Vapor

vapor

Editorial Reviews
From the Artist
10 Facts you should all know about G.E. Stinson:

1. he's not that guy on saturday night live.

2. he's from oklahoma and spent his formative musical years as a blues/rock boy in chicagowhere he opened for and hobnobbed with blues legends like muddy waters and willie dixon.

3. he's even older than me.

4. his mind, warped by the jazzrock seepage of the early 70's and by the global embrace of brown rice - period don cherry, caused him and his associates to become accidental architects of what is now loosely called new age music --woops!

5. further destroyed by the influential los-angeles based pianist/improviser richard grossman, he completely abandoned composition and began to focus on totally improvised music.

6. all the music on his disc, "vapor", is live and improvised.

7. his serious pursuit of the spiritual had not made his music mellow.

8. he includes the amazing bass guitarist steuart liebig in all six improvising groups represented here.

9. he's a natty dresser and a wizard with processed and prepared guitar sounds -- plus he occasionally designs to rip some burning leads! (i guess those were 3 facts right there!)

10. he plays with many wonderful musicians on this disc, some of whom may be unknown to you. pay close attention! i guess that's it. nels cline, los angeles, march 1999

Product Description
Vapor is comprised of 7 tracks recorded live and performed by 6 different groups providing a fullfilling and diverse sampling of G.E. Stinsons beautiful thoughts as he transmits them to you by way of manipulating a guitar. After hearing this record you too can nod your head when someone starts talking about the L.A. Improv. scene and chime in with references to bands such as Stinkbug and Napalm Quartet.

Vapor,G.E. Stinson,Ecstatic Peace,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Vapor

Average customer rating:

Too darn loud
An album revisited
a decent rock album, but rush went overboard
Rock music for creative people
5-star album, 1-star sound...

Vapor Trails
Rush
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Test for Echo
Counterparts
Hold Your Fire
Power Windows
Snakes & Arrows

ASIN: B000065DTE
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

One Little Victory
Peaceable Kingdom
Ghost Rider
Ceiling Unlimited
The Stars Look Down
How It Is
Vapor Trail
Out Of The Cradle
Earthshine
Sweet Miracle
Nocturne
Freeze (Part IV of 'Fear')
Secret Touch

Amazon.com

The songs on Vapor Trails may not be as instant or accessible as those on their previous albums, but the Canadian trio is definitely playing harder and bolder than they have in years. Layers of guitars have replaced most of the keyboards, setting Alex Lifeson free to explore new territories and textures. Geddy Lee is also given more playing space, such as on "Peaceable Kingdom," where his bass parts take the role of rhythm guitar. The arrangements are intricate and interesting throughout, yet never overwhelming. "Secret Touch" twists and builds from melody to a monsterous jam, while Neil Peart's awe-inspiring drums give extra power and dynamics to the album's heavier numbers, such as "Nocturne" and the bombastic lead cut, "One Little Victory." Lee's vocals and harmonies add great depth to "Earthshine," while the airy "How It Is" soothes with nice open chords and jangling guitars. Rush has taken one step forward while keeping one foot back in a rawer sound, all the while continuing to evolve musically. --Gail Flug

Customer Reviews:

Too darn loud.......2007-06-11

I love Rush sound and its evolution throughout the years. I own almost all of the CDs plus some vinils.

This could be a very good CD, as the songs are good. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails is *not* a good CD.

This CD is recorded so loud that does *not* sound right. The sound is so distorted that you cannot tell if the lead guitar is Alex Lifeson or your punk neighbor down the street, using a Spinal Tap-type amplifier cranked all the way to "eleven".

It's is a real shame that a band this good, with such virtuoso musicians, get their work all destroyed because a dont-know-better sound engineer decided to crank the amplifier to "eleven".

When I listen to Rush I want to listen to good musicians playing. If I want it loud, I have my volume control, thank you very much.

I'm disturbed by this trend of cranking the volume so high that musical skill doesn't matter anymore.

:(

An album revisited.......2007-05-17

It's been enlightening to return to this disc in the aftermath of the release of Snakes & Arrows, and make the comparisons of material and sound quality. My bottom line, and the reason for even contributing a review to an album now already five years old, is to suggest that there are a lot of great songs on Vapor Trails. S&A benefits from a fantastic production that could have worked wonders for the strong material on VT.

I wonder if Rush would be willing (and how long it might be for them) to consider having this material re-mastered and re-released. I see how releases like Counterparts and even Test for Echo have already been re-mastered, so one can hold out hope that someday soon they'll get to work on fixing the mix of this disc! One of the comments from the audience down the page here suggested that this was just about the worst-mastered major label release he'd ever heard, and even though I'm not as technically able to put it into words as he did in terms of compression and EQ problems, I'd have to agree with this person entirely.

I've told my friend and fellow Rush-head that I rarely reach for this disc when I want to hear Rush. He agrees. Returning to VT today in light of the S&A release has me understanding why I don't reach for it more often.

I look forward to a re-mastering. The material merits 4 stars.

a decent rock album, but rush went overboard.......2007-05-07

i don't care what anyone says about "test for echo" - i love alternative rock, and it's the only full rush album that's rocking, concise, and non-nerdy enough for me to enjoy it. so then we have "vapor trails," and unfortunately rush takes everything great about "test for echo" and over-does it. while neil peart can of course be a great lyricist, here he really takes wrong steps, becoming very PREACHY. the lyrics sound like they're taken out of some new-age book. basically it's like rush became a parody of themselves.

not that there aren't good things about the album.. "the stars look down" and "vapor trail" are definitely great songs, "ghost rider" is pretty good too, but the preachy "one little victory" and grumpy "peaceable kingdom" definitely bring the affair down a couple of stars. i see a couple of reviews blaming the production.. i say the weakness of the songs is the real problem. "test for echo" was a very "shiny" polished sounding record, and that's not always best for rock music.

