Underground Fg [Import]

Underground Fg [Import]

Track Listings

1. Your Body - Tom Novy

2. 3AM

3. Freemind - DJ T.

4. Broken Dream [Edit]

5. Fantasy World [Original Mix] - Didier Sinclair

6. Bar a Thym - Kerri Chandler

7. Mandarine Girl - Booka Shade

8. This Is Not Correct [Trash Deluxe NY90 Mix Floor] - Charles Schillings

9. My Love Is Systematic - Marc Romboy

10. Alpha [Acid Mix]

11. Louder Than a Bomb - Tiga

12. Infatuation [F*** Me I'm Famous Remix]

13. Shy Boy

14. Wir Sind Nicht Romantiques - Sex in Dallas

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
A 100% electro-house compilation! It includes the most successful dance floor hits from major indies and the most underground electro labels! Artists include Freaks, Tiga, Philippe B, Riton, Torre, DJ T, Whitey, The Electric Ecstasy Club, Da Fresh and more. Pschent. 2005.

Tracks:

Someone To Love
'92 Subaru
Yolanda Hayes
Traffic And Weather
Fire In The Canyon
This Better Be Good
Revolving Dora
Michael And Heather At The Baggage Claim
Strapped For Cash
I-95
Hotel Majestic
Planet Of Weed
New Routine
Seatbacks And Traytables

Amazon.com

Punctuated by 2005's sprawling compilation of B-sides and outtakes (Out-of-State Plates), a nearly four-year interval between fresh recordings has done nothing to tarnish Fountain of Wayne's pop-drenched songwriting tandem of Chris Collingswood and Adam Schlesinger. This 14-song bash is a late-'60s/early-'70s time warp that exploits every facet of the pop action plan (chiming guitars, infectious choruses, sinful harmonies) and begs for radio play. As usual, the band never takes itself too seriously, crafting melodies around a lively, vigorous cast of characters that practically come to life. There's a DMV attendant who can't shake our attention (the bouncy, piano-boosted "Yolanda Hayes"), an airport-stranded couple waiting impatiently for lost luggage (the folksy "Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim"), and ex-lovers who blame it on the highway ("Fire in the Canyon," which explores the radio country-rock of the Eagles and America). They sing of an old-model Japanese car to get the girl ("'92 Subaru") and Renee seeing you "at the Gap in a baseball cap" ("This Better Be Good"), and any way they shake it, even after a too-long interruption, Collingswood and Schlesinger rarely miss the mark. --Scott Holter

Album Description

A new, indelible cast of characters is inducted into the FOW pantheon of stars on Traffic And Weather: Yolanda Hayes, a sullen object of affection behind the glass at the Department Of Motor Vehicles; Seth Shapiro and Beth Mackenzie, two lonely, hardworking New Yorkers who cross paths - sort of - in "Someone To Love" (which features Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur singing backing vocals); the exhausted couple in "Michael and Heather At The Baggage Claim", dragging themselves onto an airport shuttle bus after a long trip; newscasters in heat in the album's title track, and many others. Hapless protagonists like the suspicious boyfriend of "This Better Be Good" and the hit-man target in "Strapped For Cash" are also classic Fountains Of Wayne narrators.

Travel and transportation continue to figure heavily in the on-the-go world of FOW. The guy who buys himself a "'92 Subaru" is convinced that the right pimped-out ride is all he needs to get the girl; in the Beatlesque "i-95" a driver explores a rest area gift shop late at night, on the way to visit his loved one; we hear of "an eerie kind of sadness on the highway today" in the Gram Parsons-tinged "Fire In The Canyon" (featuring backing vocals by the Candy Butchers' Mike Viola, who was the voice of "That Thing You Do"). The misery of sitting in coach on a delayed flight is examined in the wistful waltz "Seatbacks And Traytables" (which contains a guest appearance on guitar by James Iha). And in the semi-epic "New Routine", we follow a series of characters who each randomly pick a new place to live, only to discover someone else there who can't wait to move away.

Customer Reviews:

Fun fun fun!.......2007-06-08

My only prior experience with FOW was Welcome Interstate Managers which I love. Listening to this band never fails to bring a smile to my face. No, they are not very "deep," but they are clever and I always feel like I am in on the joke. Their rhymes put me in mind of Lily Allen. The song that runs through my head these days is Traffic and Weather, but I love Strapped for Cash, and the part that makes me go Awww! is in Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim where Michael asks Heather "Have you had enough?" and Heather says "Michael, you know it's you I love." And how about the places people end up in New Routine? Too funny. This is pop at its finest - catchy, funny and makes you feel smart.

Another 5 Star for Wayne.......2007-06-08

Since they started releasing albums, Fountains of Wayne have yet to disappoint me. Not every song on every album is gold, but they always pack their CDs with a bunch of great songs and a few misses.

If you look up and down the reviews you will see a lot 5's from people who were probably fans since they first heard the band. It all comes down to taste, and this band seems to divide folks between love and hate.

If you didn't like them before, you probably won't like them now, but if you enjoyed Interstate Managers and other releases then you will appreciate this.

Traffic and Weather.......2007-06-07

Google tells me that as many as 13 Fountains of Wayne album or concert reviews contain the word "sugar" or one of its variants. That critical short-circuiting once struck me as odd--bands with a higher sugar content didn't get this characterization nearly as much--but after hearing Traffic and Weather, I finally understand. More so than on previous offerings, these songs give the listener an initial burst of flavor that quickly subsides in favor of shameful feelings and an upset stomach.

Power-pop as a genre has become a guilty pleasure ever since Weezer fell out of favor, but Fountains of Wayne have remained true to their uncool sound from the beginning of their decade-long career. Grungy guitars, a crisp 4/4 beat, '50s-style piano, underdog stories--these are a few of Fountains of Wayne's favorite things. They're the sort of band that cites Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly as influences (though they sound more like an updated version of Fastball than anything else) and believes that all anyone needs is love and a really big chorus. While so many current pop outfits worth their salt--Spoon, The Shins, Broken Social Scene, even Fall Out Boy--aim to challenge us somehow, Fountains of Wayne keep things simple. Way, way too simple.

It's all moderately catchy, too, but it never once goes beyond that. During my first pass through the Americana-lite "92 Subaru," I found myself tapping my feet to the punchy guitars and driving beat. The second pass was less satisfying, like birthday cake I didn't feel like eating, since one go was all it took to tell me everything I needed to know about "92 Subaru," lock, stock, and barrel. The third pass didn't even last two minutes. Traffic and Weather is assembly-line music, happy and jovial enough but unmistakably constructed in a factory or a lab rather than in the Williams College dorm where they all met. It screams "Ready for the radio!" like the worst emo and party rap, and while Fountains of Wayne would probably like us to pay attention, every song kept hitting the part of my brain that only half-listens and naturally tunes things out.

