooder-ish vein (smoky slide guitar). In all, the CD is a reasonably enjoyable listen.

North Mississippi Hills blues sampler.......2007-02-26

The soundtrack to the upcoming film, "Black Snake Moan" is a nice curiosity for the blues aficionado, but like opening Pandora's box for the uninitiated. Those familiar with the hypnotic, drowning, trance-like sounds of the North Mississippi hills a la Fat Possum records will find a lot to enjoy here, including tracks by the actual visible heads of that style, such as the late Jessie Mae Hemphill and R.L. Burnside. In fact, this entire CD relies heavily on the aural legacy of R.L. Burnside, providing some sort of last will after the bluesman's passing last year.
For those unfamiliar with the evolution of blues as a genre, the North Mississippi blues is somehow primitive, repetitive (almost mantra-like), but results in a very authentic, tribal-style variety of the blues. But blues and movie lovers alike will be curious about Samuel L. Jackson's credibility as a bona fide blues singer. The surprise is how adequate he is. He might not be the next Muddy Waters, but he delivers convincingly and, despite lacking a thunderous voice, he owns the role of a bluesman as a modern herald of human suffering. His outrageous cover of "Stackolee" fronting the R.L. Burnside live unit plus Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars is a highlight, but his recitative to eerie bluesy sounds in "Black Snake Moan" is even better.
The established names showing up in this CD include Bobby Rush, fresh from the Chitlin circuit, acoustic blues-gospel singer Precious Bryant, as well as the aforementioned Jessie Mae Hemphill and R.L. Burnside. One misses at least one track from the other godfather of the North Mississippi sound, Junior Kimbrough. Many listeners will be already familiar with the North Mississippi Allstars. Their entry on this CD is a mellow, evocative piece augmented by fife-and-drum background over NMA's classic and classy slide sound.
The soundtrack tracks, by Scott Bomar, include a true allstar lineup including the Dickinson brothers and Charlie Musselwhite on harp, and they are uniformly exciting and interesting, keeping a sense of continuity throughout the CD.
In summary, this is more than a curiosity for blues aficionados, sitting proudly by their Junior Kimbroughs' and R.L. Burnsides', and it will definitively attract outside attention to this particular brand of the blues, providing an introductory-level package that will bring on more "true believers". Highly recommended.

Stack-O-Lee from RL Burnside CD "Well, Well, Well..." on MC Records.......2007-02-13

This is a very good soundtrack heavily influenced by R.L. Burnside. That raunchy, X-rated version of Stack-O-Lee sung by Samuel Jackson is directly from a version that Burnside sings on his MC Records CD "Well, Well, Well..." (that incidentally has blues singer Curtis Salgado laughing wickedly in the background). I believe the Burnside recording is the most unique version of this song ever recorded.

10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)

Average customer rating:

Blues greats, best of blues artists
Outstanding
Great!
As real as you can get
AMAZING cd...

10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000IFQLSW
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

Prison Blues
Potato Patch
Honky Tonk
The Thrill Is Gone
Tina Marie
Born in Louisiana
Chapel Hill Boogie
Tears Come Rollin' Down
Knoxville Rag
Big Daddy Boogie
U-Haul
Red Rooster
Sittin On Top Of The World
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Amazon.com

This "back-to-the-roots" road-trip documentary CD/DVD from blues-rocking guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd can be viewed in two ways--it's either the culmination of a long-held desire to promote and play with some unheralded blues veterans before they pass away (as six had already done since the recording was made, 2½ years before its early 2007 release) or a way to regain the blues audience Shepherd all but alienated on his artistically and commercially disappointing 2004 hard-rock release, The Place You're In. Ultimately, it succeeds on both accounts. Regardless of the project's inspiration, the results by and large justify whatever the means might have been to get this show on the road--literally and figuratively. Shepherd hit the highway for a week and a half along with producer Jerry Harrison (ex-Talking Heads), a portable studio, and backup musicians including the rhythm section from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble. He searched out blues artists both obscure (the late guitarist Etta Baker, who plays in her kitchen, is a highlight) and better known (Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and B.B. King) for a series of acoustic and electric jams, all of which feature Shepherd--who, to his credit, generally keeps his hot-dogging tendencies in check. A closing concert featuring members of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters' bands never quite generates the heat it should, but country bluesmen Cootie Stark, Neil Pattman, and harmonica ace Jerry "Boogie" McCain provide plenty of sparks. Shepherd seems sincere enough, but the real stars are the ageing musicians who have maintained their chops and intensity through a lifetime of performing music that clearly comes from the soul. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's reverence for his musical roots are center-stage on Ten Days Out...Blues From The Backroads, a CD+DVD package that features the guitarslinger and Double Trouble rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton performing with some of the greatest blues players of our time as well as lesser-known but historically significant bluesmen. Traveling to their hometowns to record everywhere from juke joints to front porches, from New Orleans to Kansas, Shepherd celebrates and becomes part of blues history with Ten Days Out...Blues From The Backroads.