Rock music for creative people.......2007-04-06

When long time listeners leave these reviews claiming something is missing from this recording, what they mean to say is there is something new here and they don't like it. Something fresh, something thoughtful. Neil's recent trials are all over this album, and the result is a work with blood, guts, pain, hope, and a beating heart. Rush is a phenomenal band that does things their way, yet I think it's fair to say that at times their songs have been about the individual parts, not so much the whole. Solos, fills, bass lines. That formula is an awesome thing to behold in their hands, but here they've put it in the back seat and let the songs drive themselves. I am a long time listener myself, and I say they have never sounded more vital. Incredible rock album by any standards.

5-star album, 1-star sound..........2007-03-30

I think it's been stressed enough that the sound on this album sucks. Not many people have mentioned how good the music is, though. Freeze shifts meters constantly and is probably the most progressive piece they've done since Mission (listen to the marimba section O_o). Then there are tracks that aren't necessarily progressive but are just really good, and of course that's what Rush is good at: making good songs. I think the standouts are:

One Little Victory
Ceiling Unlimited
Peaceable Kingdom
How It Is
Secret Touch
Earthshine
Nocturne
Freeze

I think if you like Rush's heavier stuff like Stick It Out, Time and Motion, Double Agent, or heck, 2112, you will probably like this album with time. With me, the first time I heard it I thought it was cool but not one of my favorites... Then it sank to one of my least favorites... And now if I really want to listen to Rush, but not sure what I want to hear, I reach for Vapor Trails. I don't know why, it just usually sounds like something I want to hear... It's better to listen to out loud than on headphones, though. Keep that in mind.

Average customer rating:

An amazing record from electronic rockers (almost 4.5)
Rough in spots, but has some VERY high points.
Not a real Orgy CD
Orgy!...
"She dreams..." of a better CD?

Vapor Transmission
Orgy
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Candyass
Punk Statik Paranoia
Darkest Days
Gravity Kills
Commencement

ASIN: B00004YNGE
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Vapor Transmission Intro
Suckerface
The Odyssey
Opticon
Fiction (Dreams in Digital)
Eva
107
Dramatica
Eyes-Radio-Lies
Saving Faces
Re-Creation
Chasing Sirens
Where's Gerrold

Amazon.com Music Reviews

As good as Orgy's 1998 debut Candyass was, Vapor Transmission (2000) kicks things up a notch. The Los Angeles-based five-piece goes straight for the jugular this time, abandoning new wave covers and creating a few fresh classics along the way. The result sounds like Depeche Mode after several consecutive viewings of Blade Runner: edgy, moody, and armed to the teeth with enough sonic bombast to jumpstart techno-goth fans everywhere. Vocalist Jay Gordon's hoarse histrionics are perfect for the band's surreal paranoia and lust; imagine a romanticism with room for lyrics such as "Transglobal spectacle with post mortem and fame / Popsicle cannibal, can you hear me?" The production by Skinny Puppy's Dave "Rave" Ogilvie is a bright purple fluid that turns Orgy's blood into a deep murk, dark but dazzling. While Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson may be the most prominent techno-rockers, Orgy's Transmissions are louder and clearer.--Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

An amazing record from electronic rockers (almost 4.5).......2007-02-05

Although I liked Orgy's debut album, "[...]--," that one had some kind of cheesy lyrics, and I felt that the whole last fourth of the album could've been taken off, as those came off as fillers for me. On here, the song-writing's better and they do not try to come off as empty sounding this time around. The production is just as good as it was last time. It is also the more melodic of the two.

My two favorite tracks from this album are "Fiction (Dreams in Digital)" and "Eva." Both songs, simply, are perfect. The former was particularly recorded in a stellar way, and gets better each time. The latter is a great emotional track of the album, and Orgy have never sounded so human before. Another really great one is "Suckerface" which has some anthemic synths and a catchy chorus. Just about every song here is pretty good. This is by far my favorite Orgy album. Although this too goes on for a bit longer than it needs to, it is nearly a flawless record from them. This is not a sophomore slump, but what a group's second album should be mroe like. More tight songwriting, more maturity, less of the trickery.

Buy this ANY day before the disastrous blunder "Punk Statik Paranoia."

Rough in spots, but has some VERY high points........2006-11-22

Eyes-Radio-Lies being probably my pick for the top. I'm not sure if it was made into a vid, but it should have been. As for the sonics, this album does not sound like crap, as some have said. And here the synth stuff are only accents. I can tell you definitively the problem is on your end if it sounds "bad". I do think the album isn't totally consistent musically. There are quite a few completely non-rhyming, meandering tracks that don't go anywhere, some too derivative of Candyass. And I don't think Fiction is quite up to the level fans are giving credit for, though it's a good track. But it keeps returning to something quite grand, including the the aforementioned Eyes-Radio-Lies -- about two things: media conditioning and teenage illegal street racing -- and the last two tracks, which have a deeply Blade Runner slant. Think the death of the cyborg designer. In a way, there's an futurism operatic quality to some of the tracks that teeters between just right to a little over-the-top. But it's on the mark enough to recommend to fans of electronic or hard rock.

Not a real Orgy CD.......2006-04-22

This album was a huge disappointment. Orgy moves in more of a guitar-centric metal direction, away from their original synth rock style. While focusing on the harder style of this record, they seem to lose touch with their melodic, electronic rock roots found on Candyass (and Punk Statik Paranoia, afterward). The album as a whole just falls flat and sound like the numerous other "nu metal" stuff that's out there. Sure, there's a few good ones on here like "Fiction (Dreams in Digital)", "Eyes, Radio, Lies"; "Suckerface" and "Eva". But, overall I was very disappointed at the direction they started heading in with this record. Luckily for the few of us who feel this way, Punk Statik Paranoia heads back towards the same "death pop" feel that made us fall in love with them on their first CD.

Orgy!..........2006-04-09

A great follow up to their CandyAss debut! The band has an original sound that's totally kickass! I dig bands with a sound that's all their own!...