There's nothing wrong with the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus rubric to which they adhere so closely, and it made them an ideal pick to write the hit rock `n roll number from 1964/1996, "That Thing You Do" (from the movie of the same name, but you knew that). Yet four albums and a B-side compilation later and they're still serving up much of the same, so you'll excuse me for thinking it's getting a bit long in the tooth. Once in a while they'll stretch themselves, as on the polished country-rock of "Fire in the Canyon" or the Prince-Yes soundclash "Strapped for Cash," and it sort of works, though the effort is appreciated more than the results. A duck that dresses up like Shirley Temple is still a duck, but power-pop is an incredibly confining genre, so I suppose we'll take what we can get.

Worse, singer Adam Schlessinger is a mediocre storyteller with too many stories to tell. "Seth Shapiro got his law degree," the album begins, "he moved to Brooklyn from Schenectady, '93/Got some clients in the food industry." So? The road-beaten hopefuls in these songs get flattened by Schlessinger's propensity for dumb little details (do we need to know that one woman "takes the contacts out of her eyes" before bed?) without his humanizing them in a way that matters to us. The album reaches a lyrical nadir during "Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim," which revolves around some lost "soft and brown" luggage. Lurking somewhere in there is a suburban yarn about people who love each other in the face of everyday hardships, but it requires too much guesswork. Throughout Traffic and Weather, we're left to plow through empty narratives whose meaning and raison d'être may be clear to the songwriters, but leave us scratching our heads at the starting line.

So in the end, we've got a standard-issue power-pop album that will give Fountains of Wayne devotees their next fix but will keep everyone else at arm's length, at least after the initial sugar high dissipates. Most aspects of Traffic and Weather are difficult to flat-out dislike, and the welding of rock and electronic instrumentation in many of these songs is actually pretty impressive. But if Fountains of Wayne make it all sound easy, it also seems like they didn't try very hard, especially for their first full-length effort in four years (roughly 120 music years). And if there's anything this album is not, it's a "grower," with the potential to bore, annoy, even anger those who find themselves on the wrong side of it for too long. Traffic and Weather, indeed.

Eclectic, surreal, polished, and infectious! :).......2007-06-04

Fountains of Wayne's newest album is a catchy, up-tempo collection of memorable songs with fresh, often surprising lyrics. In this day of homogenized, unimaginative lyrics and chord progressions, "Traffic and Weather" couldn't be more different. Songs like "Someone to Love", "Yolanda Hayes", "Traffic and Weather", and "Michael And Heather At The Baggage Claim" are remarkably clever and infectious. You'll find any one of them stuck in your head for hours on end. One of my favorite parts of their writing is the *specificity* of their lyrics. Unlike most pop songs today (which can do little more than shuffle around the three or four "good rhymes" in a hackneyed refrain about "love"), FoW's writing is full of pop culture references and complete character names and personalities. They're storytellers, these guys!

Another reviewer mentioned influences like The Eagles and America. I'd say you can also hear echoes of Weezer (in "Someone to Love"), Robyn Hitchcock (in "Revolving Dora"), The Foo Fighters (in "'92 Subaru"), and Crowded House (listen especially to the title track and see if it doesn't make you think of Neil Finn). Fans of "Traffic and Weather" who are unfamiliar with any of these acts should check them out right away.

Altogether, it's a great record for fans of "Welcome Interstate Managers" (my only previous experience with the band). I'm not acquainted with any of FoW's earlier albums, but on the strength of their two most recent, I'll definitely be looking for more.

GREAT album.......2007-05-30

Fountains of Wayne is excellent, and this CD is just plain great. Yolanda Hayes is an excellent song about people that you see and wonder, "What are you like outside of the context where I see you"? I-95 is also a really fun song for Northeasterners.

Average customer rating:

WOW He is in my top 5 (4.5)
Believe the hype
Best Hip hop album in YEARS
solid hip hop, pharoahe monch spits fire
.

Desire
Pharoahe Monch
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000JJRIOI
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Intro
Free
Desire
Push
Welcome To the Terrordome
What It Is
When the Gun Draws
Let's Go
Body Baby
Bar Tap
Hold On
So Good
Trilogy

Customer Reviews:

WOW He is in my top 5 (4.5).......2007-07-13

This album is great! If your not into the thoughtful rap then dont buy this CD. I feel like this CD was something different. There is no bull on this CD its str8 hip hop and thats something i havent heard in a WHILE!!! The lyrics, singing, and hooks are all great! That's true but some of the production is a little on the "I dont know" side. Over all its a great album!

Believe the hype.......2007-07-09

I have written this review on the uk pages too because some people are plainly ignorant and wouldnt know hiphop if it smacked them in the eardrums. Unfortunatly hiphop has turned into total garbage, its unoriginal, souless, untruthful, bland, its rnb (rap and BullSssss) bar a few artists that still knock out LPs with depth (the roots for example) and this LP has depth.

Whilst Pharoahe produced the goods with Organized Konfusion, i have always thought that his solo work has somehow not come up to scratch BUT BUT, and this comes from someone who listens to ALOT of genres of music, and is a serious-or was a serious hiphop fan (till it all went identikit and unoriginal):

THIS WILL BE A TOP 5 LP OF THE YEAR

This is a funky, brass laden, jazzed up, lyrically strong LP almost on a K-0S vibe. Its Pharoahes best work to date...Welcome to the Terrordome, Trilogy, Body Baby, Desire.... in fact every track is a gem, a sheer delight to listen to.

IGNORE the ignorant rambling of the fools who say its got too many rnb hooks-there not theyre soulful hooks and used with control and thought, these fools probably like P-Diddy, THIS is how hiphop should sound, this is hiphop of the days of old, this is why i loved hiphop... beats, rhymes and life (not to mention skills). NOT bland unoriginal beats similar to another artist, "bling", rented cars, Boring blags and fake gangsta posturing!

DjRhimes

Best Hip hop album in YEARS.......2007-07-05

Rap has gotten very tired in the last 5 years (at least). Pharoahe Monch just woke it up.

solid hip hop, pharoahe monch spits fire.......2007-07-04

monch stepped up the game in a huge way with trilogy! that is definately the stand out song on here. i absolutely love that horn section in the middle!!

this is a good record, but i don't think it's quite as good as everyone else is saying. as sick as his rhymes are (and they're infectious like HIV) there are definately a few beats that leave something to be desired. could've used a bit more head nodding is all i'm sayin'.

........2007-07-01

Devastating and claustrophobic view of modern madness, far more innovative than any cardboard box labeled "underground hip hop".