Customer Reviews:

Blues greats, best of blues artists.......2007-07-07

Wonderful DVD/CD chronicling major historic blues artists - one of a kind album - a 'must have' for the blues enthusiast. Highly recommend!

Outstanding.......2007-07-04

I bought this CD/DVD AFTER seeing KWS in concert at Viejas here
in San Diego. What a treat to see and hear Pinetop Perkins and
Hubert Sumlin among others! My estimation of KWS as a performer
and good guy increased by a quantum leap after seeing the show.
He may be one the best guitarists I've ever seen live, and he
respectfully kept that fiece talent in check when the others were
stepping out. He seems a real gentleman as well as lover of the
music and the people.

The package is excellent, a real gem. The interviews and background
materials are touching, especially of the folks that have since passed.

BUY THIS CD. THESE GUYS ARE THE REAL DEAL. YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

Great!.......2007-07-04

This is actually my second purchase of this item. When I purchased one for myself and realized how good it was, I purchsed one as a gift for a friend. Highly recommend for anyone who loves the blues.

As real as you can get.......2007-06-27

I stumbled on this by accident while looking for another blues cd (big blues fan). I read about how Kenny Wayne Sheperd wanted to connect with these old blues pioneers and it sounded like it might be worth a try.He and his crew have put together one of the most entertaining documentories
I have ever seen.The cd is fantastic as well with track after track of pure blues. If you are a blues fan this DVD/CD combo is a must. You won't be disappointed.

AMAZING cd..........2007-06-23

This is one of the best works of pure music I have bought in awhile. Not very often do you buy something where the artist really tried to make a statement with the music, but here, they do. For KWS and company to just go out, find the ROOTS of the music we listen to today, and make music on the spot with them is just amazing. Too bad they didnt bring more film to document even more than they already did. I could watch that footage for days. Everything here is beyond top notch. Very insightful, provides a glimpse of where the music came from and where it is going. If your a fan of ANY kind of blues, southern, or just guitar led music...you will love this.

Average customer rating:

Earth-shattering Calm
Excellent
Ray LaMontagne
Of Course
Love this CD!

Trouble
Ray LaMontagne
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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O

ASIN: B0002S947K
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Trouble
Shelter
Hold You In My Arms
Narrow Escape
Burn
Forever My Friend
Hannah
How Come
Jolene
All The Wild Horses

Amazon.com

Some singer/songwriters (think Paul Westerberg and Elliott Smith) develop their world-weariness through the unforgiving trials of passing years and the heart-breaking grind of the music business. Others (Van Morrison, Neil Young) seem to have sprung from out of nowhere with the fully formed soul of a life well-lived. Ray LaMontagne belongs with the latter. On this, his debut, LaMontagne has crafted a handful of quietly devastating meditations on life and love--and delivered them with a raspy vocal all his own. The simple, mournful lyrics of "Burn," "Shelter" and the title track recall a Hank Williams ballad, and the reserved production by alt-country/americana genius Ethan Johns (the Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon) make this a great disc for smoky Saturday nights, and rainy Sunday mornings. --Ben Heege

Customer Reviews:

Earth-shattering Calm.......2007-06-03

This album is soulful, deep and thick. His voice will melt your worries away.

Excellent.......2007-05-20

Buy this album! I received this album as a gift for my birthday and it has stayed in my CD player since. This is easily the best album I have in my collection and will continue to liten to it over and over and over again. You will not be disappointed if you want to hear great music.

