Blister Pop

blister pop

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the early 1980s, Wichita, Kansas's Embarrassment secretly set a template for American indie-rock: edgy, rocking tunes full of clever wordplay and subtle wit, as played by four guys in thick glasses. They fell somewhere between the Feelies' perpetual nervousness and the Replacements' inebriated garage-rock; it's hard to think of many other peers from their era. Bar/None collected most of the Embos' studio work a few years back on the Heyday double-CD, but Blister Pop captures the group in a live setting: on college radio, at various dives throughout the Midwest, and on two-track demo tapes from their practice space. More than one-third of Blister Pop's tracks are covers, and virtually every song the band tries becomes utterly their own (from "Oh Pretty Woman" to "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "Pushin' Too Hard"). Also included are primitive versions of "Faith Healer" and "You're Not You Anymore," both of which were later reworked for Embos' guitarist Bill Goffrier's later band, Big Dipper. Blister Pop pulls off the rare trick of collecting some valuable artifacts from a legendary independent band while remaining an engaging listen for even the casual fan. You, too, will wish you were there. --Mike Appelstein

Blister Pop,The Embarrassment,My Pal God Records,American Underground,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Blister Pop

Average customer rating:

Choose this one!
For Daughter, Grandaughter and Great Neice
The Best Lullabyes for your little ones
THE BEST LULLABY CD EVER!!!!!!!
A gift for generations

Child's Gift of Lullabyes (Blister)
Various Artists
Manufacturer: New Haven
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Compilations | Children's Music | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Rock-A-Bye Collection, Vol. 1
Child's Gift of Lullabyes
A Child's Gift of Lullabyes
Return to Pooh Corner
Sweet Dreams: Lullabyes by Trio Lyra

ASIN: B000066I4I
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

Playing A Lullaby - Jennifer Graham
Tomorrow We'll Go To The Fair - Tanya Goodman
Someday Baby - Katherine Dines
Hushabye Street - Bonnie Nichols
Wings - Katherine Dines
Appalachian Lullaby - Tanya Goodman
I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. - William T. McDuffee
Lullaby For Teddy - Terry Toler
Dream Theme - David Huntsinger
Playing A Lullaby - Jennifer Graham
Tomorrow We'll Go To The Fair - Tanya Goodman
Someday Baby - Katherine Dines
Hushabye Street - Bonnie Nicholas
Wings - Katherine Dines
Appalachian Lullaby - Tanya Goodman
I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. - William T. McDuffee
Lullaby For Teddy - Terry Toler
Dream Theme - David Huntsinger

Customer Reviews:

Choose this one!.......2007-06-27

In 1993 I received this lullaby tape. It was my favorite gift that I received and it is my favorite gift to give. Both my children have listened to this tape every night through second grade. "Play my music" they say when I tuck them in. I have been given several lullaby tapes but this is, by far, thee best! Choose this one! I have since bought ten more through the years and given them as gifts. Our favorite is "Tomorrow We'll Go to the Fair!" Enjoy!

For Daughter, Grandaughter and Great Neice.......2007-05-14

Out of all the lullabies this one has been a favorite from my daughter now 22 yrs. old to my grandaughter who is 3 and has fallen in the love with the lullabies and also to my Great niece! Don't ever stop producing this cd!!!!!!

The Best Lullabyes for your little ones.......2007-03-21

Most all of my children have had these songs to put them to sleep at night. I got the first one with my now 16 year old. It has been replaced several times over as we have worn them out from useover the years. A Blessing to have.

THE BEST LULLABY CD EVER!!!!!!!.......2007-03-13

You and your child will LOVE this CD. It can be somewhat hard to find sometimes, so snap it up if you can! This has both lyrics and instrumental versions of each song. It's such a wonderful CD you won't mind listening to it over and over and over again.

A gift for generations.......2007-03-07

I bought these recordings when my oldest child was 2 months old. I recall turning the music on during a particularly fussy moment. At the first note, my daughter began to settle and listen. These lullabyes quickly became standard naptime, bedtime, and car-ride fare, eventually for both of our girls. Over the years, I have bought them as baby shower gifts, and always gotten rave reviews. Even now, when my babies are 17 and 15 years old, I love to hear these songs--and, yes, they bring tears to my eyes as I recall many magical memories. I recommend these recordings for any new parents--and grandparents, too!

