The Kings

Track Listings

1. Parrandero - Little Joe

2. Para Que Te Acuerdes de Mi - Freddy Fender

3. Al Cortar Una Gardenia - Little Joe

4. Kingston Town - Freddy Fender

5. Nubes - Little Joe

6. Mi Pueblito - Freddy Fender

7. Borrachera-Margarita - Little Joe

8. Nada en el Mundo - Freddy Fender

9. Amor Bonito - Little Joe

10. Quiero Que Me Quieras - Freddy Fender

11. Lonesome Me - Little Joe

12. Aun Asi - Freddy Fender

13. Cada Vez Que Te Miro - Little Joe

14. Primera Vez - Freddy Fender

The Kings,Little Joe & Freddy Fender,Freddie Records,Latin,Latin Music,Mexican,Norteño,Tejano

The Kings

Tracks:

Knocked Up
Charmer
On Call
McFearless
Black Thumbnail
My Party
True Love Way
Ragoo
Fans
The Runner
Trunk
Camaro
Arizona

Amazon.com

Aha Shake Heartbreak may have blown open the doors of fame for Kings of Leon, but their third full-length album (named for a United Pentecostal Church ministers' conference) could well usher the Nashville foursome directly to rock and roll's zenith. There's hardly a change in plans for the three Followill brothers and their cousin, and that means producer Ethan Johns, a smorgasbord of musical influences, and a cacophonous ensemble of guitar, bass, and drums. A trio of relentless rockers--"My Party," "Camaro," and the sarcastic "Charmer"--are sure to pacify those familiar with the Kings' blueprint, yet there is ripening in the band's approach heard, in several of the record's 13 songs. Reverb guitar and vocals and a "woo woo" chorus add a sinister aspect to "Trunk," and "Knocked Up" features a laissez-faire Caleb Followill crooning "She don't care what her mama said/She's gonna have my baby." The seven-minute revelation of fatherhood that opens the album leads into the U2-influenced "McFearless," a reggae-splashed "Ragoo," and the rambling English blues of "Black Thumbnail." It's a rogue element that has always left every record fresh, and this time it has Kings of Leon teetering on the edge of rock renown. --Scott Holter

Album Description

Third album from the rockin' American quartet whose previous albums (2003's Youth And Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak from '05) have earned them a large worldwide following. Consisting of three brothers and a cousin, the Kings Of Leon mix their own brand of Southern Rock with touches of Garage, Punk and Alternative swagger. RCA.

Album Details

Their third full length album.

Customer Reviews:

Do not hesitate to buy if you were disappointed with ASH.......2007-07-11

I thought Youth and Young Manhood was excellent, thought Aha Shake Heartbreak wasn't that good and therefore wasn't gonna pick up Because of the Times. But my husband had read good reviews and purchased it. Wow! What a coup/comeback for the Followill boys! I think this is their best so far; a very strong disc. I don't think there is a dud song on the whole album. I almost blew out the speakers in my car cranking up Black Thumbnail and My Party over and over and over. Moody, diverse, rockin' - love it! Buy it, you will not be sorry you did.

Disappointing comeback.......2007-07-07

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't been able to get into this. I loved their first album, thought their second one was okay, but this one may be worse than the last one. I can't really give too thorough of a review since I didn't get past the fourth song on the first listen, and haven't listened to it since, even seriously considered trading it in.

I got this CD after reading a stellar review by Q Magazine appauding it. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Best Alternative/Indie/Rock Album This Year.......2007-07-05

If you're reading this review, you probably know to some extent who the Kings of Leon are - a relatively young indie-rock band out of Tennessee whose appeal is said to come from equal parts youthful energy and wisdom-beyond-their-years.

Their debut was a southern-fried scramble of distorted guitars and yelping vocals that seemed to delight in its own unholiness. On Because of the Times, the guitars are still distorted, the singer's still yelping and the themes aren't necessarily wholesome - see 'Knocked Up', in which singer Caleb belts "She don't care what her mama says, no she's gonna have my baby" - but at times there's a beauty to the arrangements that's almost divine.

That's not to suggest that the band has forgotten to rock, though, because they haven't; in fact, at this point in their career the band has the musicianship to back up their ambition, and the result is some of the most fulfilling rock you can hear on the indie scene today.