Ray LaMontagne.......2007-04-10

Great songwriter and music! If you have a soul you will like this CD.

Of Course.......2007-03-09

An absolutely great sound to this relaxing artist... of course it is a 5.

Love this CD!.......2007-03-03

I was nervous about this one when I ordered it because it came up as an Amazon suggestion. I read all of the reviews and listened to as much of it as I could, and then I HAD to order it. I am not sorry that I did. I love every single song on it and listen to it over and over again. I put this on every morning while I cook breakfast and every night when I cook dinner....I can't get enough of it.

Average customer rating:

Indispensable
Light in the Darkness
Amy Lee: The most underrated voice in music today
smart people BUY THIS CD
Overdramatic Crap

Fallen
Evanescence
Manufacturer: Wind-Up
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Open Door
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ASIN: B000089RVX
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Tracks:

Going Under
Bring Me To Life
Everybody's Fool
My Immortal
Haunted
Tourniquet
Imaginary
Taking Over Me
Hello
My Last Breath
Whisper

Amazon.com

The Daredevil soundtrack provided a nice boost for this previously unknown quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas. Evanescence's songs "My Immortal" and the imposing "Bring Me to Life" are clear standouts in the film, mainly because they work so well with the dramatic, eerie undertones of the storyline. They reappear here on the band's debut, alongside a selection of similarly brooding tracks that evoke pensive artists like Tori Amos and the Cranberries. Vocalist Amy Lee has the kind of voice that can cause weeks of insomnia, but on songs like "Tourniquet" and "Haunted" she belies the music's sinister mood with evenhanded spirituality, thoughtfully letting some light shine through the tempest. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

Indispensable.......2007-07-09

This is one of the very best CDs ever made, and one of the ONLY ones I've ever found that I can listen to from beginning to end and never skip past a single song. I think there's maybe four or five others in the world that I can say that about, and I listen to almost all types of music, from Mozart to Enya to Tool to Billie Holiday to Simon and Garfunkel to Staind to... anyway, it's a masterpiece. Some music snobs like to turn up their noses at Evanescence and mock those who listen to them because they're generally thought of as "Teenage Goth", but I have a message for them: GET OVER YOURSELVES!! BY BEING NARROW MINDED YOU ARE ONLY DEPRIVING YOURSELVES OF SOME OF THE BEST, MOST HAUNTING MUSIC YOU COULD ASK FOR!! I listen to this CD ALOT and I never get tired of it. Amy Lee is amazing! TRY IT!!!

Light in the Darkness.......2007-07-03

Fans of bands like Nightwish, The Gathering, Lennon Murphy and Lacuna Coil are either rejoicing or cursing Evanescence. Their brand of atmospheric gothic rock / metal is quite comparable to all bands mentioned above yet they are the ones in the Billboard Top 10 Album chart.

"Bring Me To Life" is a stunning track on its own merit that could stand to lose the male pseudo rap-rock vocal yelling "Wake Me Up". (If you hear the demo version without the male vocal you will understand) I find it amusing that fans of bands like Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit are buying this disc just on the basis of this track alone only to realize that the rest of the disc is moody, dark journey into the belly of various beasts. Nevertheless, Amy Lee has a haunting voice that layers beautifully over gothic rock/metal passages much like Tarja, Anneke, Christina, and Tori Amos. "Haunted" is a short, but remarkable track that allows Amy's vocals to breathe chilling words of despair. Just read the cold words to "Imaginary" and you wonder what exact demon tortures the writer's (Ben Moody) soul.

Overall, this disc is way too deep and thought provoking for its target audience. For those of us that have supported this style of music for years, please don't pass judgment against this disc until you have experienced the overall enchantment within its 11 tracks.

Amy Lee: The most underrated voice in music today.......2007-06-27

I remember when "Bring me to life" started playing regularly on a local rock station a few years ago. I thought it was a pretty cool song and liked the vocals of female singer Amy Lee, who seemed to have a wide range and yet still able to have somewhat of an overall mystique to her sound that I still have a hard time describing to this day. At that point a friend of mine loaned me the CD, but upon the first couple of listens I put it back without a second thought.