Average customer rating:

One part rock, one part grunge + one part industrial='WBB&P'
to D. Girod "graboidz" review
Not bad, but not as good as Ungod and Darkest Days
Industrial metals finest
Not bad but not great

Wither Blister Burn & Peel
Stabbing Westward
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Darkest Days
Stabbing Westward
Ungod
Gravity Kills
Perversion

ASIN: B000002ANG
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

Don't Believe
Shame
What Do I Have To Do?
Why
Inside You
Falls Apart
So Wrong
Crushing Me
Sleep
Slipping Away

Customer Reviews:

One part rock, one part grunge + one part industrial='WBB&P'.......2007-02-09

Dark lyrics along with great arrangments and a solid rhythm section, you get Stabbing Westwards' second album, the immensly popular 'Wither,Blister,Burn & Peel'. Every song is very well crafted with heavy parts, quiet parts and just rocking parts. Every song back to back is very solid with absolutly NO fillers. Many sing along pieces and catchy riffs through out. A definite addition to anyones collection.

to D. Girod "graboidz" review.......2006-07-17

for that guy to somehow play off that industrial has some sort of formula thats more tired than any other form of music is frustratingly ignorant. the guy obviously just doesnt like industrial and is about as qualified to review an industrial album as my grandfather is to review an outkast album. industrial didnt die off because the formula grew tired, its in my opinion that industrial has much more room to evolve than heavy metal or punk or goth. it died off because there are only a handful of bands that knew what it took to make a good industrial album and 50,000 lame bands that had no idea how to handle the technical side of industrial the way that trent reznor, cevin key, and raymond watts do. but i still give this band and album 3 stars because the band is just decent. and not from lack of effort i feel there is at least some honesty there but the lyrics are a bit whiny and very cliched. thats definately my biggest complaint about it. theres definately some good high points and good writing there. but its definately short of being a life changing album. but its trapped in one mood and doesnt really go anywhere.

Not bad, but not as good as Ungod and Darkest Days.......2005-09-02

This is pretty solid effort from beginning to end (except for Slipping Away), but except for Shame (which is probably THE best song on the album), Falls Apart and So Wrong the album lacks a lot of the lyrical quality and intensity that Ungod and DD contain. While "What DO I have To do" may have been an MTV buzz clip, I've always thought that the song was somewhat overrated. IS it a good song, yes, but anyone saying that that song is Stabbing Westward's crowning achievement is selling the band short.

Starting an album off with "I'm such an @$$hole" may or may not be a good idea, but if you do, then you better back it up. WBB&P falls short. The lyrics to this album are almost all internally focused. Why talk so much about lyrics? Because that is what really sets SW apart fron other bands..

Yeah the music is good, but it is the lyrics that really make this band.

You won't be dissapointed in buying this album, unless you bought it instead of Ungod or Darkest Days.

Industrial metals finest.......2005-08-31

I was impressed by the coalation of vibrant, aggressive, intence sound of this album, as well as the previous ones.

Any jackass that doesn't appreciate this type of music, or thinks that disco will outlast it; is probably suffering delusions from all the crystal meth they snorted off a urinal while some disco freak was bouncing their ass!!!

Not bad but not great.......2005-05-20

Stabbing westward finally hit the radio waves after the release of latter album Darkest days and got a lot of well deserved attention.Not to mention that the singles (save yourself and the thing i hate) sold pretty well by singles standards.But it seems they forgot about this album which although not quite as complete as the latter has some really good tracks namely What do i have to do and so wrong (Which is also on the spawn soundtrack).I wouldnt say its worth running around for but if you enjoyed darkest days you might just find a track or 2 on here that you like.

Singable Songs for the Very Young [Blister]

Average customer rating:

Fun! Fun! Fun!
Grandma's recommendation

Singable Songs for the Very Young [Blister]
Raffi
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Folk Music | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

More Singable Songs
Baby Beluga
Everything Grows
Rise and Shine
Raffi In Concert

ASIN: B00000DDEX
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

The More We Get Together
Down By The Bay
Brush Your Teeth
Robin In The Rain
Five Little Frogs
I Wonder If I'm Growing
Aikendrum
Bumping Up And Down
Must Be Santa
Wiloughby Wallaby Woo
Spider On The Floor
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Going To The Zoo
My Dreydel
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Five Little Pumpkins
The Sharing Song
Mr. Sun
Old MacDonald Had A Band

Customer Reviews:

Fun! Fun! Fun!.......2001-08-30

As a pre-k/kindergarten teacher, I have used this collection by Raffi for several years. As any educator knows, if a tape or cd doesn't work with the children the first couple of times it is used, the recordings go back in the cabinet and gather dust until it's pitched to make room for new ones. This one will gather only beaming smiles and singing voices! Brush your teeth, count pumpkins, shudder with plastic spiders, and go down by the bay with the watermelons! Start singing and learning with your little one! This is one of Raffi's best!