Average customer rating:

Give Mike a Break!
Only one disc?
Worth a purchase even for the hardcore fans...
Re-recorded hits
Buy new song on iTunes and save money

Greatest Hits
Social Distortion
Manufacturer: Time Bomb
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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New Maps of Hell
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ASIN: B000QFCCUA
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Another State Of Mind
Mommy's Little Monster
Prison Bound
Story Of My Life
Ball And Chain
Ring Of Fire
Bad Luck
When The Angels Sing
I Was Wrong
Reach For The Sky
Far Behind

Customer Reviews:

Give Mike a Break!.......2007-07-09

Of course if you are a longtime fan you might now want this, as it is largely a reprise. (Thus the title: Greatest Hits.) I, as a fanatic, am looking forward to checking out some of the re-recorded songs and love "Far Behind." Obviously if you are looking for new material, this isn't the place to go! Come on, guys. It looks like a pretty competent greatest hits collection to me. If you want B-tracks, etc., buy the damn original albums like the rest of us! Mike--you are one of the greatest songwriters of our era, and I can't wait for the new album!

Only one disc?.......2007-07-02

Considering that I have been enamored with Social Distortion since I was eight years old, my review may be on the biased side, but the major quips I have with this collection are that A. It's only one disc: Granted not every Social Distortion song can be called a hit, they have more than 11 tracks to consider great. B. Not all the old songs are remastered: The two tracks I'm really talking about are 'Another State of Mind' and 'Prison Bound'. If you've been lucky enough to see or hear one of their latest shows, they start off 'Prison Bound' with a beautiful piano melody, which would have been fantastic to hear in a studio form, and 'Another State of Mind' with the new dynamic duo of Ness and Wickersham would have been something for the ages. I am pleased to hear the White Light, White Heat, White Trash songs redone, but they didn't require too much reworking because of the album's sheer perfection on its release eleven years ago.

So for those just getting into Social Distortion, or the people like me who will buy just about anything they do regardless of how it's reviewed, give this a try, but don't spend too much on it or expect monumental difference in songs. Hopefully it won't be another eight years before another album hits the shelves.

Worth a purchase even for the hardcore fans..........2007-07-01

When I first learned that Social Distortion would be releasing a "greatest hits" album, I wasn't too excited about it. Of course, I have all the albums already and I wasn't looking forward to the prospect of paying $14 to get the one new song in an album of repackaged hits. I was also a bit put off by the fact that this album would only contain 11 songs. That is pretty thin for a "greatest hits" album. Still, since I can't get enough of Social Distortion and I'm a shameless completist, I knew I'd end up forking over the cash.

Let's just say that I was surprised when I first listened to this CD. As has been speculated on by Social Distortion fans for some time now, all of the songs from the major label era albums (tracks 4-9) have been given a major facelift.

This is where things get interesting. As of now, the band has not officially commented on this situation and the liner notes are no help either. Some fans are convinced that these tracks are merely remastered. Others think that the original songs have been re-mixed. Still, more think that what's on this CD is demo versions of the Sony era classics. Others think that the songs have been completely re-recorded.

I can't say that I'm an expert on mastering, mixing, or recording, but all I needed to hear was the first 5 seconds of "I Was Wrong" to realize that these songs are basically totally different. To me, the vocals and guitars sound totally different on all of the songs.

Personally, I don't buy the notion that these songs have only been "remastered". I own many remastered albums. I re-bought some of Bad Religions re-mastered releases in 2004. All of those songs sounded nearly identical to their original releases. The only difference in those releases is that they ended up much louder and crisper on the remastered discs. This is not the case with this CD. These songs have been altered and altered alot.

I'm sure some purists will be put off by the fact that the band has done this under the name of a greatest hits cd. Myself, I don't mind it one bit. It was a welcome surprise and actually made it worth me buying this cd. If I want to listen to the originals, I can pop those cd's in any time. This is a nice change of pace.

The new versions of the classic songs are interesting. I really can't call them better or worse than the originals. They are just different. I like both the originals and what's on this cd. Like I said, this is just a nice change of pace. Also, Far Behind is a great song. Classic Social Distortion.

So, I will say that this "greatest hits" album was worth the money in the end. In a perfect world, I would have preferred them to have released a b-sides/unreleased tracks cd. Social Distortion has a huge catalog of rarities that they've never released. That would have been better for the hardcore fans like myself, but I'll take what I can get. Maybe someday I'll get what I'm looking for (Mike Ness if you happen to read this: hint, hint). In the end, this will tide me over until they get around to releasing another new album. I'll just keep crossing my fingers and hoping that doesn't take nearly a decade like the last one.

If you're a hardcore SxDx fan or a newbie just looking to get aquainted with some of Social Distortion's music, you won't be disappointed with this cd.

Re-recorded hits.......2007-06-28

Let me start off by saying Mike Ness (and whoever is in Social Distortion at any given moment) are an awesome band. Period. But, this 'greatest hits' cd is a disappointment. First off, all the Sony-era tracks are not included, instead we get re-recorded ones. Secondly, 11 songs? That's it? Plenty of room to add more hits (re-recorded or not). And thirdly, the liner notes are basically a cut and paste bio. No band credits, no production credits, nothing. Then to make matters worse, iTunes has a download of the old Chuck Berry song MAYBELLENE (which you have to buy the whole album on iTunes to get ) that would ahve easily fit on here. Kind of a shame.

Buy new song on iTunes and save money.......2007-06-28

I love Social Distortion but will not be wasting my money on this "Greatest Hits" collection. I think whoever came up with the albums track listing was unfamiliar with how many hits the band actually had. Maybe the band were more popular here in the Phoenix area (where they were a rock/alternative radio staple) then in other parts of the country. At minimum the track listing should have been doubled to be a greatest hits album. I was really looking forward to buying this cd and was greatly disappointed when I went to purchase it. I am sad to say that this is the first Social D album I won't be buying. Instead I will buy the 1 new single on iTunes and save my money until a real greatest hits collection or better yet a Social Distortion Anthology or Box Set is released.

Average customer rating:

Give Thanks and Praises
I and I Praise the Brains
I never thought I would say this, but H.R.'s vocals are not up to par.
Destroy Babylon
Jah likes it and so do I

Build a Nation
Bad Brains
Manufacturer: Megaforce
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000PTYNJ0
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Give Thanks and Praises
Jah People
Pure Love
Natty Dreadlocks 'Pon the Mountain Top
Build a Nation
Expand Your Soul
Jah Love
Universal Peace
Roll On
Until Kingdom Comes
In The Beginning
Send You No More Flowers
Peace Be Unto Thee

Amazon.com

These African-American Rastafarians didn't just originate DC hardcore in the late 1970s with their incredibly fast and brilliant "Pay to Cum" single; they set the bar impossibly high. That the group is not hugely millionaires-with-jets popular is one of the music industry's travesties. But they've always had as much a penchant for pissing off the shaven headed moshers at their shows (playing lengthy dub songs) as for giving them what they want (supersonic riffage). Much of the album employs the metal-tinged sound the group's been flirting with since they were on SST in the late '80s. A third of the tracks are reggae numbers, and while you're not going to sell off all your Culture LPs after hearing those, they are definitely serviceable. Build a Nation is not as great as the ROIR cassette, but it's the best album they've made in years, and shows the band in awesome form. This is thanks in no small part to the production efforts of the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch. As this is their second best-sounding proper album--the first being 1983's Ric Ocasek-produced Rock for Light--it's clear that the band should work only with their celebrity musician-fans at the helm from now on. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Give Thanks and Praises.......2007-07-12

I can't believe this album. Bad Brains haven't missed a beat, they are the best band ever and this album proves it. Buy this album and listen to it religiously, you will thank me later.