After selling 14 million copies worldwide and having a strong sophomore release with "The Open Door", I decided to give Evanescence another chance, returning to the debut album "Fallen". Sometimes it takes giving an album a second chance to make a first impression, and this time around I guess I was ready to embrace a band that was deemed as Goth Metal by the masses, but had a female vocalist that was able to help them rise above the all too familiar growl and dirge vocal efforts that usually fall into this category. Strong singles that stand out to me start out with Track 1 in "Going Under", which has a nice, simple guitar piece that has enough grind to stay down in the darker, more brooding sounds of this style of music. Track 6 is a tune called "Tourniquet" and has some eerie tones that help it start out before breaking into a clean, balanced attack of guitars and percussion. The overall structure of this album is great, and although I said there are several singles I like, I will just sum it up by saying there is something great about every song on this album.

What really is a selling point for me, however, is the lead singer Amy Lee. Amy's voice is poetic in deliverance of the songs and has a great overall emotional connection with the music, while at the same time her range allows her to add a lot of diversity to each and every song throughout the album. Overall you have a powerful set of music that rocks when it has to, and has some piano melody to add to the mix (Track 6 and 9 in particular) that I feel sets it apart from a lot of the genre's and classifications that people have been trying to put it in. If you are not much into newer "Nu-Metal" or what have you, but enjoy some of the progressive metal sounds and intricate approaches of such musicians, you just might find Evanescence to your liking. As stated before, it took me a few years to "come back" and discover them, but the wait was worth it and I look forward to any new releases this band has to offer.

smart people BUY THIS CD.......2007-06-24

This CD is the best i have ever Heard. now if you like screaming bands you might not like them [FYI a girl is singing] but they are great.

lets start with Going under great rock i would give it a 9/10
every one knows this song Bring me to life AWSOME all around 10/10
the everybodys fool was a good try good message to i would give it a 7.5/10
the 4th one was also very nice not for rock fans but nice 8.5/10
haunted was my Lest liked did not do what Amy does best 5.10
The 6th one Very very nice not the best but not the best 8/10
the 7th one nice strings very nice to 8.5/10
the 8th one rock on 9/10
hello tryed to be like the 4th one BUT failed badly 6.5/10
we are allmost done My last breath they did it again Very nice 9/10
last one whisper 9/10
and it wont tell you but theres 1 more its number 4 again but with guitars again BUY THIS CD

Overdramatic Crap.......2007-06-24

This album is a bunch of teenage overdramatic crap. Amy Lee's vocals are too overdramatic, and most of the lyrics sound like what would come out of a teenagers jounral about how depressing things are. I can't belive some people call this metal or goth music, it is neither. This album is way too comericalized, the music is itself is nothing too write home about. Alot of this album sounds like it was thrown together in about 5 minutes, with not much thought behind it. If you want TRUE metal stick with old school metallica, megadeth,testament,pantera(r.i.p. Dimebag),slayer,and fear factory. Avoid this album if you are a TRUE metal fan, you will be dissapointed.

Average customer rating:

On and On
GREAT STUFF!
Amazing Album
Jack--always a classic
Wonderful addition to my CD collection

On And On
Jack Johnson
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In Between Dreams
Brushfire Fairytales
Thicker Than Water
Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George (Jack Johnson)
Continuum

ASIN: B00008NG5V
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Tracks:

Times Like These
The Horizon Has Been Defeated
Traffic In The Sky
Taylor
Gone
Cupid
Wasting Time
Holes To Heaven
Dreams Be Dreams
Tomorrow Morning
Fall Line
Cookie Jar
Rodeo Clowns
Cocoon
Mediocre Bad Guys
Symbol In My Driveway

Amazon.com

Jack Johnson has found himself a groove. Indeed, the Hawaiian surfing champion turned alternative pop-folk star really hasn't changed things one iota for his sophomore release. Fans of Brushfire Fairytales should be delighted with the results. The groove is a mellow one--most of the 16 tracks here are semi-acoustic--and that easy-going spirit filters into Johnson's lyrical philosophies. "What will be will be / And so it goes" he sings on "Times Like These," the opening track. Thankfully, Johnson is never too mellow, and there's a "Don't worry, be happy" vibe to most of his music. "The Horizon Has Been Defeated" even has a pseudo-reggae feel to it. Although classified as an alternative musician, the singer-songwriter's compositions owe much to past hits. "Traffic in the Sky" is reminiscent of Jim Croce's "Operator" and Looking Glass's one-hit-wonder, "Brandy." On the splendid "Taylor," Johnson sounds an awful lot like Donovan. And "By The Way" recalls the Lovin' Spoonful. -- Bill Holdship

Album Description

Special digipak UK version of his second album features 17 tracks including the bonus track, 'The Horizon Has Been Defeated' (Acoustic Version). Moonshine Conspiracy. 2003.