Grandma's recommendation.......2000-04-12

I don't know who sings louder with this recording, my grandchildren or myself. One of my favorites - along with Disney's "Silly Songs" series.

Average customer rating:

Lullaby CD
Must Have!
Love this!
Love this CD!
Best lullaby CD -- get this

Sleep, Baby, Sleep [Blister Pack]
Nicolette Larson
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Audio)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Return to Pooh Corner
Dedicated to the One I Love
The Very Best of Nicolette Larson
'Til Their Eyes Shine (The Lullaby Album)
Songs from a Parent to a Child

ASIN: B00000FEPU
Release Date: 1994-05-24

Tracks:

Welcome To The World
Oh Bear
Starlight, Starbright
Irish Lullaby
Barefoot Floors
Appalachian Lullaby
I Bid You Goodnight
Moon And Me
Rock-A-Bye (Mallory's Song)
Rocking My Baby To Sleep
The Moment I Saw You

Amazon.com

Listeners familiar with Nicolette Larson's early work as a vocalist with Commander Cody will know right away that this project comes from her smoother-edged solo career. She scored big-easy rock hits, after all, a cynic might add, so it makes sense that her first release of the 1990s (nine years separate this recording and its predecessor, Say When) would be softened by keyboard washes and muted rhythms. But there's a simple reason for this CD's quietude, its floating gentleness: Larson writes in the liner notes that she wrote the songs as she sat by her daughter Elsie May's hospital bed as her daughter recovered. The music had to be all gentle and nonintrusive, and that's how it comes across. This is a great disc to spin as you rock the newborn. Larson's voice peeks out exceptionally as she covers an unreleased Neil Young tune ("Barefoot Floors") and presents a tender reading of "I Bid You Goodnight." Persistently fine layers of accordion and bowed cello give the keyboard-laden environments surprising warmth. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Lullaby CD.......2007-07-03

Absolutely the most soothing and beautiful bedtime music I have heard to help little ones fall to sleep and have a peaceful nights rest. I buy it for anyone who is expecting so it can be part of their newborn's nighttime ritual.

Must Have!.......2007-07-03

This is a must have for any newborn or child, and is very calming for the parent as well.

Love this!.......2007-06-23

The music is calming and beautiful. It really grows on you. Easy for mom to sing a long to and baby loves it!

Love this CD!.......2007-06-08

This is our thrid copy of this CD. The first was lent to us when our baby was born. We loved it so much we bought our own copy, so we wouldn't wear out our friend's copy. Then we decided we needed a copy for the car as well as our baby's room. She falls asleep to it every night now. The only problem is it's a little too short to get through rocking and then our baby falling asleep. Sometimes I have to come back into her room to play it again.

Best lullaby CD -- get this.......2007-05-08

Everyone needs a signature lullaby CD that you will forever relate to some of the best years, I hope, of your life. This one is it and it's so good that it applies to all three of my children, even after nearly daily listening...

Average customer rating:

it's ok.
One of my desert island selections
wow
More Blister Than Hope
A Disappointing 4AD Project Release

...smile's ok
The Hope Blister
Manufacturer: Mammoth / Pgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000HXF5
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Dagger
Only Human
Outer Skin
Sweet Unknown
Let the Happiness In
Is Jesus Your Pal?
Spider and I
Hanky Panky Nohow

Amazon.com

Fans of This Mortal Coil will be excited to learn of this project from 4AD's Ivo Watts-Russell. It's called the Hope Blister, and as with TMC, Watts-Russell is the musical director, although this time out the roster is fixed and led by vocalist Louise Rutkowski. On its debut, ...smile's ok, the group plays ethereal folk and romantic ambient pop that harks back to the early 4AD days. The Hope Blister perform eight cover tunes by the likes of David Sylvian, Heidi Berry, Alison and Jim Shaw of the Cranes, Brian Eno, John Cale, Neil Halstead of Mojave 3, Chris Knox of Tall Dwarfs, and Slow Blow, and the results are strikingly dreamy. These simple tunes are fleshed out with strong atmospheric contrasts, as when a growing wave of distorted effects washes over the stirring strings of "Spider and I" and the way trippy electric guitar wraps around the acoustic guitar of "Only Human." --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

it's ok........2004-08-26

I somehow missed this when it was released in 1998, well not somehow, I no longer expected anything from 4ad or actively disliked what they were releasing by that time. For me I guess the label was most meaningful from about 1984 to 1989, Cocteau Twins to Pixies.