I and I Praise the Brains.......2007-07-06

Bad Brains have always been rather tough to figure out, even as their influence extends across several realms of rock. Their interests in hardcore, reggae, and metal don't always gel into a cohesive overall sound, but on this long-awaited new album they are relentlessly pursuing all of their interests with a nearly flawless new focus. Somehow, Bad Brains make songs of different and seemingly incompatible styles work on the same album. Nobody else could sound even remotely believable jumping from hardcore punk to dub reggae to anthemic metal in successive songs. The band's always complicated lynchpin H.R. sounds rejuvenated and his lyrics and vocals have found a strong (but still as nearly-unhinged as ever) focus around Rastafari. Earl and Darryl jump from style to style flawlessly, and Dr. Know continues his savage mutations of every guitar style known to man. The band's diverse interests are probably combined most evenly in the opener "Give Thanks and Praise." "Jah People Make the World Go Round" is a high-flying slab of metal, and especially punishing hardcore workouts are found in "Expand Your Soul" and "Let There be Angels (Just Like You)." Meanwhile, Bad Brains lay down dub-inflected reggae like the best of the Jamaican masters in "Natty Dreadlocks 'pon the Mountain Top," "Jah Love," and the surprisingly sinuous "Until Kingdom Comes." And finally, the Bad Brains attack climaxes in the sinister and insistent "Universal Peace," the apocalyptic music of which belies the title perfectly. [~doomsdayer520~]

I never thought I would say this, but H.R.'s vocals are not up to par. .......2007-07-04

I am as big of fan of the Bad Brains as you're going to find, going back to the early 80's. In fact, to this day, the best show I have ever seen was the Bad Brains in 1984 in San Francisco. So, when this release came out, I was totally pumped and picked it up the on the release day. Unfortunately, this CD just hasn't clicked for me. As others have said, it's almost as if the band is trying to make one record and HR is trying to do something else. Lyrically, it's what we would expect: Religious undertones and positive messages. On the punk songs, the music is fast, although somewhat sloppy. The production by Adam Yauch is decent, although fairly straightforward and simple. The vocals, however, are 2 or 3 tempos below the music and there are heavy effects on the vocals, including delays up the wazoo, which just get silly. In one way I respect what the band is trying to do, but they just don't seem to mesh with one another.

Destroy Babylon.......2007-07-03

The band is on fire for the hardcore tracks, which definitely recall the ROIR sessions. HR, however, opts out of the rapid-fire delivery of yore and is content to repeat mantras or hang back and let the delay do its thing. It's evident that he's more into the reggae, which to my ears is the best the band has ever issued. Adam Yauch's production lends itself well to the reggae tracks-- filling them out with clavinet, brass, B-3, and other choice funky reggae and dubby spice. The reggae tracks sound so good that I'd almost rather hear the band do a whole album of them next time out (if there is a next time out). While HR sounds good on the smokin' rock tracks, it's obvious that he'd rather slowly and soulfully praise Jah than sing "Pay to Cum."

Jah likes it and so do I.......2007-06-29

This is a fanatastic album from a band who never truly got thier due. They have influenced countless musicians(See 90% of Punk bands) and they have undeniable chemistry. Like Jenifer said "When Earl clicks those sticks, the synergy comes alive!!! So many bands search for a sound that is thiers alone and only a few achieve that goal. Bad Brains should be at the top of the list of those that succeeded. Thier music is thier recipe not trace paper (See 91% of bands out now). When I was listening to "Build a nation" I was amazed. If you play thier debut and than play this record, its like no space of time has passed. It feels vibrant, alive, energetic, and the grooves ebb and flow and throb. Sometimes the music kicks in high gear other times it just chills in waves, crashing and rolling against your lucky ears.

I have the utmost respect for the Bad Brains and I am truly grateful for this latest offering from a group of guys who are without equals. Jah loves them indeed!!!

Average customer rating:

Fun for Kids and their Grown-ups!
My daughter loves it!!!!
my little one loves this DVD!
We both love it
Fun for kids and adults

Here Come the ABCs [CD/DVD Combo]
They Might Be Giants
Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Disney | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Educational | Children's Music | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000BEZPSC
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

Here Come The ABC's
Alphabet Of Nations
E Eats Everything
Flying V
Q U
Gor For G!
Pictures Of Pandas Painting
D & W
Fake - Believe
Can You Find It?
The Vowle Family
Letter / Not A Letter
Alphabet Lost And Found
I C U
Letter DHapes
Who Put The Alphabet In Alphabetical Order
Rolling O
L M N O
C Is For Conifers
Fake Believe (Type B)
D Is For Drums
Z Y X
Goodnight My Friends
Clap Your Hands
Here In Higglytown (Theme To Disney's Higglytown Hero's)
Hovering Sombrero '05
I Never Go To Work

Amazon.com

No stranger to the realm of children's records, They Might Be Giants have seen success with their CD No! and the book-and-CD combo Bed, Bed, Bed. Their latest CD, Here Come the ABCs, offers up 25 alphabetically themed songs. However, as is their charming way, the two Johns (Flansburgh and Linnell), use the letters as merely the connective tissue, allowing them to pursuit intriguing flights of fancy that consider everything from the relative power of letters and sounds to animal hijinks. Just as they've always done, there are wistful ballads and high octane rockers. TMBG have always been a family-friendly band, and this disc works just fine for adult fans, who can rightfully consider this simply their newest release. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Fun for Kids and their Grown-ups!.......2007-06-10

I bought "Here Come the ABC's" for a friend for her birthday after she watched it with my son. She adores the set. They Might Be Giants performs wonderfully catchy songs that are both easy to remember and challenge thinking. My son, who is 2, enjoys the puppets and the vivid and sometimes strange animation sequences. Favorite songs in our household include "Alphabet of Nations" (me), "E Eats Everything" (my son), and "Alphabet Lost and Found" (my husband). This set is one that I would recommend to anyone who interacts with young children learning to play with language. It grabs their attention, and they don't mind at all.