Album Details

The Sophomore Album from the Hawaiian Surfing Champion Includes the Bonus Track "The Horizon Has Been Defeated (Acoustic Version)" which is Not Found on the USA Equivalent.

Customer Reviews:

On and On.......2007-06-13

Considering I first heard this DVD sitting in my dentist's chair having a tooth extracted, you wouldn't believe it's effect. It certainly helped take my mind off the immediate situation. Beautiful music, soothing mellow voice and a delight to hear at any time.

GREAT STUFF!.......2007-06-08

A great, laid-back, very mellow CD that can put you right on the beach,with a drink in your hand, watching the waves roll in.... even if you are sitting in your office in front of your computer. A must have if you love acoustic guitars! I HIGHLY recommend it!

Amazing Album.......2007-05-30

I love Jack Johnson! I have a more recent album and thought nothing could top it, but this one does. The lyrics are thoughtful, the melodies are catchy. I drove up and down the coast listening to this CD and never got sick of it.

Jack--always a classic.......2007-05-15

This record is one of his best... I would recommend it for new listeners of Jack Johnson who are just beginning to explore his musical awesomeness.

Wonderful addition to my CD collection.......2007-04-12

Jack Johnson work has an original voice and sound. Excellent addition to my collection. Mix of folk, pop and blues. Lyrics that nurture the soul. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

A Lovely Journey
Loveeee me some killlers
Satisfied
Is it me?
great music, sometimes too random......

Hot Fuss
The Killers
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sam's Town
Franz Ferdinand
X&Y
American Idiot
Hopes and Fears

ASIN: B0002858YS
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
Mr. Brightside
Smile Like You Mean It
Somebody Told Me
All These Things That I've Done
Andy, You're A Star
On Top
Change Your Mind
Believe Me Natalie
Midnight Show
Everything Will Be Alright

Amazon.com

The Killers match postpunk guitars with a synthesizer overlay that recalls '80s New Wave without burying their sound in nostalgia. On their debut, Hot Fuss, frontman Brandon Flowers plumbs his imagination for tales of murdered lovers ("Jenny Was a Friend of Mine," "Midnight Show"), voyeurism ("Mr. Brightside"), and sexual confusion (the single "Somebody Told Me"), Flowers and his mates are obviously canny students; the total effect is of a playacted obsession, but one made irresistible by their skillful, catchy songs. If there's an occasional misstep (the painfully earnest line "I got soul but I'm not a soldier" from "All These Things That I've Done"), it seems of a piece with the Killers' influences. As it is, Hot Fuss is one of several recent releases that bring a diverting faux glamour to the mainstream rock scene. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Hot Fuss features eleven nuggets of reel-you-in storytelling genius and musical nectar. These eleven tracks span from the "very Vegas - like Ziggy came to town" first proper single release "Somebody Told Me";"Mr Brightside" - a tale of jealousy that depicts that moment in a relationship when you realize that your other half might be playing away and this thought takes up residence in your psyche feeding the worst fears and visualisations your imagination can then throw at you. You'll find two-thirds of a murder trilogy in "Midnight Show", which starts off harking back to "Lipgloss" before veering into far darker territory than old Jarvis would ever have flirted with, in Pulp days at least, and "Jenny". These two are connected by the story of a murder of a girl by her jealous boyfriend. The first part of the trilogy, "Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf", will, you can be sure, make an appearance at some point in the future. It's a deliciously ambitious series that! belies the band's tender years. Elsewhere, meanwhile: "On Top" celebrates where Brandon feels the band is at, while stalker's tale "Andy You're A Star" and "All These Things That I've Done," saw Flowers realise his dream of using a gospel choir in their recordings.

Album Description

International version of the Las Vegas Band's 2004 album adds 2 bonus tracks 'Glamorious Indie Rock N' Roll' & 'Somebody Told Me' (video). Universal.