But recently I found myself in a 4ad mood, listening to not just Filigree and Shadow, and earlier Cocteaus, but even giving Blood a spin (to my disappointment, see review). I heard about Hope Blister and figured I'd give it a try.

I do like it, in fact it almost seems too short, as if by the end they were just getting going. It starts off slow, with a cover of Slowdive's Dagger which is not terribly interesting. The original is haunting and spare, as is Hope Blister's. The mid-section of the album is spare as well, just vocals with strings or ambient noise. In my opinion Ivo engineers this much better than he did five years previously with Blood, however. The effects on the voice lend it a power found on the first two TMC albums, rather than the precious girlishness of Blood. I felt, in fact, vindicated listening to it that Ivo tried to create a sound that was more in continuity with the early TMC efforts rather than with Blood.

It is the last three songs that really grab the attention. They are deeply layered and have a complexity that will remind you of earlier 4ad music, but they are not simply riffs on earlier material, but have a power and structure all their own. In addition, as even the cover of Dagger would sugggest, Ivo had been paying attention to contemporary music and learned from the best of it, dare I suggest even Radiohead here?

If you are a fan of classic 4ad you will not be disappointed, but you won't be bowled over either. If you are a fan of new "goth" or ersatz 4ad you'll dig it too.

One of my desert island selections.......2004-06-13

It's been a few years now since Ivo has recorded this work of art, but it still finds its way onto my stereo at least once a week, sometimes more. The balance of extreme sadness and radiant hope is what all new music composers should strive for, but few succeed.

This album is as brilliant as David Sylvian's "Gone To Earth" and Joy Division's "Closer". Hi art (although in a somewhat gray scale) at its best.

wow.......2004-03-13

Oh my god - the previous post by A music fan from College Station, TX United States hit the nail perfectly. Really.
If your adolescence was soothed by Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil (of Filigree and Shadow fame especially) and you are still a searcher ... please consider Arvo Part and Gorecki's Symphony No. 3. There you will find the true coming of age that producer Ivo hinted at in the younger mist-dimmed 4 AD days long past that Hope Blister recalls, however hazily. (The Gorecki brings bitter tears to my eyes, so I can only spin it once a year - if that! You owe it to yourself ...)
But Smile's OK is ... well, ok. For those grasping for 4 AD straws, it recalls the "music for people who don't like to go out" days of the best of the label. But it is also pungently reminiscent of the worst of the label - the adolescent self-indulgence and "drama" that the later This Mortal Coil veered toward in "Blood" and even "It'll End in Tears," some of which was brilliant - some of which was fatally self-involved. If you're just pining for the good old days of all-black wardrobes, moon-tans and cardigans (be honest now), you'd do better to re-spin "filigree and shadow" or the Twins' "Treasure" or "Victorialand." Still, I bought this album as an act of loyalty and gratitude - I love the drone of "Is Jesus Your Pal?" and the "strength of strings" in "Spider and I" (where else are you going to find songs so "It'll End in Tears" being recorded - thanks Ivo!!) and I love the melancholy guitar and processed vocals in "Sweet Unknown" - ignoring the high-schoolish premise of the song ("For a while our world seemed right..." c'mon, it's a bit self-involved and Tragic) but I absolutely applaud any label recording totally un-mainstream creatively dark-bright serious-poetic songs to one's self with hardly a drummer in the house. Oh whatever, go ahead, buy this release - "Spider and I" makes it worth it for any true This Mortal Coil fan. You are - you are not - you are - alone. And that's the point, right?

More Blister Than Hope.......2004-02-13

I remember first hearing 4AD music during the late 80's when it was difficult to find "deep" music even within the alternative genre. I loved the use of strings and the soaring vocals on Hope Blister's previous incarnation- This Mortal Coil. Louise Rutkowski provides beautiful vocals on smiles..ok and the beautiful strings and ethereal sounds are still there.

Having been away for awhile, I guess I am just more skeptical of what I now perceive as all art and no substance. In particular, the song choices have lyrics that fit in the following categories: utterly depressing, unintelligible or vaguely antireligious. I used to wrestle with the meaning behind Ivo-Watts bands and now I think I realize that the philosophy is: there is no deeper meaning. The value is in the impression it creates upon you.

I couldn't disagree more. Having found deeper roots in my Christian faith, I can realize that there is time for somber reflection, which TMC and Hope Blister provide, but there is also real hope available in this world. If you like music that will stretch your soul, I would recommend Arvo Part's Alina and Henryk Gorecki's Symphony No.3.

