Word in Your Ear

word in your ear

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The debut album from these British acoustic troubadours comprises 10 snug, cozy tracks of fluffy folksy ramble that wouldn't say boo to the proverbial goose, but somehow manages to blow all your preconceptions about winsome indie-pop out of the window. Ambling in on the heels of 2001's fine EP If You Happy with, You Need Do Nothing, A Word in Your Ear is certainly no radical update of the Alfie agenda. Let your ears relax around the florid "Cloudy Lemonade" and the gently rapped "The Reverse Midas Touch," which blend sleepy hip-hop shuffle into bluesy campfire strum, and you'll hear everything from the rural poetry of Nick Drake to the gutsy swagger of the Stone Roses standing proud at the heart of Alfie's design. Meanwhile, singer Lee Gordon's laconic drawl still sounds uncannily like Tim Burgess at three-quarters speed. For anyone awaiting the continuing adventures of Badly Drawn Boy with bated breath, A Word in Your Ear--with its beautiful subtlety, lack of bombast, and knowledge that sometimes less is more--is a must-have. --Louis Pattison

Product Description
2002 release on Twisted Nerve is a fusion of everything from baggy to folk to psychedelia. Alfie has shared the stage with Sigur Ros, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Mogwai.

Word in Your Ear,Alfie,Xl Recordings,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Word in Your Ear

Average customer rating:

Wonderful, but not my first choice
THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever...
Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah

Mendelssohn: Elijah

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Franz Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Mendelssohn - Elijah / Terfel, Fleming, Bardon, Ainsley, Fulgoni, Paul Daniel
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) / Auger, Stilwell, Atlanta SO, Robert Shaw
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B0002XV31A
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
Overture
No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
No.4: If With All Your Hearts
No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
No.20: Thanks Be To God!

Tracks:

No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
No.31: O Rest In The Lord
No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07

I believe this was the first recording of Elijah in English that used an "international" conductor and some international singers. Fruhbeck gives a good, dramatic sweep to the piece, with some wonderful dramatic moments. This is an old fashioned performance, with only a solo quartet, and if there is a semi-chorus, I can't tell the difference. This means that the soprano is the Widow, and an Angel, the mezzo the Angel and Queen Jezabel, etc. You really should have a libretto, but you don't get one at this price.
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15

Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.

That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.

All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.

Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03

This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part!

Average customer rating:

great, great!!!
ALL THE MUSIC YOU EVER NEED!!

Sacred Music Complete
Purcell , King , and Kings Consort
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs of Henry Purcell / King's Consort
Complete Secular Songs (3cd)

ASIN: B00006RHQJ
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Customer Reviews:

great, great!!!.......2006-12-05

This is the way ,I think, Purcell should sound. No pomp and surcomstance but only great music.

ALL THE MUSIC YOU EVER NEED!!.......2003-05-23

This boxed set is by far one of the best purchases I have ever made. As a Purcell freak, this hits every button I have. The cast of characters include the inequitable Robert King, New College Choir, Bowman, and a host of other venerable persons. Likewise the attention to period performance of these works makes it an essential addition to the library of any serious anglophile/Musicologist etc. Now if only the Britten Realizations of all Purcell's songs could be recorded alongside the originals! You will Love this set!

Average customer rating:

Different in Approach to the first album, but no less worthy
Very good
alfie einstein :)

Word in Your Ear
Alfie
Manufacturer: Xl Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

If You Happy with You Need Do Nothing
Crying at Teatime
Do You Imagine Things?
If You Happy With, You Need Do Nothing

ASIN: B000063ITX
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

A Word In Your Ear
Cloudy Lemonade
Bends For 72 Miles
Halfway Home
Not Half
The Reverse Midas Touch
Summer Lanes
Me And Mine
Rain, Heaven, Hail
The Lighthouse Keeper

Amazon.com

The debut album from these British acoustic troubadours comprises 10 snug, cozy tracks of fluffy folksy ramble that wouldn't say boo to the proverbial goose, but somehow manages to blow all your preconceptions about winsome indie-pop out of the window. Ambling in on the heels of 2001's fine EP If You Happy with, You Need Do Nothing, A Word in Your Ear is certainly no radical update of the Alfie agenda. Let your ears relax around the florid "Cloudy Lemonade" and the gently rapped "The Reverse Midas Touch," which blend sleepy hip-hop shuffle into bluesy campfire strum, and you'll hear everything from the rural poetry of Nick Drake to the gutsy swagger of the Stone Roses standing proud at the heart of Alfie's design. Meanwhile, singer Lee Gordon's laconic drawl still sounds uncannily like Tim Burgess at three-quarters speed. For anyone awaiting the continuing adventures of Badly Drawn Boy with bated breath, A Word in Your Ear--with its beautiful subtlety, lack of bombast, and knowledge that sometimes less is more--is a must-have. --Louis Pattison

Album Description

2002 release on Twisted Nerve is a fusion of everything from baggy to folk to psychedelia. Alfie has shared the stage with Sigur Ros, Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Mogwai.