My daughter loves it!!!!.......2007-05-30

At least once a day my daughter asks to watch the video. I don't mind because the songs are fun, origional, and educational. I find myself singing along!

my little one loves this DVD!.......2007-05-04

My son has been watching this DVD since he was about 9 months old. He is over a year old now and loves it even more than when we first got it. Its also the only dvd he has that i don't get sick of watching over and over. I can't wait for here come the 123's

We both love it.......2007-04-18

FYI, it is a very loud DVD so do not have the volume up too loud. My 2-year-old and I both love this DVD. He sings the songs and is learning to recognize his ABC's. What a fun way to learn. We use the CD in the car and when he is in the bathtub with his floating letters. He is learning to go to the "QU" letters when he hears them in the song. Great Job!

Fun for kids and adults.......2007-04-15

I purchased this CD/DVD combo based on a recommendation in Family Fun Magazine. I have not been disappointed! It is full of catchy songs that my whole family enjoys. This is not another mind-numbing kids CD. Both my husband and I find ourselves singing along with our sons when we play this CD in the van. Well done!

Average customer rating:

mixed
I like it more with each listening
A lot of filler songs
product: great but postage: lengthy
How Great is St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley
Manufacturer: Downtown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Information
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ASIN: B000F3AAUW
Release Date: 2006-05-09

Tracks:

Go-Go Gadeget Gospel
Crazy
St. Elsewhere
Gone Daddy Gone
Smiley Faces
The Boogie Monster
Feng Shui
Just a Thought
Transformer
Who Cares?
On-Line
Necromancing
Storm Coming
The Last Time

Amazon.com

In 2006, Danger Mouse is King Midas of the music world. He has an uncanny knack for creating jagged, dense, frenzied beats and odd, eerie, vivid soundscapes that never compromise the music's natural flow. Meanwhile, rapper and singer Cee-Lo, a veteran of Atlanta's Dirty South scene, has never been one to be constrained by hip-hop conventions, and is a willing partner in adventure. The result is an intrepid psychedelic blend of pop, hip-hop, soul, and rock that consistently challenges and delights. It's no wonder that "Crazy," with its modest riff, irresistible hook, and disarming opening line ("I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind") became a worldwide Internet sensation a full six months before the official release of St. Elsewhere. But that relatively simple soul-pop gem is the tamest track on this wide-ranging, often dark and introspective collaboration. (In fact, the duo considers Gnarls Barkley to be a wholly new creation, as opposed to a collaboration of existing artists.) "Everybody is somebody, but nobody wants to be themselves," Cee-Lo croons on "Who Cares?" He and Danger Mouse try very hard not to be their old selves as they creatively and confidently break down boundaries, but the brilliant cores of their musical personae--Cee-Lo's eccentric spiritual soul man and Danger's bold sonic explorer--remain. --Marc Greilsamer

Album Description

Gnarls Barkley is the highly anticipated collaboration from Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo. Danger Mouse is one of the most important artist/producers in music today. "Demon Days" sold over 5 million worldwide and Dangerdoom's "The Mouse And The Mask" sold over 100,000 units. Accolades include GQ's "Men Of The Year" honor; Spin's "Eccentric Genius Of The Year", NME's "Hottest Hip-Hop Producer In The World", Entertainment Weekly's "Album Of The Year", Grammy nomination for Producer Of The Year, and more. Cee-Lo is a Grammy-nominated, founding member of Goodie Mob. He wrote and produced the Pussycat Dolls #1 smash hit "Don't Cha", and his two solo albums for Arista scanned over 500,000 units combined. He also wrote hit singles for Ludacris, Common, P Diddy, Trick Daddy, and others. "Goodie Mob" has sold over two million albums worldwide. "Crazy", from this release, is all over UK's Radio One.

Customer Reviews:

mixed.......2007-07-12

rap, reggae, gospel...quite a variety of sounds, but no unique "sound" to define the group's style. Not very impressed.

I like it more with each listening.......2007-07-09

The first time I heard the album, I listened to it all the way through. I thought it was just OK. "Who Cares" was sort of clever. And how on earth did "Crazy" get to be such a hit? But I listened to it again a week later, and I found a little more to like. A few days later I wanted to hear those two songs again. Now I can't stop listening to them, and, yes, I agree that "Crazy" is amazing, and I love it. The songs on this album have richly layered beats that you find something new in each time you hear them. Cool, baby!

A lot of filler songs.......2007-07-03

I would give it three stars, if I didn't like at least one of the songs on the CD so much.

product: great but postage: lengthy.......2007-06-27

gday
im an australian who enjoys purchasing their music via the internet either via ebay, amazon, etc. It is usually cheaper to purchase music material over the internet but i understand that given that this requires time for postage i am usually patient. this is the second time i have purchased an music album from the US but the last time i ordered the item from ebay and i recieved the item within 10 days.
Im not sure what efforts can be made but to wait 20 days for a CD from the US seems excessive when other items are able to be sent in a quicker span of time between payment/purchase in the US and receipt in Australia.
This is my only complaint. I appreciate the range of products but surely postage could be arranged so it arrives within a quicker time-frame than 20 days.
Thank you

How Great is St. Elsewhere.......2007-06-02

Here is my 2 cents on this album. Last summer when I heard the single "Crazy" I INSTANTLY took notice...I was stunned how great it was.
And this was playing on commercial pop radio? I gave the record a chance anyway, and man let me tell you...after the 2nd listen to this disc I was HOOKED! This record is interesting, soulful, edgy, thoughtful, original, and fantastic. A musical masterpiece. I can't wait to hear what Cee-Lo and Dangermouse do next.
Highly recomended.

Average customer rating:

GOOD MUSIC
R.E.M. Rocks
Good Collection Of Hits
R.E.M? G.O.O.D.
Good, but....

In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
R.E.M.
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002

ASIN: B0000CC6QF
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

Man on the Moon
The Great Beyond [from Man on the Moon soundtrack]
Bad Day [previously unreleased]
What's The Frequency, Kenneth?
All The Way To Reno (You're Gonna Be A Star)
Losing My Religion
E-Bow The Letter
Orange Crush
Imitation of Life
Daysleeper
Animal [previously unreleased]
The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
Stand
Electrolite
All The Right Friends [from Vanilla Sky soundtrack]
Everybody Hurts
At My Most Beautiful
Nightswimming

Amazon.com

How do you condense 15 years of music down to 76 minutes? In the case of this survey of the second phase of R.E.M.'s career, the answer is: Exceptionally well. The dangling carrot for diehards is two new songs; the rapid fire "Bad Day" hurtles along like the kissing cousin of "It's the End of the World as We Know It," while "Animal" is anchored by a majestic drone reminiscent of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." In a surprising, but gratifying move, the rest of the program shortchanges the band's breakthrough, Out of Time (no "Shiny Happy People"), to better accommodate movie soundtrack contributions, and spotlight gems from the less commercial, post-Bill Berry albums Reveal and Up; with its baroque piano and multi-tracked vocal harmonies, the Beach Boys homage "At My Most Beautiful" is particularly gorgeous, while the burbling keyboards and slightly dazed singing of "All the Way to Reno" will appeal to Flaming Lips fans. --Kurt B. Reighley

Customer Reviews:

GOOD MUSIC.......2007-05-16

REM have a unique sound and this CD is one of their best.