A Disappointing 4AD Project Release.......2002-10-18

After hearing the the beautiful yet dark arrangements of original and cover songs on the This Mortal Coil project, I was expecting something as good on this CD. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The original Slowdive rendition of "Dagger" was already quite melancholic, but on this CD, the song is turned into a funeral dirge which drags on for nearly six minutes. As a whole, the album suffers from the sameness of a bleak soundscape that sounds like it's been painted black, for the purpose of covering up a lack of effort to make any instrumental arrangement for the songs.

Average customer rating:

Underarms & Sideways
The Hope Blister
Manufacturer: 4ad / Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

...smile's ok
...smile's ok
Detrola
Mysterious Skin
Lullabies to Violaine

ASIN: B000BRP2BY
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Tracks:

Sweet Medicine
Friday Afternoon
Iota
Dagger Strings
White On White
Sweet Medicine #2
Happiness Strings

Tracks:

Sideways 1 to 7

Album Description

Originally released in 1999 as part of 4AD's mail order/internet-only series, "Underarms" is an engaging and largely instrumental collection of outtakes from the band's "...smile's ok" sessions. Though the debut album consisted solely of covers, five of the seven tracks here are originals, and the disc provides a darkly ambient companion to "...smile's ok". The gorgeous, minimalist drone to both parts of "Sweet Medicine" provides a cyclical lean, and a couple tracks are downright sinister, on par with any of Main's harrowing soundscapes. This re-issue has new packaging and is a double disc containing the original album along with a second disc, all remixed by German electronic artist Markus Guentner (Kompakt Records).

Average customer rating:

A Battered Spirit Running Throughout The Songs
Sadly, VOL slides a bit more...
An unsung masterpiece
excellent CD!
Their definitive work

Blister Soul
Vigilantes of Love
Manufacturer: Capricorn Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Welcome to Struggleville
Killing Floor
Slow Dark Train
V.O.L.
Audible Sigh

ASIN: B000003CLU
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

Blister Soul
5 Miles Outside Monroe
Skin
Offer
Baalam's Ass
Bethlehem Steel
Tempest
Bolt Action
Parting Shot
Real Down Town
Certain Slant Of Light
Unsuccessful
Blister Soul (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

A Battered Spirit Running Throughout The Songs.......2004-03-20

"Blister Soul" the fifth Vigilnates Of Love album has a very hard guitar edge not found on any previous releases. The heavy crunch of the electric guitars on "5 Miles Outside Of Monroe" could not be classified as Metal, but it's obvious, with this cd, the band had shed their folk-rock persona. Even "Real Down Town," has a slightly stronger backbone to it then when it was originally released on "Killing Floor." Of course, that may have more to do with John Keane's production work than a change in the style of the band's music, but one listen to cuts like "Unsucessful" or "Bethlehem Steel" is evidence enough to indicate that the Vigilantes have entered a new phase of their musical journey. There's even a lot of electricity running through the strings of the quieter acoustic cuts.

Unlike his pictures inside the cd cover, touring for this album finds lead singer, Bill Mallonee, sporting long, blonde hair (dyed?) and wearing a leather jacket. With only two other bandmates along for this concert ride, the live sound they produced with just guitar, bass, and drums was even louder and harder than on the cd. (But who are those other guys photographed with Bill for the cd liner and posters? Photo-session models?)

Speaking of cd liners, I find this cover to be the coolest of the five realeases up to that point (1995). Especially the back cover with the guy (in anguish?) looking skyward, holding his shirt wide open to reveal the words "blister soul," in black letters, scrawled like graffiti across the tan skin of his bare chest. The red blotch above his thin choker necklace implys to the imagination a hint of blood. The photographer added to the creative effect by obscuring most of the persons face off the edge of the cover.

Apparently someone believed that "Real Down Town" was hit material. Not only was it recorded on 1992's "Killing Floor," and 95's "Blister Soul," they also realeased it alone on a single, and on a four song promotional EP called "Blister." Then later included it on the VOL compilation cd (best of). But wait, it dosen't stop there, once again it is being promoted on "VOL Rare Singles Pack (5 Discs)" available through Paste Magazine at Pastemusic.com for thirteen bucks (Only five songs, one per disc. They're the original singles from the Capricorn vault.)

I advise you to buy the cd "Blister Soul" and crank up the song "Blister Soul." It's a great song and deserves its position as the first track. But before you do, program the last track, "Blister Soul (reprise)" to play second. Its a fantastic acoustic cut, and except for the over-all emotional appeal and the one chorus line, its a completely different song. These two songs, one electric, one acoustic could be symbolically representative of the entire VOL sound from 1990 to 2000.

One of the other stand-out tunes is "Skin." Its got a mellow melody and contains classic Mallonee lyrics. After all, ts all in the words and the music, two things that this band have always been professionals at.