If you like either of KoL's previous two albums, you'll love this one. If you're looking for an introduction to the Kings of Leon's work, this is as good a starting point as any.

Absolutely gorgeous, top-notch.......2007-07-01

It's been a while I am aware of KoL. I saw them opening The Strokes and found them interesting. Their first singles were intriguing. But with this album they have reached a summit of musical expression. Sure their sound is certainly more polished, more produced than before, sometimes dangerously sounding U2ish but this CD is simply a beauty of universal soul music. The singer has such an extraordinary soulful voice and melodies and orchestration are captivating. Easily one of the best CDs of 2007 and already lining up for best of 2000s!

Wow- New Music that actually lives up to its reputation?.......2007-06-30

This is a really good CD. I was surprised b/c I have heard them described as the Skynrd Strokes. I am not really a big fan of the Strokes and living in Ohio, you hear Skynrd everytime you turn the radio on. But, this album is unique and doesn't seem packaged. This album has a lot of soul. Buy it, learn the lyrics and sing as loud as you can while in the shower.

Average customer rating:

Rush reaching their Musical peak
Top 3
Another Great Effort By The Boys From Toronto
Excellent progressive hard rock/metal
Excellent album and follow up to the classic "2112"

A Farewell to Kings
Rush
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hemispheres
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ASIN: B000001ESJ
Release Date: 1997-05-06

Tracks:

A Farewell To Kings
Xanadu
Closer To The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

Customer Reviews:

Rush reaching their Musical peak.......2007-06-28

Although I am a new fan to RUSH I do believe with this album 'A Farewell to Kings' is where the band started to reach their Musical peak along with their next 'Hemispheres'. Before "A Farewell.." RUSH released '2112' and I don't think it compares to 'A Farewell to Kings' at all. This one has more matured songwriting.
I say that I am a new fan because years ago I never cared for Geddy Lee's voice. I remember turning the Radio off or changing the station when a song like "Tom Sawyer" from 'Moving Pictures' came on.
Over time and with recent purchases I have learned to appreciate Geddy Lee's incredible vocals. No one sings like this guy. I now think he truly does have an amazing voice.
The first two songs on 'A Farewell to Kings' are pure classics and favorites of mine -title track- and the epic "Xanadu" -transporting me into another world (of paradise) filled with immensely superb prog rock scailing the Mountain Tops of sound to enlighten your pleasure dome. A full 11 minutes of monumental scope and sound quality. Apocalyptic intensity!
Next is "Closer to the Heart" and another RUSH song I remember hearing on the Radio years ago. Alex Lifeson does some really good acoustic work on this one. Simple lyrics, but direct and highly felt.
"Cinderella Man" is a pleasant heart felt song including Top-notch bass playing.
"Madrigal" is the shortest track out of the six on 'A Farewell..' at 2:33. It's a song of love lost, my least favorite on this, but it's still better then anything found on '2112' besides the title track.
"Cygnus X-1" is out of this World at over 10 minutes and truly a spacey prog-rock Masterpiece.

~ Glad I finally got into RUSH after all these years after not paying much attention to them. I knew my Music collection was lacking something, so I filled it with two incredible prog-rock bands with YES and now RUSH.
- I highly recommend 'A Farewell to Kings' to anyone who likes progressive Rock or is thinking about buying a RUSH record.

Top 3.......2007-06-25

Farewell is classic Rush. Xanadu is one Rush's best songs of all time. The title track, Farewell to Kings is also outstanding and shows the bands versatility. I would rank this release as a top 5 in the bands long history. My ranking would be Hemispheres and 2112 are 1 and 1A. With Farewell coming in at 3rd or 4th at the worst if youre going to go with Moving Pictures in 3rd. Either way, this is one of Rush's best, and should not be missed by any Rush fan.

Another Great Effort By The Boys From Toronto.......2007-06-13

After the initial success of 2112, Rush took another step forward with A Farewell To Kings. Where 2112 was ambitious and sprawling, Kings is more concise and less gradiose, but still better musically than it's predecessor. You can feel Rush getting more mature, more comfortable with themselves, more cofident to honing their sound. The compositions here have reached a point where their song construction is clever, adept, and precise. The classical guitar on Kings, the intro to Xanadu, the acoustic phrasings of Closer To The Heart. You can feel Rush has evolved.