"She dreams..." of a better CD?.......2006-03-07

Kicking things off with an intro that could be in any sci-fi film, Orgy get ready to unleash 'Vaper Transmission', their sophmore effort. "SUCKERFACE" does it's job, getting you hooked and ready for more. Jay Gordon has this very unique voice and it just fits this band perfectly. "THE ODYSSEY" gets heavier, yet less convincing. Not a fan of song. The verse is crap and the chorus is even worse! "OPTICON" is one of the best Orgy songs ever, and the remixes (yes they made remixes for this CD as well and you need to buy those to FULLY appreciate this CD) are even better... "and the lies, lies!" "FICTION" was the first single off the album and it shows where Orgy was when writting this album. It's much more melodic then anything off 'Candy@$$', and while thats not a bad thing, it's not what you'd expect from Orgy. The best part of the song is when Jay says "guilty by design she's nothing more than fiction" because it's the only part of the song with an edge. "EVA" sounds like it could come off any rock album, nothing techno-glam-rock about it. It's just not Orgy. "107" sounds like somthing off 'Candy@$$' and I like it alot. A very Manson sound to it, creepy and infectous. I'd skip through the next tracks until you hit "RE-CREATION" which is one kick@$$ song, even though it's really not 'Orgy' sounding, but the lyrics are tight and the whole song, from beat to vocals, are spot on. "CHASING SIRENS" is another great songs. Not a huge fan of the chorus, a little too forced, but the beat and the verses are great...not to mention the bridge... "don't you find it strange, strange?" The last track here "WHERE'S GERALD" is a great way to close becasue it's close to the best song here. The only problem here is that they may open and close with the best, but everything in between is unfullfilling. The thing with Orgy is that, while they may never be able to turn out a PERFECT album, at least with Candy@$$ the songs that where good were SOOOOO good that the filer tracks were forgivable. Not the case here. I mean, "WHERE'S GERALD", "OPTICON" and "107" are awsome, and "RE-CREATION" and "SUCKERFACE" are good, but everything else is so mediocre that it takes away from the album as a whole. I wish I could give this album more than 3 stars, but I can't, because to me, it's really not worth it.

Average customer rating:

Soundtrack Dead Man
Dead Man - for those who listen
San Frantastic!
A huge disappointment!
Hurrah for William Blake!

Dead Man
Neil Young
Manufacturer: Vapor Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dead Man
Broken Arrow
Re-ac-tor
This Note's for You
Tonight's the Night

ASIN: B000005J5D
Release Date: 1996-02-27

Tracks:

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled

Amazon.com

Musicologists looking for evidence of Neil Young's connection with the avant-garde likes of Sonic Youth need look no further than this uncompromising soundtrack to Jim Jarmusch's film Dead Man--the first post-punk western to make any sense at all. The music here is scattered and fragmentary, and performed mainly on electric guitar. Though Young's instrumental musings work well in the film, this soundtrack album will be of interest mostly to hardcore Young fanatics (for whom the feedback epic of "Weld" was too brief). The film's most accessible piece of music came during the opening credits, with Young blending acoustic and electric guitars to great dramatic effect. Unfortunately, it's not on this CD. Rent the video. --Steve Appleford

Customer Reviews:

Soundtrack Dead Man .......2007-07-15

Very nice guitar music from the master Neil Young from the movie Dead Man with poetry reading by Johnny Depp and also several spoken scenes form the movie. Whene you have entered yourselve into this movie, you can relish the memory of this movie in your car of from your mp3 player. Must have for every fan of this movie. The coverbook shows beautiful pictures of Wiliam Blake(movie Character by Johnny Depp), and Niel Young, some poetry and a foreword by Jim Jarmusch. Nice CD !

Dead Man - for those who listen.......2007-06-01

It is not only the soundtrack of "Dead Man", but also an insight to a wide range of characters brought together under totally uncommon events.
Just listen...

San Frantastic!.......2006-12-25

Being an enormous fan of Dead Man, heavily due to the music of the film, and heavily due to the fact that it's Jim Jarmusch, and heavily due to the fact that it has Johnny Depp, and heavily because this film is unbelievably great, this was the best thing I could ever get.

If you enjoy the music of the film for the right reasons, you will absolutely enjoy this album as I have.

A huge disappointment!.......2006-12-01

If you loved Neil Young's music in the movie "Dead Man," there is a good chance you will be extremely disappointed by this CD. I was. The music is almost continually interrupted and obscured by dialogue from the movie or Johnny Depp reading poetry. I wanted to hear the MUSIC. Unfortunately, you don't really get to on this CD.

Hurrah for William Blake!.......2006-06-07

I have read through the other Amazon reviews, and I sympathize with the reviewers who were frustrated with this CD because they didn't like the dialogue sections or the sections during which Depp reads from William Blake. So if you buy this with the intent of experiencing Neil Young exclusively, you will be disappointed.

But I have to say that as a lover of Neil Young (I have more of his music in my collection than that of any other artist), a lover of DEAD MAN (I have seen it multiple times), and as a lover of the real poet William Blake, I couldn't be happier with this CD unless, of course, it was longer.

I can hardly imagine anything BETTER than hearing Johnny Depp (one of my favorite actors) read from William Blake!

I keep my music on my computer and also have a collection of audio poetry on my computer (yes, I am a University English Lecturer and poetry really turns me on). Depp's readings from Blake, with Young's haunting music in the background is mind blowing and more than I could ever ask for in my wildest English-Lecturer-dreams.

This CD will take you to a place in the deepest center of yourself where your dreams reside. William Blake believed in the supernatural and in the power of dreams. He also was a rebel. He was one of the most spiritual people ever to have existed. DEAD MAN is also about a spiritual quest, and that's why the marriage of Young's guitar and the dialogue/poetry readings from DEAD MAN really work!

Excellent to listen to in order to jumpstart your own creative life! Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Tegan And Sara are simply the best.
Acoustic folk-rock tinged with a little angst, a little edge, and a lot of passion
Gets You the 1st Time
brilliant from the beginning
Simple..