Sadly, VOL slides a bit more..........1999-10-15

Killing Floor was a burst of brilliance, a haunted mix of punk's urgency with the depth and sorrow of southern folk. Welcome to Struggleville was quite a step down, mostly wallowing in a weak production that seemed to have its eyes (and ears) on AAA radio. Strong songs drowned within the results. Now, Blister Soul.

Two of the songs on here deserve to be heard. Skin is simply the best song yet from VOL, while 5 Miles Outside Monroe is a fantastic straight-ahead, all barrels blazing rocker. I wish, I really wish, there was more here to recommend this CD. The fact is, this time around, the production has made a recovery only to find the songs have weakened. It is particularly jarring that Skin, VOL's best song, is followed by Offer, hands-down the saddest, sorriest, most banal song ever to limp from one of this band's CDs. Cliches melded to a weak, sing-a-long melody make the positive message here seem coy.

And this drives the nails into this disc. Two excellent songs cannot save a faulty album, especially when one of the tunes is available on VOL, the compilation album, in much better company.

Sad and bitterly disappointing.

An unsung masterpiece.......1999-10-14

This thing is a masterpiece; a radio-ready collection of brilliantly written, tightly played American folk rock, with uncommonly penetrating lyrics. Alternating between kick-*** rock energy, beautiful heartache and even a tad bit of Southern- Fried-Pop Gospel, this CD is a great introduction to the greatest unsung American band out there today. If you dig Americana rock of any sort, (early-Petty, R.E.M., Wilco, etc.), you owe it to yourself to buy this one. This is truly music that is good for the soul.

excellent CD!.......1999-08-03

This CD is typical of VOL: EXCELLENT! I bought this album after their new one had come out (to the Roof of the Sky, which I Love) and I was very impressed! Bill Mallonee, lead singer and songwriter is one of the best out there.

Their definitive work.......1998-06-21

Bill Mallonee has never sounded better than on "Blister Soul." "Skin" became an instant favorite. This album is rich in textures, poor in cliches. Bill's turn of a lyric phrase is unparalleled. A landmark album in the realm of progressive Christian music.

Average customer rating:

Stunning!
A worthy successor
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All This Mortal Coil fans MUST buy this!!!!!

...smile's ok
The Hope Blister
Manufacturer: 4ad_
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

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

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000008912
Release Date: 1997-11-05

Tracks:

Dagger
Only Human
Outer Skin
Sweet Unknown
Let the Happiness In
Is Jesus Your Pal?
Spider and I
Hanky Panky Nohow

Album Description

New 4AD act picks up where This Mortal Coil left off. Features This Mortal Coil contributing vocalist Louise Rutkowski with ex-Levitation/ ex-Dark Star bassist Lawrence O'Keefe, string arrangements by cellist Audrey Reilly and occasional drums & saxophone by Ritchie Thomas. Eight tracks, including a cover of Gus Gus' 'Is Jesus Your Pal'. 1998 release.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning!.......2001-02-23

I don't have much to add to the previous reviewers, as they did a great job with describing the tracks and other details. I just wanted to agree and say that if you are a 4AD collector and have enjoyed the This Mortal Coil albums, you must get this and the additional CD "Underarms" for your collection. To me, 4AD, Ivo and the musicians that create these beautiful sounds,are the ultimate musical experience. They are timeless and I never tire of listening to them. Another CD you may track down if you have not yet is a compilation made by 4AD: "Lonely Is An Eyesore" which comprised of individual tracks from 4AD bands. There is also a videocassette by the same name, most likely hard to get by now.

A worthy successor.......2000-12-22

"It'll End in Tears", the first This Mortal Coil album, was an opening door to the world of 4AD -- my appreciation of the Cocteau Twins led me to discover Dead Can Dance, Wolfgang Press, Breathless, and so many others. Sadly, there will be no further This Mortal Coil albums, but The Hope Blister satisfies my craving. Producer Ivo Watts-Russell has once again struck gold, albeit in a slightly different vein. A quieter and much sparer effort than any of This Mortal Coil's three albums, this nevertheless has much that will please fans of the original 4AD project.

The mood is mostly contemplative, frequently dark (even David Sylvian's bright "Let the Happiness In" interpreted in a tone of a plea). Breaking with tradition, only one singer gives voice to the album. Louise Rutkowski (herself a This Mortal Coil alumna) wonderfully provides warmth to the variety of sources and styles. Familiar will be the beautiful arrangements of rich strings, bass guitar, and some atmospheric horn. Once again, Ivo has chosen an broad array of material which holds together well as an album (evry track is great, with special notice going to the plaintive "Sweet Unknown" and the mostly true-to-life cover of Eno's "Spider and I").