Album Details

Includes Two Bonus Tracks "Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll" and the Video of "Somebody Told Me"

Customer Reviews:

A Lovely Journey.......2007-06-02

I have to admit, when I first heard "Mr. Brightside" back in 2004 I wrote these guys off as new wave copycats devoid of their own creative force. Boy was I EVER wrong!!! Fast forward 3 years later. After hearing "Read My Mind" from their "Sam's Town" album and instantly falling in love with it, I went back, gave this album a fair listen from top to bottom and I was blown away. Sure, the influence of 80's new wave with it's blasting bass lines and sonic-filled synthesizers are there, but they've pulled off in such a way that makes this offering fresh without giving the listener a nostalgia hangover. The playing by the band is tight, groovy, and as catchy as an STD in Africa (okay, bad analogy but you get my drift). Brandon Flowers' voice is awesome in the weirdest way. It's pitchy, squeamish and loud at times, but somehow you fall in love with it. Overall, I believe that this album should be considered a modern day classic. Rock on Killers!

Loveeee me some killlers.......2007-05-31

I will admit that i do like Sams Town better.But none the less this album is still absolutey fabolous.The Killers and Coldplay are the only 2 bands albums where i can listen to there albums without skipping songs.This band is just so fantasic in so many differnt ways and for all you people who think that they are just another average band i seriously think that is so false.Other than Franz Ferindad i really dont know any other band like The Killers.And even Franz doesn't really stand up to The Killers.Also these guys are mind blowing live.I've recentyl attended there concert in Atlanta and it was the best show i've been to.I will be a killers fan for a long long time and there cd's will never leave my car cd player lol

Satisfied.......2007-05-26

I'm always a little skepticle to purchase any items online but the product was as mentioned and the turn-around was quick.
Thanks.

Is it me?.......2007-05-17

Or does this band remind any of Material Issue? Loved them; so sad. But I'll be following the Killers. Like this sound. :)

great music, sometimes too random.............2007-05-16

The Killers definitely make great great music. "Somebody Told Me", "Smile Like You Mean It" and "Mr.Brightside" are some of my favorite songs overall.
But some songs I don't like.....
I still think it's worth buying!

Average customer rating:

An Antti Keisala Comment: Tales Of The Mysterious Moon
memorable 'apocrypha'
Andrew a Bird than I'm a bird
I usually don't write reviews..
just as great as eggs....

Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird
Manufacturer: Fat Possum Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
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Sky Blue Sky

ASIN: B000MV9A1C
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

Fiery Crash
Imitosis
Plasticities
Heretics
Armchairs
Darkmatter
Simple X
The Supine
Cataracts
Scythian Empires
Spare-Ohs
Yawn At The Apocalypse

Amazon.com

Strip away the music of an Andrew Bird song, and you're left with brilliant prose ("across the great chasms and schisms and the sudden aneurysms"), vignettes about mentally fending off plane crashes, infiltrating characters like the kings of Macedonia and Lou Dobbs, and titles such as "Yawny at the Apocalyspe." It's hard to believe that, really, his music reigns, but when Bird adds understated acoustic guitars, Wurlitzer and Rhodes, and his own mesmerizing pizzicato violin, his songs take on a progressive mood all their own. The Chicago Bird's tenth album (and his debut for extraordinary Mississippi blues label Fat Possum) is perhaps his most diverse, expansive, and resourceful yet, catering to a half-dozen genres of music while exploring storylines that are naïve ("Dark Matter"), candid ("Fiery Crash"), and blatantly comical ("Armchairs"). Making no palpable effort to crack the conventional with overflowing melodies and love songs, Bird instead latches up the intellect to create tiny packages of literature that make always leave you thinking--and snapping your fingers at the same time. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

An Antti Keisala Comment: Tales Of The Mysterious Moon.......2007-06-02

Some people go by the charts, but I belong to the other group that has found out that for them the most rewarding process in finding new music is indeed in the search itself. Some of the music I know are recommendations from friends, but quite a bit is based on the same kind of research-like relationship I have with cinema, where IMDb helps quite a bit. An example: you start from a Béla Tarr and end up being introduced to a Polish cameraman or his assistant who had worked with David Lynch on Inland Empire. I can't think of a funnier or more rewarding experience of finding new music and taking it actually into our life.