This Business of Art
Tegan and Sara
Manufacturer: Vapor Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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If It Was You
More Adventurous
Let It Die
Make Yr Life
Show Your Bones

ASIN: B00004U91U
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

The First
Proud
Frozen
Hype
My Number
All You Got
Freedom
Not With You
More For Me
Come On
Superstar

Amazon.com

Canadian folksingers Tegan and Sara's debut album debut album on fellow Canuck Neil Young's Vapor Records is a formidable first effort betraying a startling maturity for two 19-year-olds. There is enough depth in the lyrics of "Come On" or "Frozen" to bear repeated listenings, while the mainly acoustic-based instrumentation provides a spare yet rhythmically interesting backdrop for the sisters' musings on life and love. There is also a defiance in some of the lyrics (witness "Proud": "Freedom and blood/ I make my mark and fight for tomorrow"). While there is still evidence of room to grow as each sister betrays a distinct influence (Tracy Chapman for one and Ani DiFranco the other), this decidedly fresh debut is a step toward a very bright future indeed. Apparently they are utterly captivating live as well so expect this duo to stick around for quite some time. --Ike Bolton

Customer Reviews:

Tegan And Sara are simply the best........2006-01-27

I listen to a whole wide variety of music, neglecting the country and rap side of things. This is my first review ever written anywhere, but these girls need to be known. I can't define their music, someone said "folk punk", but it's boundless. Their music isn't held down by genres. Not only are their voices and songs unique and amazing, their stage presence and lyrics are serene. There's no description really that can cover them or their CD's, so just go to www.teganandsara.com listen to a free song, and then come back and buy it.
Adam

Acoustic folk-rock tinged with a little angst, a little edge, and a lot of passion.......2005-12-06

Tegan and Sara without a doubt avoid the sophomore slump(as this is technically their *2nd* album) with these incredibly raw, passionate, original set of songs. I can't stress RAW or PASSIONATE enough...as those are the first words that come to mind whenever I listen to it, even now some 5 years since I first got it. I've purchased everything they've put out since, but this will always be the reigning favorite.

Barely even legal adults at the time of making this album- & yet they evoke such an array of emotions that after listening you can't help but feel your jaw drop a little. I love this CD for all the unique wordplay and intensity with which it's sung. Their voices are so fierce and they've got a lot of interesting things to say.

You'll want to show this to anyone you know who appreciates strong, original, and generally just GREAT music.

Seriously, not a bad track on this cd....each song is so unique in itself, you can't help but listen over and over and love them.

My Favorites: "The First", "Not With You", "Hype", "All You Got"

Buy it, you'll be happy you did.

Gets You the 1st Time.......2005-10-15

If teenaged lesbian angst and drive and pure talent were valued more than over-produced glam-schlock this album, and not N'Sync's, would have been the top seller of 2000. Every song is completely listenable because of its energy and sincerity and in spite of its preciousness. It has aged well and is still perfectly relevant. After I saw this act at Lollapalooza in Chicago this year I had to go buy some of their music. I wasn't disappointed, and will go on to buy the remainder of their catalogue. Tegan & Sara are the antidote to the Hillary Duffs and Simpson Sisters of the world. Everyone, take your medicine! Buy this album!

brilliant from the beginning.......2005-09-11

even though this was only tegan and sara's second album, it is absolutely amazing. deep, thoughtful lyrics combine with catchy melodies to make this my favorite album by t&s. i love songs that are a little complicated, that take a little bit of time to really figure out. "this business of art" fits the bill, and so much more...

Simple.........2005-08-29

This is simply the best album I've ever heard. I've loved it for the last 4 1/2 years and always will.

Average customer rating:

A Verse, Chorus And Such
Flawless
The Album That Got Me Hooked
Not One Bad Song!
good for them

If It Was You
Tegan & Sara
Manufacturer: Vapor Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Make Yr Life
Show Your Bones
More Adventurous
Room on Fire
Return to Cookie Mountain (with Bonus Tracks)

ASIN: B00006FI7Q
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Tracks:

TIME RUNNING
YOU WENT AWAY
MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY
CITY GIRL
NOT TONIGHT
UNDERWATER
I HEAR NOISES
LIVING ROOM
TERRIBLE STORM
AND DARLING
I WANT TO BE BAD
DON'T CONFESS (THIS THING THAT BREAKS MY HEART)

Customer Reviews:

A Verse, Chorus And Such.......2007-04-19

Once again, another album that I can't get enough of and one where every single song is great - these girls speak to me - looking for sad, sick people like me in the single "I Hear Noises" the first song I ever heard by the duo, they also rant and rave when they go all "City Girl" on the one who done them wrong and the breathy and refreshing "Not Tonight" ("Love pull your sore ribs in/ I will pull your tangles out/ In the back of your car I feel like I have travelled nowhere/ what will bring me hope/ what will make me stay"), the uber brilliance of the other single "Monday Monday Monday" and the very Kirsty MacColl-ish "I Want To Be Bad." There's even an interesting mandolin leading around in "Living Room" reminding me of Ditty Bops meeting Tanya Donnelly; all in all, If It Was You is the perfect Tegan & Sara starting point, though it's their second album, if you're unfamiliar I'd start with this one and then go to the newest one - which is almost as good.

Flawless.......2006-01-14

One of the very few perfect albums out there. God only knows why Tegan and Sara haven't achieved mainstream success yet.

The Album That Got Me Hooked.......2005-02-24

This was the very first album I heard from Tegan and Sara, and I immediately fell in love with them. After hearing 'I Hear Noises' on a local music station, I was intrigued by the twins and bought the album a few weeks later. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Soon after purchasing 'If It Was You', I rushed out a bought their first major label album; 'This Business of Art'. Then, in late 2004, their latest release, 'So Jealous', was released, and it has quickly become one of my favourite albums.