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2000-08-18

Hope Blister - two incongruously paired words, but one unified concept. Put a 'The' in front of them and you have a band.

Of sorts.

The Hope Blister began early 1997 in the fertile mind of Ivo Watts-Russell, who founded 4AD in 1980 and embarked on one of the most enterprising, beguiling journeys known to independent record labels. Traversing from The Birthday Party to The Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance to Throwing Muses, The Pixies to The Breeders, Ivo still found time to conceive This Mortal Coil, a conglomeration of musicians he'd either signed, knew or admired and a heavenly jukebox/treasure trove of his favourite songs. Ivo wasn't a musician himself, but he had this sound in his head, and with help from engineer John Fryer, he 'conducted' the players, wrote instrumental links, and came up with three acclaimed albums - 1984's It'll End In Tears, 1986's double Filigree And Shadow and 1990's Blood.

Eight years after This Mortal Coil, and five years after Ivo shifted from London to Los Angeles (4AD's base remained in London), Ivo started craving the studio again - hence The Hope Blister. The principle was the same, banding together cover versions, handpicked for their melodic ingenuity, tapping Ivo's devout love of musical melancholia, except that Ivo's chosen interpreters this time around are just a singular band of players, given a much more minimalistic brief. Louise Rutkowski (who contributed to This Mortal Coil) on vocals, Lawrence O'Keefe (ex-Levitation and currently Dark Star) on bass, Audrey Reilly on string arrangements, Ivo on spiritual guidance/production and John Fryer on mixing duties is all. Richard Thomas appears on two tracks (Hanky Panky Nohow and Sweet Unknown).

Of the songs, the final selections were Dagger (by Neil Halstead, ex-Slowdive, now of 4AD signings Mojave 3), Only Human (Heidi Berry, who recorded three albums for 4AD), Outer Skin (Chris Knox of New Zealand duo Tall Dwarfs), Sweet Unknown (Alison and Jim Shaw of Cranes), Let The Happiness In (David Sylvian, of Japan and solo fame), Is Jesus Your Pal? (by the Icelandic band Slow Blow, previously covered by 4AD's new Icelandic signings GusGus), Spider & I (Eno, who needs no further explanation) and Hanky Panky Nohow (John Cale - likewise). It's some of the simplest music you'll hear this or any year, and some of the most beautiful - it's a bath-and-candle kind of record, or as Ivo says, "music for people who don't like to go out." It goes against the grain of much modern music - and gladly so.

"In the studio", Ivo recalls, "the music took it's own course. It had been a long time since I'd been in the studio, so it took me some time to even realise what I was trying to do. All I knew was, I wanted things to pretty much revolve around the bass guitar, and some strings. There were very few people involved, with very little preparation, playing games of musical consequence, passing ideas around. The whole thing was beautifully relaxed and easy."

For Ivo, The Hope Blister is a new expression thematically linked to This Mortal Coil, but equally separate. "When Blood was finished, I said that that would be the third and final This Mortal Coil album, and that's what it is. It stems from the fact that groups usually outstay their welcome, and make records that aren't as essential as their earlier work. I felt happy with This Mortal Coil, and wanted to leave it feeling happy, and not interfere with its legacy."

"Also, I feel differently now, and as a result, I feel differently about the project. I was less concerned with what my tangible role was - I was simply delighted to be able to be the enabler of the project."

As for the art of cover versions, a touchy subject out there, we're not talking the inappropriateness of Paul Young doing Love Will Tear Us Apart or Simple Minds doing Street Hassle. Ivo: "The intention is not to better the original, it's just a question of affection for them. Hopefully it's just a new reading, when new expression or intonation becomes part of the song."

The album reflects where Ivo's head is at: high in the hills above Silverlake in LA, away from the numbers, the 'scene', still in love with music but not all its trappings. "This record takes me where I want to go with music. I find very little music does that these days. I like the feeling of comfort and being at home, of having your furniture arranged around you..."

Finally, the name, The Hope Blister. "I wanted two words that worked together that normally don't. Hope Blister popped into my head, sitting in a traffic jam one day...it means different things to me, but the meaning is pretty much contained within the name, simultaneously positive and negative. Virtually everything in life is like that."

All This Mortal Coil fans MUST buy this!!!!!.......1998-08-24

Although not as expansive as the last two This Mortal Coil releases, The Hope Blister's "smile's ok" is comparably haunting--exquisitely produced from the amazing vocals (Louise Rutkowski), string arrangements, and every other lush detail of instrumentation...anyone who has been craving new This Mortal Coil material (which will reportedly never come to be) certainly will be more than delighted with the absolute beauty of The Hope Blister's new release...it is worth many, many listenings and much respect. Kudos to Ivo, The Hope Blister, and everyone at 4ad from a devoted longtime fan!!!