I am new to Andrew Bird. This I'm ashamed to confess, but better late than never; I only stumbled on him at the time of the release of this album a few months back, then had to get The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Weather Systems and his work with the Bowl of Fire. I came to him pretty straight through the usual companions, Sufjan Stevens and Jeffrey Foucault, and I don't know how I've managed so far without him: he's a part of the new wave of post-indie rock channeled through self-conscious resurgence of American folk music culture. But that's only part of where he's rooted: there's some of The Arcade Fire and some Jeff Buckley, and yet transcending comparison and forming a recognizable entity on his own.

Bird is a great musician and the live recordings, the three Fingerlings, should give some weight to this argument about his sense of using the instruments; he's like the young Warren Ellis of violin. He's also absolutely hilarious; his humour is witty and ironic, and his lyrics and singing completely complement the mood the song sets musically. The album opener "Fiery Crash" opens like a trashy garage rock song and evolves to an immesurably sophisticated pop song, almost echoing a Belle And Sebastian composition; but this is pop music that isn't pop music; it has twists and turns that continuously shape the direction the song and album are going to. Every time my mind grasps a hook and settles onto it for continuity, Bird changes the direction. I've scarcely had so much fun whilst listening.

A gem that's special. Have fun.

With best regards,
AK

memorable 'apocrypha'.......2007-05-21

After seeing Andrew Bird live playing this new material I've really grown to appreciate this new album. He is taking his music in a new direction, and I for one like it a lot. My advice: buy the album, see him live, experience all the wonderful colors and lyrics that he has to offer.

Andrew a Bird than I'm a bird.......2007-05-16

Sorry I don't have time for a well thought out review, but if you've ever dug anything by Andrew Bird, this is a sure thing.

I usually don't write reviews.........2007-05-16

but I hate seeing this album get 4 stars because one prick decides to write a book on how bad it is instead of just saying he has terrible taste in music.

Anyway, its an amazing album. The highs aren't as high as Eggs, but its so consistent that it doesn't really bother me. If its an introduction to Bird you want, I'd recommend his previous album, but this is just as good.

just as great as eggs...........2007-05-06

This album is at least as much of a masterpiece as The Mysterious Production Of Eggs... anyone who doesn't think so is not looking hard enough. Eggs had a couple tracks that I could take or leave, but Armchair Apocrypha is entirely amazing. There is not a throwaway track on the album. Andrew Bird is an incredible intrumentalist, lyricist and performer - proof is in the new album. Fantastic.

Average customer rating:

A somewhat unsatisfying transformation
Setting the record straight!
Better than others will lead you to believe.
In all fairness this is a solid effort from Sam
Everything I Have Someday Will Fall Apart And Fade Away.

The Sun And The Moon
The Bravery
Manufacturer: Island
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Bravery
Yours Truly Angry Mob [Deluxe Edition CD/DVD Combo]

ASIN: B000P6RJ30
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

Intro
Believe
This Is Not The End
Every Word Is A Knife In My Ear
Bad Sun
Time Won't Let Me Go
Tragedy Bound
Fistful of Sand
Angelina
Split Me Wide Open
Above And Below
The Ocean

Amazon.com

Sam Endicott will probably never be taken seriously. Not after fronting a band called Skabba the Hut. Not after switching ridiculous dreadlocks for an even more ridiculous faux-hawk. And certainly not after taking a feud with the Killers' Brandon Flowers seriously. It's too bad because Endicott's band the Bravery has made a second album that is worth taking seriously. On The Sun and the Moon, the New York five-piece trades in the faux British accents and Duran Duran synthesizer flares of its self-titled 2005 debut for something a little more real. Bursting to life with sweeping, opulently textured songs like "This Is Not the End" and "Time Won't Let Me Go," it's a warmer and statelier set that seems somehow more dignified. Give or take a few stray lyrics, it could easily pass for the work of a band that has unexpectedly stumbled on credibility. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