R.E.M. Rocks.......2007-05-13

I love this CD. Great song selection and a true joy to own.

Good Collection Of Hits.......2007-05-12

This is good collection of songs from R.E.M. from their Warner Brothers years but there are some hits missing. The obvious hits are there, like Man On the Moon, What's The Frequency, Kenneth?, Everyboby Hurts, etc. This collection is of their mainstream hits while there is another collection of hits "The IRS Years", which are songs from before 1988, which were hits in nerdy college radio stations.

R.E.M? G.O.O.D........2007-03-30

Enjoyed this very much. Will be checking out other cd''s of R.E.M.

Good, but...........2007-01-25

It's missing key elements. Like Drive and Low, not to mention Radio Song and Shiny Happy People. While the inclusion of soundtrack titles is nice, I listen and wish for more.

Average customer rating:

a deluxe edition done right
The best album of 1988...and 2007!
HOLD UP. Daydream Nation Got Better?
Deluxe Treatment of Sonic Youth's Breakthrough Album

Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Youth
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Icky Thump
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Era Vulgaris

ASIN: B000Q3648S
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

Teen Age Riot
Silver Rocket
The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Eric's Trip
Total Trash
Hey Joni
Providence
Candle
Rain King
KissabilityTrilogy:
a) The Wonder
b) Hyperstation
z) Eliminator Jr.
Eric's Trip (home demo- bonus demo track)

Tracks:

The Sprawl
'Cross the Breeze
Hey Joni
Silver Rocket
Kissability
Eric's Trip
Candle
The Wonder
Hyperstation
Eliminator Jr.
Providence
Teen Age Riot
Rain King
Totally Trashed
Total Trash
Within You, Without You (Cover Song)
Touch Me, I'm Sick (Cover Song)
Computer Age (Cover Song)
Electricity (Cover Song)

Album Description

"100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s" (Rolling Stone, 1989)
"100 Alternative Albums" (Spin, 1995)
"Top 99 Albums of `85 to `95" (Alternative Press, 1995)
"The Essential 200 Rock Records" (Rolling Stone, 1997)
"Top 100 Albums of All Time" (New Musical Express, 2003)

Customer Reviews:

a deluxe edition done right.......2007-07-13

Disc One is the reissued definitive recording of the 1980's.
Disc Two is chocked full of noisey Daydream Nation goodness performed live.

So often reissues are a ripoff. This set delivers the goods and then some.

The best album of 1988...and 2007!.......2007-06-22

The fifth album (more or less) by The Best Rock Band of the Last 25 Years should need no introduction, and indeed if you're interested in buying the deluxe edition of Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation," I can presume you're probably already a fan. You already know how the album summed up and then changed the course of the underground rock movement of the 80s, how the ample attention of critics, then music fans, then record labels set the stage for the alternative rock revolution of the 90s--oh well whatever Nevermind and yada yada yada. If, however, you haven't already drank the Kool-Aid (and you should!), some brief notes about the "basic" edition...

"Daydream Nation" is still hailed as Sonic Youth's grand masterpiece, and yeah, it still holds up as such (confession: it's my second favorite SY album after Sister), even if it doesn't seem as radical today as it did when it came out. Sure, there are swirling whirlwinds of oddly-(de)tuned guitars and feedback fading in, out and sometimes interrupting the songs, but make no mistake, there are definitely songs to be found here. The openening "Teenage Riot" is, for its galloping drums and lyrical cheekiness (imagining Dinosaur Jr's J. Mascis as president, or so Thurston Moore has said) basically a melodic and even hummable pop song. Even a more "experimental" song like "The Sprawl" has a certain immediacy, with bassist/vocalist Kim Gordon saying straigt out "does f**k you sound simple enough?" Heck, the closing "trilogy" of the album has all the power and intensity familiar to any classic rock fans, only with a live-wire buzzing and skree that comes from playing in one of Glenn Branca's guitar-army ensembles. Really, it's not so radical after all (for a taste of something far weirder, check out Twin Infinitives, which was released around the same time as DN by Royal Trux, a New York band friendly with Sonic Youth).

For us fan(atic)s, the real treat here is the second disc of this set, which features live versions of all the album's tracks, culled from the band's original tour supporting the album, albeit in a different order (SY has recently announced it will play "Daydream Nation" as part of a special show, presumably in the album's running order). These tracks, mostly of excellent sound quality, are shorter but sharper than the album versions. "Total Trash" is done as an instrumental (I could be wrong, but they seem to be quoting the early Pink Floyd's instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive" in one spot), preceded by another instrumental, "Totally Trashed," which toys around with electronics a bit. Mostly these are no-holds-barred performances that clearly draw on the band's love of hardcore punk and NYC No Wave (DNA, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks). I don't know how a non-fan would react, but for yours truly it's pure Sonic bliss.

Another great bonus on disc two is the inclusion of four cover songs, three of which were taken from now hard-to-find tribute albums (this was before that concept got beaten to death): "Within You Without You" (The Beatles), "Computer Age" (Neil Young) and "Electricity" (Captain Beefheart). There's also a version of Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick," with demented vocals from Kim, taken from a split 7" (as in vinyl, kids) that had the other band doing SY's "Halloween" on the reverse (alas, that version isn't included here). The Beatles cover in particular shows how the band could translate their sound into completely different realms--the original, of course, was played mostly with sitars.

Add all that to a package that includes ultra-Kool, and rare, pictures and an extensive essay by longtime SY friend Byron Coley, and you have a true Sonic feast. Like they did with the Goo Deluxe Edition and the Dirty (Deluxe Edition), Sonic Youth rewards fans and newcomers alike almost to the bursting point. Now let's hope they burn down the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame before too long...

HOLD UP. Daydream Nation Got Better?.......2007-06-13

Q: Sonic Youth is amazingness wrapped in pita bread?
A: Yes.

Q: Daydream Nation defined an entire generation of amazingness?
A: Yes.

Q: The new re-issue of Daydream Nation preserves the original amazingness while adding just enough ancillary material to make it that much more perfect?
A: Yes.

Q; Everyone should buy this new disc, regardless of whether they like Sonic Youth or not?
A: Yes.

Sweet.