Classic Disney Vol. 1: 60 Years Of Music & Magic [Blister Pack]

Average customer rating:

a fun CD covering Disney's long history
Fantastic
Wonderful!
this one is really good

Classic Disney Vol. 1: 60 Years Of Music & Magic [Blister Pack]
Disney
Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Disney | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Cartoon Music | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Disney Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001M82
Release Date: 1995-03-28

Tracks:

Aladdin: A Whole New World - Brad Kane/Lea Salonga
The Lion King: Circle Of Life - Carmen Twillie/Lebo M
Beauty And The Beast: Beauty And The Beast - Angela Lansbury
The Little Mermaid: Under The Sea - Samuel E. Wright
The Lion King: Hakuna Matata - Nathan Lan/Ernie Sabella/Jason Weaver/Joseph Williams
The Little Mermaid: Kiss The Girl - Samuel E. Wright
The Lion King: I Just Can't Wait To Be King - Jason Weaver/Rowan Atkinson/Laura Williams
The Little Mermaid: Poor Unfortunate Fools - Pat Carroll
Mary Poppins: Chim Chim Cher-ee - Dick Van Dyke/Julie Andrews/Karen Dotrice/Matthew Garber
Mary Poppins: Jolly Holiday - Dick Van Dyke/Julie Andrews
Mary Poppins: A Spoonful Of Sugar - Julie Andrews
The Parent Trap: Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills
The Monkey's Uncle: The Monkey's Uncle - Annette Funicello/The Beach Boys
Summer Magic: The Ugly Bug Ball - Burl Ives
Walt Disney's Wonderful World Of Color: The Spectrum Song - Paul Frees
The Jungle Book: Colonel Hathi's March - J. Pat O'Malley/The Pachyderm Chorus
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea: A Whale Of A Tale - Kirk Douglas
Peter Pan: You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! - Bobby Driscoll/Kathryn Beaumont/Paul Collins/Tommy Luske
Cinderella: The Work Song - The Mouse Chorus
Cinderella: A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes - Ilene Woods
Song Of The South: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - James Baskett
Fantasia: Dance Of The Reed Flutes - Leopold Stokowski
Bambi: Love Is A Song - Donald Novis
Snow White And The Seven Dwarves: Some Day My Prince Will Come - Adriana Caselotti
Mickey Mouse Theme Song: Minnie's Yoo Hoo! - Carl Stalling/Walt Disney

Customer Reviews:

a fun CD covering Disney's long history.......2001-08-23

This CD cannot, of course, cover all of Disney's history .... but they do a very nice job of sampling it.

From the vintage (Mickey Mouse Theme Song, Burl Ives' Ugly Bug Ball) to the classic (selections from Bambi, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, and Cinderella) to the more recent (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Lion King), these are the songs performed by the original artists. They bring back a flood of memories for young and old alike.

The booklet is sparse, but does give credit to the composer, lyricist, performers and producers of each of the twenty-five songs.

Very upbeat. A nice value.

Fantastic.......2001-07-02

We (my 4 year old daughter and I) listen to this in the car constantly. The music is very vibrant, it keeps her going and going. Our favorites are Monkey's Uncle with Annette Funicello and the Color Spectrum. It will keep you very entertained and you'll find yourself singing and humming the tunes all day long.

Wonderful!.......2001-04-18

I discovered many new songs on this CD and all are awesome. The Ugly Bug Ball and the Color Spectrum song are my favorites, but be careful, you may end up singing "red, yellow, green, red, blue blue blue, red, purple, green, yellow, orange, red, red" :) This is a very cheerful CD and as you can tell by the contents it contains songs from throughout Disney's history. Great for kids and adults. I just wish Disney would now re-release some of the older movies.

this one is really good.......1999-07-07

I love all these songs.it's got almost all the songs i had ever needed in a single CD

A Celebration of Me, Grover (Blister Pack)

Average customer rating:

A Celebration of Me, Grover (Blister Pack)
Sesame Street
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Audio)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Sesame Street | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Educational | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002QO46S
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

Grover Work Song
Monster in the Mirror
Over, Under, Around and Through
Fuzzy and Blue (And Orange)
How Do You Do? - Lena Horne
Me
There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
I Have Feet
Just Because
My Furry Little Shadow
I Stand Up Straight and Tall
Proud of Me

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music