A somewhat unsatisfying transformation.......2007-07-11

With The Bravery's debut album being a very admirable part of the regrettably brief new wave resurgence movement in music alongside such similar artists as The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, and Editors, I hoped that their second release would sound fairly similar to their self-titled release, which is one of my all-time favorite albums. I'm all for bands going in new directions, but unfortunately The Bravery seems to have moved in a direction that is more or less a bland alternative style, and comes short of the appeal of their prior upbeat 80's-ish style. Only two or three tracks maintain the style of the self-titled debut, and conveniently they are some of the album's better songs. I liked approximately six tracks including the intro; among them are "Believe", "This Is Not the End", "Tragedy Bound", and "The Ocean". I did not intensely enjoy too many of my favorites on this album however, unlike I have enjoyed past songs "Rites of Spring", "An Honest Mistake", and "Tyrant". Basically the band sounds like a blend of newer Arctic Monkeys with newer Kaiser Chiefs, except with an electronic touch on occasion. Although I am a fan of both those bands, I dislike The Bravery's take on the style used on The Sun and the Moon, and really was fairly unimpressed with the lyrics as well. Still, the album has a fair amount of good melodies on it, and while I didn't enjoy enough of them to justify a purchase, I'd still give this CD three stars since it was if nothing else a mildly decent effort.

Setting the record straight!.......2007-07-03

I almost didn't buy this CD because of the reviews here on Amazon. What a mistake that would have been!!! This one is very similar to the first one, but even more interesting because it is more varied. I LOVED their debut album - it's one of the only CDs I have (out of hundreds!) that I can listen to over and over without getting sick of it. The Sun and the Moon has the same infectious beats, but isn't QUITE as peppy as the first one with respect to the lyrics. Its depth makes it very interesting to listen to, and I have a feeling I'll like it even more as I listen to it again and again. If you're on the fence about this one, give it a chance!!!

Better than others will lead you to believe........2007-06-22

Most of my favorite bands that have put out new albums in the last year or so seem to have changed their sound for the worst ie Linkin Park, Incubus, Evanescence, 311 etc. So when I read the reviews on here about the Bravery changing their sound as well I figured as much and was apprehensive to buy the new cd. However, the change is slight and still sounds like The Bravery. There are still several songs with the electronica sound and those that aren't make up for it with clever lyrics and a distinct Bravery-esk sound. If you enjoyed their first cd, this one is a must buy.

In all fairness this is a solid effort from Sam.......2007-06-21

The 1st album was a foray into the current trend of what was happening at the time ala The Strokes. This new effort shows a more mature effort on the part of Sam. It's a good follow up to the debut and shows they are not a one trick pony. Does it falter from being a New Wave album this time? Sure but is it really THAT much of a deviation from the 1st album in regard to the 1st album? No. If anything it's better. Lyrically it's a 1000 times better then the 1st album. Melody wise I think the riffs are more precise and focused. The vocals have also been richly produced by Brendan. All in all this is a solid follow up to the debut. Good show.

Everything I Have Someday Will Fall Apart And Fade Away........2007-06-16

I disagree with other reviewers here--"The Sun And The Moon" is very much a continuation of The Bravery's first album. Sure, it has less synth, but it still retains that new wave/punk vibe of the late 1970's/early 1980's. Check out the Clash-like "London Calling" riff on "This Is Not The End".

That said, "The Sun And The Moon" is about the same as their last album. It has 7 good songs and some filler. In this case, "Believe", "This Is Not The End", "Every Word Is A Knife In My Ear", "Bad Sun", "Time Won't Let Me Go" and "Tragedy Bound" are the solid tracks whilst the five tracks that end the album are repetitious. I don't mind though, because I'd buy a third album from this band because they continue to show potential. I don't think they've figured out how to make every song count yet, but lyrically, "The Sun And The Moon" is more interesting than their debut. Take the lyrics on "Believe", "Time Won't Let Me Go" and "Tragedy Bound". I like the doom and gloom, the mild nihilism, the gray outlook--that's what made earlier punk and new wave stand apart from the sappy top 40.

I'd also recommend The Killers, Keane, Interpol, The Postal Service, Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor for other newer, similar sounding artists. If you want a history lesson, The Clash, Duran Duran, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Cars, Blondie, U2, Simple Minds, Thompson Twins, Eurythmics, Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, OMD, Kraftwerk, The Psychedelic Furs, Roxy Music should broaden your mind (and ears).

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