The album begins with the extremely catchy 'Time Running'. The drums in the beginning are a great opener, not only for the song, but for the CD as a whole. The vocals are drawn out and the lyrics are likeable and well-written (though definitely not the best on the album). The music is very upbeat and it makes the listener want to dance along in their seat. Though it's not my favourite, this is the song I find the hardest to get out of my head. 'You Went Away' starts out slowly with just quiet singing and an acoustic guitar before really picking up. When it does, it's another very uptempo song. The lyrics are empowering, stating "well I don't think we have to be like this forever/there's more to life than love and being together". The third track, 'Monday Monday Monday' is among the best off of 'If It Was You'. Lyrically, it's honest and sweet. The video for it is also pretty darn cool, in a weird sort of way that only artists as loveable as Tegan and Sara could get away with. The drums are pretty good on this track, but simple enough that they don't draw the listener's attention away from the vocals and the lyrics, which are the twins' strongest attribute.

'City Girl' is among my favourites from the album. It's a midtempo track (the first one on the album), and has fantastically unadorned but engaging lyrics. This track didn't jump out at me when I first bought the album, and I found myself skipping it. However, when I really started listening to it, I fell in love with just how genuine it really is. 'Not Tonight' is a tricky song. I can't figure out if it's midtempo or a ballad. The vocals and emotion really push it towards the ballad side, but the drums keep it at a quicker pace than is usually acceptable for slow love songs. I guess I'll just have to settle for placing it right in between those two classes. There's no question that 'Underwater' is lyrically one of the best songs on the album. It's also one of my personal favourites. The vocals begin by sounding angry and serious before slowly slipping into a much calmer tone, as though the girl's are explaining something to the listener. My favourite part, by far, comes with they lyrics "I'm a silly love song/a twisted elbow crush song".

'I Hear Noises' was, as I previously said, the first song I ever heard by Tegan and Sara. Obviously, it's catchy or I wouldn't have bought the album weeks later. This is definitely another lyrical masterpiece. It's honest and down-to-earth, and you really can't help but wish you personally knew the girls just to ask them what's going on in those genius heads of their's. The vocals are amazing, with a raw quality that you don't hear on over-produced, computer re-touched pop-hits. The beat is also fabulously catchy and upbeat, this is unquestionably one of the best on the album. My very favourite track on the album is 'Living Room'. It begins like a good-ol' country song with the wonderful inclusion of a banjo. This is a standout track simply because of the unique melody which suits the vocals and lyrics perfectly. The album slows down slightly with 'Terrible Storm'. The raw emotion given off in this track is enough to make it stunning. The chorus sounds angry and forceful, while the verses are all surprisingly calm, though you can really sense the rage boiling out from just under the surface.

From angry to gentle, we switch to 'And Darling (This Thing That Breaks My Heart). The sheer charm brought forth in this song (which was recorded in Tegan's apartment) is enough to make bring tears to the listener's eyes. Too bad it's the shortest track, because it really is beautiful. 'Want To Be Bad' is a good track, but my least favourite off of 'If It Was You'. The singing and the beat are both good, particularly the drawn out vocals, which add emotion and depth. The best part of the song comes near the end, with the repetition of the words "what's the matter" before looping back into the chorus. 'Don't Confess' is beautiful and heartfelt. It's a very sad song, not just because of the lyrics, but also because of the emotion emitted through the singing and the melody. The back-up vocals are actually what really draws the listener in hear. Innocent and melodic, they add poignant intensity which helps finish the album off on a smooth note.

Obviously, Tegan and Sara's 'If It Was You' is an album I'd definitely recommend. These twins are some of the most talented singer/songwriters out there, and I urge you to go and listen to at least one of their albums. I greatly respect these girls and the music they're making. This is one of the best albums from two of the most talented musicians in the industry today, don't miss out on it!

THE FINAL VERDICT: 99%

Not One Bad Song!.......2004-04-28

Tegan and Sara have really evolved from their last album, which was more poppy. This cd is an amazing collection of moods, emototions and can therefore be listened to without skipping one track. Buy this cd, and if you don't like it everyone around you will.

good for them.......2003-12-16

I was so happy to see this duo break out of the annoying folk-rock cliche that they were beginning to fall into. I remember hearing a co-worker play their first album in a coffeehouse I worked at and thinking "She only likes them because they are hot and gay, there is nothing else unique about this." Then I saw them open for Ryan Adams a little over a year ago and they charmed me into liking them. They are so fun. That energy comes across so much better on If It Was You because it's a fun rock/pop album. I really like this record. "Monday..." and "I Want to be Bad" are the stand out tracks for me (these are both Sara's songs, I believe). In fact, my one complaint is that Tegan's growl feels a little forced and gimmicky sometimes (while other times it can be endearing, like in "And Darling"). Sara's delivery is more direct and no-nonsense, but still playful and quirky. It reminds me alot of Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, this is one of the bigger compliments I can give.
This album made it feel ok to like these girls. I can play it for my straight friends and not be embarrassed and I genuinely enjoy the music. I'm even occasionally inspired by it.

Average customer rating:

Has the same feel as old-school punk
Fresh
They deserve an ear...for sure
The BEST up and coming band
Discover greatness!

Mix Tape
Los Abandoned
Manufacturer: Vapor Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Blanco Facil
Memo Rex Commander y el Corazon Atomico de la Via Lactea
Alright, Still
The Good, the Bad & the Queen
Carnavas

ASIN: B000H7JD0O
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Stalk U
A La Mode
Conquistante Bien
Vannuya (Es Very Nice)
Nada Mio Es Fake
Office Xmas Party
Panic-Oh!
Heavy
Pantalon
Me Quieren En Chile
State Of Affairs

Customer Reviews:

Has the same feel as old-school punk.......2007-03-18

I saw these guys live and they put on a great show! I became a fan pretty much after hearing the first song and can't wait to see them again. They have kind of the same raw energy and feel of the original girl-fronted punk bands like Penetration, X-Ray Spex, Vice Squad, etc. These guys are definitely worth checking out.

Fresh .......2007-02-16

With the redundant sounds coming from popular radio this band is a fantastic infusion of raw energy. The songs have nothing to hide and shouldn't. They have a very upbeat lively sound. I hope they get some airplay since the radio waves are dull at best.