Deluxe Treatment of Sonic Youth's Breakthrough Album.......2007-06-12

Daydream Nation is clearly Sonic Youth's breakthrough album. A two lp set that focused all their previous ideas into one cohesive and brilliant album. The songs are stretched out more (though still song length)giving more of an idea of what they sounded like live. Music at this time was stuck in pop doldrums. Sonic Youth, which had built up a cult following, after the release of this album were then signed by a major label and brought all the indie rock bands into the light eventually including one that was just getting a start in Seattle that would soon eclipse all of them in popularity. However, back to Daydream Nation. The sprawling, though in no way self indulgent quality of the album took Sonic Youth into a new direction. Now, in getting the deluxe reissue treatment,it sheds new light on the album. On the 2nd disc you not only get live versions of all of the songs on the album (and Sonic Youth live takes what they do in the studio to a new level) but rarities as their version of "Within You, Without You" which was previously only available on a rare tribute album. If Daydream Nation were released for the first time this year, it would be one of the best albums of the year and with this deluxe reissue, in many ways it is.

Average customer rating:

Top Ten Stranded on an Island Albums
Jack White knows 3 chords and I'm sick of hearing them...
Really good
It's all good!
Raconteurs

Broken Boy Soldiers
The Raconteurs
Manufacturer: V2 Records/Third Man
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Information

ASIN: B000F48CD8
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

STEADY, AS SHE GOES
HANDS
BROKEN BOY SOLDIER
INTIMATE SECRETARY
TOGETHER
LEVEL
STORE BOUGHT BONES
YELLOW SUN
CALL IT A DAY
BLUE VEINS

Amazon.com

Smothered by the indulgence of his rock star ranking, Jack White steps into the eccentricities of the supergroup, and at first glance, this seems to be a band where White's imposing presence could overshadow the rest. Not the case with these Raconteurs. Teaming with fellow Detroit songwriter Brendan Benson and Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, the rhythm section from Cincinnati band the Greenhornes, White exhales a bit, deferring enough to his mates to make Broken Boy Soldiers play like a team effort. Following the Benson blueprint, "Steady as She Goes," which opens as a slice of 1960's radio pop, the record steers away from pigeonholing the rest of the way. White's in a Middle Eastern mood for the title track as he pulls off a wicked Robert Plant howl, while Lawrence and Keeler excel on the chorus-strong "Intimate Secretary" and the optimistic acoustic rocker "Yellow Sun." Like so many all-star bands before them, The Raconteurs could be one and done. But don't place the blame on this fertile and genuine debut. --Scott Holter

Leading up to The Raconteurs...

The Alternative to Love
Brendan Benson
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
Sewed Soles
The Greenhornes

The Greenhornes

One Mississippi/Wellfed Boy
Brendan Benson
De Stijl
The White Stripes

Album Description

The Raconteurs are a new band made up of old friends, consisting of Jack Lawrence (bass), Patrick Keeler (drums), Brendan Benson (guitars, vocals, keys) and Jack White(guitars, vocals, keys). The seed was sewn in an attic in the middle of a hot summer when friends Jack White and Brendan Benson got together and wrote a song that truly inspired them. This song was "Steady, As She Goes" and the inspiration led to the creation of a full band with the addition of Lawrence and Keeler. While each of these four individuals have had successful careers with their own bands, the culmination of all of their talents is what truly makes The Raconteurs a force to be reckoned with.

Customer Reviews:

Top Ten Stranded on an Island Albums.......2007-06-22

Indie Rock's answer to a "Supergroup". Every track on the disc should be on the radio. The most underrated and unrecognized band of the year. The band has great chemistry and passion for what they do. Incredible Live act. If you love good music, buy this NOW!

Jack White knows 3 chords and I'm sick of hearing them..........2007-06-17

Most under talented, overrated performer/entertainer in pop in the last 30 years. Terrible album. Indulgent, completely forgettable regurgitations of the things one learns when they first pick up an instrument. I don't think the whole amateur rock think is cute at all... Terrrrrrible...

Really good.......2007-06-12

I love artists who can make a new sound from old influences, and the Raconteurs deliver on this albumn. Some of the guitar work sounds like it's straight out of the sixties, yet the songs sit comfortably among other contemporary alt-rock projects. Check this one out.

It's all good!.......2007-06-04

I'd heard a song or two on the radio while traveling and thought I'd give the cd a go. Fabulous! Truly these musicians enjoy what they do and each others company. Only through genuine collaboration could such a creation happen. They had me from the first song to the last. The style is definately not that of amateurs. Well produced but not to the point that it sounds plastic. In fact one thing I love the most is how they have retained a slight raw edge that was quite refreshing. I hear influences of the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin but with completely fresh insight and I only hope they keep it up so I can add more to my music collection!
In my opinion, not just one or two songs but, all of them are good!

Raconteurs.......2007-05-21

Incredible. I chose this CD at random as "raconteur" is a favorite word. Finding that Jack White was connected made me quite curious. Could this group of musician friends sell themselves as the title they chose for their group? I've played several of these tracks for friends of all ages. There's something for everyone. There's sort of a nostalgic feel to many of the tracks. Not a single track disappoints. Rather each track brings something unique to this collection. I hope we haven't heard the last from these talented Raconteurs!

Average customer rating:

Class of Their Own
Good music.
Rock from the other side.
The record that happened
Brilliant debut, one of the most perfect in rock history...

The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground , and Nico
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Velvet Underground
White Light/White Heat
London Calling
Loaded
Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols

ASIN: B000002G7C
Release Date: 1996-05-07

Tracks:

Sunday Morning
I'm Waiting For The Man
Femme Fatale
Venus in Furs
Run Run Run
All Tomorrow's Parties
Heroin
There She Goes Again
I'll Be Your Mirror
The Black Angel's Death Song
European Sun

Amazon.com essential recording

When the Velvets recorded this debut, they were best known as the protégés of Andy Warhol (who designed the sleeve), and as a grating, combustive live band. Fueled by drummer Moe Tucker's no-nonsense wham and John Cale's howling viola, some of the straight-up rock & roll and arty noise extravaganzas here bear that out. But before Lou Reed was singing about sadomasochism and drug deals and writing lyrics inspired by his favorite poets, he was a pop songwriter, and this album has some of his prettiest tunes, mostly sung by Nico, the German dark angel who left the band after this disc. Even the sordid rockers are underscored by graceful pop tricks, like the two-chord flutter at the center of the classic "Heroin." --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Class of Their Own.......2007-05-26

The first time I heard The Velvet Underground, I thought and still do think their style is so distinctive, like no other.

Lou Reed has great versatility in his voice,and can be quite commanding as in Heroin and Run,Run,Run.

There up there with Nico, just wow !!!!!

Thankfully through Andy Warhol artist on canvas film and music, we have The Velvet Underground.

Good music. .......2007-05-14

Not so fond of Nico's voice, but Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground are awesome!