Customer Reviews:

Different in Approach to the first album, but no less worthy.......2004-03-29

Those looking at this review will most likely have sampled the first `Alife' album and are curious to investigate more of the Psychedic pop/rock band, that push their blend of Stylish, whimsical pop, with the catchiness of the best pop songs have to offer. But it should be noted that although the quality contained, is of a incredibly similar high standard as their debut album ("If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing"), the band have taken a different (although not a radical) approach to the second album and largely dispensed with the sound that prompted comparisons with `Baldy Drawn Boy/The Flaming lips/Mercury Rev', and handed in something akin to peak ear `Beach Boys' and `Gorky's Zygotic Mynci', with a little of the subtle intricacy of "Belle & Sebastian", insofar as these collection of admittedly great songs are far more radio friendly in approach to the previous album, and focus less on the playful freewheeling sound of before, and seemingly have more a produced sound to them, the feel more ambitious (and while I'm being honest, more accessible) then before. If this is sounding slightly negative, then please don't make this review think that this is any less worth than the previous album, as "A Word in You Ear", "The Reverse Midas Touch" & "Summer Lanes" are a worthy as anything the band have previously done, with less of the wacky style that ear marked the first album, but more of a consistently strong indie pop approach throughout, that doesn't shift as dynamically as the first album, but smoothes off the rough edges and makes for a more coherent listen throughout. And so to sum up.....this album is more than worth your time and money if you're a "Alfie" fan. It's more sun kissed than the previous album, and shows a band following up their astonishing debut with something different enough to avoid accusations of the second album being more of the same. If your new to Alife, then pick up the first album, and if it manages to win you over.....leads beautifully onto this second helping of British Psychedelic pop.

Very good.......2003-03-20

Bands along the same vein (in my musical taste):
Elliott Smith
Badly Drawn Boy (Hour of the Bewilderbeast)

If you like them, you'll probably dig alfie. If you like alfie and haven't heard of them - go check them out! I tend to prefer alfie over other Britpop bands like Coldplay and The Doves because their music is a little more complex (not just chord strumming in 4/4 over and over). Their chord progressions are pretty creative. Give them a shot!

alfie einstein :).......2002-05-30

Alfie is another british band with an unexplainable amount of talent. Unexplainable because it seems most british groups are ingenious in their own way. Where did they get it from? Who knows? But i do know that us rebels over here in the beautiful u.s., took only a bit of that musical ingenuity when crossing the big pond back in the day. Okay, all gawking aside, i must admit that alfie's lead singer reminds me slightly of the lead singer of "they might be giants". That's a good thing if you like (or can tolerate) "they might be giants". Luckily i grew up listening to my sisters collection of music, and t.m.b.g. happened to be in the mix. So alfie, like you might expect, is ingenious (on tracks 2 & 3 inparticular) and a bit quirky (especially the vocals(all tracks)). But don't buy this album because you want good, strange music, buy it because it's good, mellow music with great instrumentation and a unique sound.

Average customer rating:

A Word in Your Ear
Alfie
Manufacturer: Twisted Nerve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000062TK5
Release Date: 2002-03-01

Tracks:

Word in Your Ear
Cloudy Lemonade
Bends for 72 Miles
Halfway Home
Not Half
Reverse Midas Touch
Summer Lanes
Me and Mine
Rain, Heaven, Hail
Lighthouse Keeper

Album Description

The first single & title track off the acclaimed indie act's forthcoming debut album (due March 25th), described as a cross between Nick Drake & The Stone Roses. Tracks, 'A Word In Your Ear', 'Cloudy Lemonade' & the non-LP track, 'A Word In Your Ear' (J-W

Average customer rating:

A Word in Your Ear
Alfie
Manufacturer: Conn
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000630XY
Release Date: 2002-04-15

Tracks:

Word in Your Ear
Cloudy Lemonade
Bends for 72 Miles
Halfway Home
Not Half
Reverse Midas Touch
Summer Lanes
Me and Mine
Rain, Heaven, Hail
Lighthouse Keeper

Average customer rating:

a word in your ear - plus
ashley hutchings
Manufacturer: talking elephant
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000MK2Z7E

Average customer rating:

A Word in Your Ear
Alfie
Manufacturer: Twisted Nerve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Britpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000062TL0
Release Date: 2002-04-01

Tracks:

Word in Your Ear
Cloudy Lemonade
Bends for 72 Miles
Halfway Home
Not Half
Reverse Midas Touch
Summer Lanes
Me and Mine
Rain, Heaven, Hail
Lighthouse Keeper

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music