They deserve an ear...for sure.......2006-11-10

...picked up the album, caught them on Conan last week, they were great. She reminds me very much of when no doubt first came out into the music scene with a killer female front singer on a rock band. I see a bright future for them. I especially liked "a la mode" off the mix tape.

The BEST up and coming band .......2006-11-03

This CD is an amazing release from Los Abandoned. They just played track #4 Van Nuys (Es Very Nice) on Late Night with Conan O'brian last night at they proved true to form that they can rock as hard on stage as they can on this fabulous CD. A must have!

Discover greatness!.......2006-09-16

What a fantastic band. Lady P and three guys are a group you will love. Not a weak cut on the album. Buy it!!

Average customer rating:

Timeless Magic
Just good for one song
A True Instrumental Classic
20 years and still going
Putstanding debut by a a Talent deserving Wider Recognition

Vapor Drawings
Mark Isham
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Windham Hill Retrospective
Pure Mark Isham
Blue Sun
Crash
Castalia

ASIN: B000000NFM
Release Date: 1997-04-29

Tracks:

Many Chinas
Sympathy And Acknowledgement
On The Treshold Of Liberty
When Things Dream
Raffles In Rio
Something Nice For My Dog
Men Before The Mirror
Mr. Moto's Penguin (Who'd Be An Eskimo's Wife?)
In The Blue Distance

Amazon.com

Mark Isham's enduring 1983 solo debut captures his graduation from gifted trumpeter with groups like Rubisa Patrol, Group 87, and, most visibly, Van Morrison, to composer with a more versatile and ambitious body of work. On Vapor Drawings, Isham's trumpet and flugelhorn are augmented by synthesizers, piano, soprano sax, and electronic percussion in a series of layered, atmospheric tone poems that nod to Philip Glass and Steve Reich, as well as to European classicism and Eastern modalities. Deemed a new age record as much for its label home as for any intrinsic musical elements, this music is cinematic in scale and drama, especially on its best-known track, the majestic"On the Threshold of Liberty," which anticipated Isham's prolific output as a major film composer in the intervening years. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Timeless Magic.......2007-06-09

This cd was the my first exposure to Mark Isham's music. How lucky we are to have such a talented man to write in a way that takes us away, to a special dream state. That's what this music does, and you can't sit still while you listen to it, even dancing in your car. Pure pleasure!

Just good for one song.......2006-09-05

"On the Thresh hold of liberty" is a very dramatic song that has been commonly used in movies and tv. The rest of the cd is a snooze fest!

A True Instrumental Classic.......2006-04-20

Mark Isham's 1983 Windham Hill debut has a reputation as a "new age" classic, but it transcends that oft-misused label. There is a wide variety of stylings and moods in this, from the comical "Mr. Moto's Penguin", to the sublimely minimalist "Sympathy and Acknowledgement", from the jazzy "Many Chinas" to the heroically inspiring "On the Threshold of Liberty". (The last was used a theme for the now nearly-forgotten Al Pacino film "Revolution"). The influences, from Steve Reich to Miles Davis, are readily apprarent, but Isham's creativity as a composer takes the music way beyond mere imitation - it still holds amazingly well over 20 years later. Isham has found a niche in Hollywood as a prolific film-score composer (and I for one believe his score for "Crash" should have been nominated for an Oscar - it was beautiful and very integral to the film). But this is a great way to introduce yourself to his earlier work, and it's one of the finest albums ever to be saddled with the "new age" tag. I highly recommend it to anyone with eclectic instrumental music tastes. If you like what you hear, then you also might like his other releases, especially "Tibet", "Castalia", and the aforementioned "Crash" soundtrack.

20 years and still going.......2003-09-16

After 20 years this CD still stands up. Still a good listen. Still a good example of all it wanted to be, the integration of synths and accoustic in a kind of music that gets the best of both. If its weaknesses have become more apparent with time, so have its strengths. And Mark has moved on to other things (why should he do more of the same thing?). But Vapor Drawings is still there for us to enjoy. It has outlived the stigma of New Age. (And now you can get it cheap. So if you've been holding out all these years, now's the time.)

Putstanding debut by a a Talent deserving Wider Recognition.......2002-11-15

Although this is on Windham Hill, I would have to say this is not a New Age recording, even in 1983 during the height of the New Age explosion. This is more ambient music than anything else. Mark is an inventive, composer arranger and instrumetalist. He goes from fusion to ambient and many other styles in between. He has the science of implication down. He creates soundscapes that stimulate the imagination, conjuring multiple images. This is more about the composer than the instrumentalist. Mark plays trumpet, keyboards and electronic percussion here to great effect. At the time, I felt this was the single strongest release that Windham Hill had. This was so far beyond anything they had released. Mark has gone on to distinguish himself in subsequent recordings as an outstanding trumpet player/reed accompanist/film composer/conceptualist. It's all evident here. The promise is here in this recording, so are many of the manifestations.

Average customer rating:

Excellent works
Enchanted Birds, Bach-ian Tangos, and Gaucho Bravura

Latin American Ballets

Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Carlos Chávez: The Complete Symphonies
Silvestre Revueltas: Centennial Anthology 1899-1999

ASIN: B000001QAP
Release Date: 1995-03-16

Tracks:

Uirapuru
Suite de Caballos de Vapor: Dance of the Man
Suite de Caballos de Vapor: Boat to the Tropics
Suite de Caballos de Vapor: The Tropics
Estancia: The Land Workers
Estancia: Wheat Dance
Estancia: The Cattle Men
Estancia: Final Dance 'Malambo'

Amazon.com

An Estancia is a ranch, and this snazzy ballet is the Argentinian equivalent of Copland's Rodeo. The final Malambo is one of the most exciting ballet movements in the repertoire--a real rhythmic tour-de-force. The title of this terrific disc is Latin American Ballets, and both the Villa-Lobos and Chavez make up the balance of a sensational program. The late Eduardo Mata, whose death in a plane crash a couple of years ago came as a terrible shock to the music world, had a proprietary interest in all of this music, and conducted it with total mastery. Dorian's sonics give the music maximum impact, and the orchestra is world class. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Excellent works.......2003-02-14

The selections on this CD are excellent works that are unfortunately not very common in the classical repetoire. I really love this CD, especially for the 'Estancia' Ballet Suite. The best way to describe these Ginastera dances is intense, since they have such powerful underlying rhythms, and a driving energy that they will really get you going. In addition, there is a slower Danza del Trigo has a sweet flute and violin solos to conterbalance the driving energy of the other three movments. The last dance 'Malambo' is a whirlwind of a finale that will leave you a little out of breath at the end. I played this suite in orchestra and it was a real joy to perform and even better to listen to.