Rock from the other side........2007-05-10

The Velvets had always been different. In the mid sixties, when just about every band in business was trying to be the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, or somewhere in between, the Velvet Underground were doing their own thing. And what a thing it was! Led by swaggering, snarling hipster-junky Lou Reed, this was a band of cultured weirdos and playful freaks. Their music was different from just about everyone else's: It was miles beyond any of the mainstream music of the times- even the height of the Beatles' experimental phase doesn't come close to the otherworldly insanity found here. The band's alien sound is all over the place: Multi-instrumentalist John Cale is a one-man noise factory, drenching songs in his wailing electric viola, pulverizing bass lines, and droning keyboard playing. On drums, Maureen Tucker reduces rock n roll's signiature rhythm to its bare essentials, pounding primal, sensual pulses of pure musical incantation. The partnership of Lou Reed and Sterling Morrisson on guitars is equally jarring- the two play their instruments like a pair of disgruntled folkies, jumping back and fourth between clean lines and ugly distortion, hyperactive rhythms and sky-scraping melodies, crazed strumming and whiplashing fingerpicking. Reed's lyrics and singing are, as you've probably guessed, just as out-of-this-world: He kicks aside the typical boy-meets-girl fare for grimy drug anthems, dark surrealism, back-alley sexuality, and tense paranoia. He delivers these distinctive musings in a choppy, throaty chant that epitomizes detatched cool. Joining the band for this album only is Nico, the icy-voiced German model who lends her distinctive voice to three of the songs on the record. Now, experimentation is all fine and good, but it would be totally worthless if the songs weren't great. After all, there's nothing more pretentious or unpleasent (musically, anyway) than a mess of unlistinable noise that tries to pass itself off as "experimental." Not to worry! The Velvets may be weird, but they've got an impeccable knack for creating great music. It may take a few listens to get used to, but once you've pushed your way past the initial surprise and confusion, you'll find that this is a set of highly original, fantastically listenable, outta-this world rock 'n' roll.

"Heroin" sums this up quite succinctly: The song builds from a pretty, delicate, yet slightly unsettling guitar strum. Lou plays the deranged folk singer, intoning his emotionally ambiguous lyric over the song's glowing chords. From there, the tune builds in intensity, morving into a galloping nightmare ballad, while Reed's lyric slips back and forth between dreamy self-reflection and nightmarish chaos. Soon, John Cale joins in, pummeling his viola into screeching submission, building the whole thing into a screaming, violent catharsis. "Venus in Furs" is a gloomy, doom-laden death drone, built around a disquieting, stomping rhythm section and a creepy ascending guitar line, over which Lou, chanting like a man in a deep trance, celebrates the joys of masochism. "All Tomorrow's Parties," one of the songs that feature Nico as vocalist, is a regal, decadent epic that features some wonderfully sinewey guitar lines. Nico's voice fits in with the proceedings nicely, arcing over the strange melody with clipped Teutonic precision. Other highlights include "The Black Angel's Death Song," in which Lou spits out a slippery, surreal, stream-of-conciousness ramble over a rumbling, dizzy guitar line and a flailing viola line, as well as the outta hand group improvisation "European Son." "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "There She Goes Again" reveal the band's debt to traditional rock and R&B- the former is a pummeling, piano driven blues-rock churner, while the latter is a souring slice of greasy proto-blue-eyed soul that kicks off with a musical allusion to Marvin Gaye (listen to his "Hitch Hike"). But even those two songs are plenty subversive- Lou Reed's lyrics are unsentimental evocations of the seedier aspects of urban life, relating tales of back-street drug deals and the kind of girl your mother warned you about. Reed is particularly good on "Waiting for the Man," as he moans, chants, and struts his way through a set of lyrics that casually narrates the joys and bitter pains of drug addiction with equal parts foolish optimism and complete self-loathing. Similarly, "Run Run Run" builds off of a pummeling rock backbeat, mixing in bursts of jagged guitar noise and violent lyricl poetry. "Femme Fatalle" and "I'll Be Your Mirror," Nico's other two contributions to the album, prove that the Velvets could make beautiful music if they wanted to- along with the eerily gorgeous album oppener "Sunday Morning," these songs are airy, otherworldly ballads that still manage to convey an amazing ammount of tension and discomfort.

As a whole, the Velvet Underground's debut is a brilliant album, a set of pop songs the likes of which you've never heard. It may have flown over the heads of listeners back in 1967, but its still managed to inspire countless musicians and musical movements. Influence aside, it's still a fantastic listen, a rock n roll album that'll blow your mind with every spin. Get it now.

The record that happened .......2007-04-14

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO is longer running than most records of its era and loaded with interesting, exciting, and beautiful yet strange songs. Also the content is odd for its time, or any time, but I think the "homosexual" perception was grafted on post-facto ("I'm Waiting For The Man" is of course actually sung "I'm waiting for MY man. . .") and though long perceived as "gay" because of certain references, such as the narrator's lack of interest in black girls instead of his purpose in being up town ("Oh no sir!") It sounded "queer," but it's queer only in the sense that Lou Reed is waiting for his drug dealer "...he's always late" who gives him "sweet taste." Our narrator then swiftly exits, presumably to consume his drugs. I think Reed's later admissions of juvenile homosexuality, drug use, and a kind of artistic bisexuality lead to over-interpretation of the lyrics on this most challenging of VELVET UNDERGROUND records. That being said, this record, a low-seller in its day, is unique, endlessly listenable, and tuneful. The long stated commentary about "drone" and "buzz" is fair, particularly on tracks "Heroin," "European Son" and my own favorite, "The Black Angel's Death Song." But, this record is much more than a Punk predecessor, Andy Warhol bank rolled project, or Art Rock oddity. THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO remains one of the most important, intriguing, and unusual of records in the Rock catalog and a must for students of modern music.

Brilliant debut, one of the most perfect in rock history..........2007-04-13

The Velvet Underground only put out 4 albums (5 if you include the Doug Yule only Squeeze album, which most of us Velvet fans don't), but everyone was a masterpiece, and the journey commenced right here. This is my favorite VU album. It is adventurous, eclectic, tuneful, scary, moving, and assaulting, a true work of art. There isn't one throwaway track (in fact, the Velvets never wasted a track on any album). Sunday Morning begins the album beautifully. I love the drug songs Waiting for the Man and Heroin. Venus in Furs is sad and powerful, and All Tomorrow's Parties is scary and hypnotic (with Nico's best vocal). The Black Angel's Death Song is pure, avant garde Cale, and European Son predates the sonic assault we were going to get on White Light/White Heat. You think that the Velvet Underground would have choked after making such a fine debut album, but they followed it up with 3 masterpieces. How many bands only made a handful of albums and yet have had such a lasting impact? The MC5 is the only other band that comes to mind. This is one of my favorite albums of all time, and I listen to it once a week. Lou, John, Mo, Sterling, and Nico rule.

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