Uirapuru is a dark and intense piece. Musically, it doesn't seem to make much sense, but the then again the story it tells is a little strange. Great harmonics and some mysterious sounding melodies. I really enjoyed hearing this piece for the first time on this CD.

Though I wasn't totally enamored by the Caballos de Vapor Suite, it still had some great latin rhythms.

Overall, excellent work by the Simon Bolivar Orchestra. Bravo!

Enchanted Birds, Bach-ian Tangos, and Gaucho Bravura.......2001-08-12

This is perhaps the most satisfying CD purchase I've made, bar none. If that seems excessive, well, O.K., it is. BUT, this disc is phenomenal, and for a lover of Latin-American classical music, its a must. The ballet Uirapuru cemented my view that Villa-Lobos is one of the most phenomenal orchestrators. Uirapuru is a dark, mystical score that tells the story of an enchanted rainforest bird who turns into a man, who falls in love with a madien, but then gets shot by an angry old flute-playing man with a bow who's upset because some hunters beat him up because he wierded them out. Well, the story may be somewhat silly, but the music is unsettlingly powerful, with glittering orchestration that is masterfully highlighted by Mata's superb Venezuelan players. Chavez's Horse-Power suite is fascinating in a much more visceral way, with a mix of neo-classical wit and chugging latin rhythms. The closing movement, 'El Tropico', far surpasses the Pat Benatar album of the same name, and weaves intricate Bach-ian counterpoint into a darkly sentimental yet energizing tango. The final selection, by far the most well known, is Ginastera's popular Estancia ballet suite. For those who DON'T know the piece, be prepared for blistering 6/8 rhythms and exhilirating syncopations (a mainstay for Ginastera works). The performances are phenomenal, and totally committed. Dorian (who have put out a number of excellent CD's surveying important Latin-American repertoire) provides top-shelf sound, as usual. O.K., so maybe it's not the BEST CD EVER, but it's close.

Average customer rating:

A Comic-Opera Treasure!
an obscure delight!

Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Anna Russell Takes On... Nabucco & The Magic Flute
The Anna Russell Album
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Encore?
Anna Russell - Crown Princess of Musical Parody: Her Television Appearances 1964, 1976, 1977

ASIN: B000003LIK
Release Date: 1994-12-12

Tracks:

Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Overture
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Chorus - We've Traveled Far (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Approach! What Is Your Name, Sir? (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - With A Sword That Is Sterner Than Moses (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Unhappy Oddling (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - My Fair Skin, My Bare Chin (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Was Ever There Insanity (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Snugly Hidden Safe From Prying (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Madness Beyond All Measure (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - When The Purse Is Clinking (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - There, Like A Vapor (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - O Look So Woeful (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Such As She Seems To Be Frigid (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Let's Sing, Let's All Be Jolly (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - For All Types Of Confusion
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - The Fierce One Lives Only For The Slaughter
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - I Beg You To Stop (Malgoverna, Gloriosa, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - We Praise The Sun For Beauty (Malgoverna)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Bumpkin, Coarse-grained (Gloriosa, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - If You Will Love Me, I Will Love You (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - No, They Cannot Persuade Me! (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Lovely Ladies, You Enjoying (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Where's My Lover, Sweetheart (Sordidone)

Tracks:

Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Sordidone, Be A Bunny
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Are You Hiding? (Sordidone, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - See Comely Phyllis Wander (Garbata, Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Don't Come Near Me (Semplicina, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - The High And Mighty Lion (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Quiet At Last (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - Semplicina, Do You Hear Me? (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Quartet - Ever More Bitter Shall Be My Raging (Gloriosa, Garbata, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - What Now? What New Forms Of Madness? (Gloriosa, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Chorus - Long Live King Arcifanfano (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Earth, Our Dearest, Good And Nearest (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - That His Sowing Yield A Growing (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Has The Fool Committed (Malgoverna, Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Ask Of Beauty, She Will Answer (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Hop And Stop It! (Furibondo, Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - All Of This Planet, I Cry To Each Man (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What's Unleashed These Dreadful Roars? (Garbata, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - I'm Simple And I'm Candid (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Mischief And Load This Purse Is!
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Goddess Bright As Morning
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Mother Always Used To Tell Me (Sordidone, Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - What A Lot I Need What I Need Lot's Of! (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - May He Not Come To Harm (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - There's A Devil In A Ducat (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Gather, O Subjects, About Us (Gloriosa, Garbata, Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Duet - If You Marry Me (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - With Curiosity All Aflame (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Quiet, Please, We Implore You!
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - The Wise And The Mad Have Got One Word For Their Dwelling

Customer Reviews:

A Comic-Opera Treasure!.......2007-01-28

Dittersdorf is a sort of working-man's Mozart; in fact, this opera sounds similar to some of Mozart's early operas. But Mozart sought to break the rules and to explore new musical ideas; Dittersdorf is not an innovator...yet he is no less a master! This performance, too, is a materpiece of refined (not always!) comedy; the arias include some extremely difficult vocal leaps and trills, yet the primary joy is the witty verse. W.H. Auden (no less!) ramrodded this translation to English. And Anna Russell, famed for her "Analysis of Wagner's Ring Cycle" steals every scene she's in! Ad-libbing shamelessly, her introductory aria, all by itself, is worth more than the purchase price!

an obscure delight!.......2002-07-31

Eleanor Steber's image on the cover of this set caught my eye while rummaging through the cut-out bins of San Francisco on a recent opera whirlwind. What a lost treasure this performance is - recorded "LIVE" in NYC 1965! All the principles shine, their energy ebullient. Don't hesitate, buy it and smile before it disappears.

Average customer rating:

I feel like such a traitor...
Jonathan mixes it up nicely on his Vapor debut
not the best
Come aboard me hearties!!
Among Jonathan's best stuff

Surrender to Jonathan
Jonathan Richman
Manufacturer: Vapor Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

I'm So Confused
You Must Ask the Heart
I, Jonathan
Jonathan Richman
Having a Party with Jonathan Richman

ASIN: B000005J5H
Release Date: 1996-09-10

Tracks:

Just Look At Me
Not Just A 'Plus One' On The Guest List Anymore
That Little Sleeper Car
French Style
Surrender
I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar
To Hide A Little Thought
Egyptian Reggae
When She Kisses Me
Satisfy
Rock 'N' Roll Drummer Straight From The Hospy-Tel
My Little Girl's Got A Full Time Daddy Now
Floatin'

Amazon.com

Many people have never forgiven Jonathan Richman for completely revamping his music after releasing one classic album of brilliant, Lou Reed-inspired rock'n'roll,Modern Lovers, in 1976. He abandoned loud guitars and young-adult angst for songs of un-ironic innocence about "Rockin' Leprechauns" and the "Abominable Snowman in the Market," set to the sparse instrumentation of pre-Beatles rock and pop. His core audience, which sustained Richman through constant touring and an album-a-year on small labels, apparently included Neil Young, who has signed the former Modern Lover to his new label, Vapor. Richman's first Vapor album, "Surrender to Jonathan," isn't much different from its predecessors on Rounder, Sire and Beserkley, and even recycles three songs--"Egyptian Reggae," "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar," and "To Hide a Little Thought." --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

I feel like such a traitor..........2002-11-10

Giving a Jonathan record less than four stars feels like a sin since I would be happy if everybody listened to all of his records but Jonathan just doens't seem very focused on this one.

There are a few great songs like "Surrender", "Just look at me" and "My little girl's got a full time daddy now" but the others just don't do it for me. He's rehasing old material like he always does but "Egyptian Raggae" and "lesbian bar" are here in very lackluster versions.

"Rock and Roll drummer" is just Jonathan doing what he does best best which is being dumb but this sounds like forced dumbness (yes I realize that is a ridiculous observation). This is OK, it's just not up to par, I love my life, Jonathan.

Jonathan mixes it up nicely on his Vapor debut.......2002-06-08

On his first album for Neil Young's Vapor label, Richman addresses his separation from his longtime wife Gail: He considers her lasting impact on his life ("Just Look at Me"), tries to figure out why she left ("Not Just a 'Plus One' on the Guest List Anymore"), muses about his growing relationship with their daughter ("My Little Girl's Got a Full-Time Daddy Now"), and expresses his general feeling of loneliness ("Satisfy"); but that's only about a third of the disc. The remainder consists of silly stuff ("Little Sleeper Car," "French Style," "Rock 'n' Roll Drummer..."), brassy, fun re-recordings (1977's "Egyptian Reggae," 1991's "When She Kisses Me," 1992's "...Lesbian Bar," 1995's "To Hide a Little Thought"), and a pair of ballads I'll discuss later.

The results are uneven but not whiplash-inducing, thanks to Jonathan's consistently warm delivery and basic rock 'n' roll sound. That sound is a little more pop-y and slick than usual here, embellished by piano, organ and (especially) horns, but Richman still sounds like himself; his voice is one-of-a-kind, and his lyrics are as funny and poignant as ever. (No matter how polished his sound becomes, he will never, ever be mistaken for, say, Phil Collins or Sting.) Worth hearing if only for "Surrender" (which has Jonathan crooning romantic advice) and "Floatin'" (a frightening dream about drifting around on a tiny raft in the middle of the ocean just as a storm is brewing, as well as a frightening dream-within-a-dream about being stuck in a plane), two of his finest ballads. (Cute cover, too.)

not the best.......2002-01-02

If you would like to buy any Jonathan record, this would be number 10 to buy. Go out and listen, there is much better stuff, including the latest one ("High Heels"), "I, Jonathan", "You must ask the heart" and all the albums from the 70's (the Beserkley-years). So Go Jo JO.

Come aboard me hearties!!.......2001-10-15

A Curious Melancholy affects me every time I play this album. "Just Look at Me" and "Floatin' ache with confusion prefiguring the adventures on the next album, "I'm so confused".
Bookending "Surrender", these two songs encapsulate the confidence a new experience can engender, and the strange sense of loss and disconnectedness that runs simultaneously.
In between the two tales, Jonathan tells his listeners of things and places and people that offer some concrete response to orient oneself during upheaval. I suggest the great man was in the throes of divorce when writing a lot of this album.
The music is at it's best during "French Style" and "Surrender" with their rich harmonics and spot on chordal work.
A surecard was placed on the baby Jonathan at birth.
Let the world and fools beguile,
We lose it not as long as we smile.
Jonathan gives and gives and America just ignores him.

Among Jonathan's best stuff.......2001-08-26

I would put this up with The Modern Lovers self-titled debut, Rockin' and Romance, Jonathan Sings and I, Jonathan as some of Richman's finest and most memorable recordings. "Not Just A Plus One On The Guest List Anymore", "That Little Sleeper Car", and especially "Rock 'N' Roll Drummer Straight From The Hospy-Tel" are incredibly catchy fun. "French Style" is a terrific companion piece to the earlier "Give Paris One More Chance" (which he still performs live). This disc also includes more famous songs like "Lesbian Bar" and "Egyptian Reggae". Highly recommended! Two advices: see JR live as soon and as often as possible, and look for the Jonathan Sings! CD on eBay. I don't care if you are bidding against me and driving up the price -- they turn up there every so often and it is a must-get album, especially if you like Surrender To.

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