A Farewell To Kings - I quoted this song in my High School yearbook back in the day. Great tune. Very mature. Alex shines.

Xanadu - Epic! The intro is great with the birds and all the different percussion instruments Neil throws in. One of my personal favorites. Excellent. I scaled the frozen mountaintops of Eastern lands unknown....

Closer To The Heart - A Rush classic along the lines of Spirit Of Radio or Tom Sawyer. Short, sweet and to the point. Perfect.

Cinderella Man - An often overlooked song. Geddy wrote the lyrics to this tune and it works well. Solid.

Madrigal - Probably the weakest song on the album. Not bad, just short and very reflective. Moody. Sounds like side two of 2112 Lessons or Tears. Not filler, just not spectacular Rush.

Cygnus X-1 - The ten and a half minute vastly superior bastard son of The Necromancer. In the last few years Rush has started to perform this song live again. It is a killer tune, just throws me off a little bit with the distorted intro voice that makes me flash back to Caress of Steel. Defiinitely jams.

Overall, you can feel that Rush has reached a point in their career where they actually feel in control of themselves and their music. The polished feel of these songs speaks volumes for them as perfectionists and muscians. One of the string of truly great Rush albums that span from 2112 to Moving Pictures on the older side of the Rush catalog.

Dig it!

Excellent progressive hard rock/metal.......2007-04-15

I really enjoyed this 1977 album (way back when) and along with the excellent Hemispheres (1978), Farewell to Kings finds the band at a proggy peak. The overall sound of Farewell to Kings borrows heavily from English progressive rock, yet with a healthy dose of hard rock and heavy metal styles. Overall, I find the combination pretty exciting and the album makes for a great listen.

The lineup on Farewell to Kings includes Geddy Lee (lead vocals, Rickenbacker 4001 bass, Taurus bass pedals, mini-moog synthesizer, and 12-string acoustic guitar); Neil Peart (drums and percussion); and Alex Lifeson (6 and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars, classical nylon guitar, and Taurus bass pedals). I think that of all the bands in the progressive hard rock/heavy metal genre (e.g. Kansas, Styx), Rush had the finest musicians. Geddy Lee is a superb bassist and along with incredible drummer Neil Peart made up one of the finest rhythm sections around. I recall listening to Neal's drumming in particular and loving the thunderous fills on his roto toms and the excellent double bass drum attacks here and there. Neal also happened to be a superb lyricist and his lyrics on Farewell to Kings are exceptional.

The six tracks on the album range in length from 2'33" to the lengthy 11'05" Xanadu suite. Musically, this album borrows heavily from English progressive rock and the epic length pieces, odd time signatures, dense ensemble work, virtuoso performances, vaguely experimental sections, and sharp acoustic/electric contrasts are plastered all over the album. Synthesizers are used a lot too, which makes the comparison with the English prog bands unavoidable. There is also a prominent hard rock/heavy metal element present too - Geddy's vocal style really makes this come across, but the heavily distorted electric guitar also contributes. Although I really enjoy all of the tracks, my favorites include Xanadu and the lengthy 10'21" Cygnus X-1 suite (which was continued on Hemispheres). This track, along with Xanadu features some nice spacey, acoustic passages and the muscular riffs that featured prominently in a lot of their compositions. Cygnus X-1 also has it's crazy moments too, particularly on the frenzied closing passage whereby "sound and fury drowns my heart, every nerve is torn apart..." Of course, although I have been obsessing over the prog component of the album, there are some nice "songs" on the album too including Closer to the Heart and the delicate track Madrigal. The title track and Cinderella Man are concise, yet complex prog statements.

This remastered album feature great sound quality and restored cover art.

All in all, this album is highly recommended along with the excellent Hemispheres. Other albums that might prove enjoyable include a few by Kansas including Song for America (1975); Leftoverture (1976); and Point of Know Return (1977).

Excellent album and follow up to the classic "2112".......2007-03-26

With "A Farewell to Kings", Rush achieved a new level of maturity in their songwriting, arrangements, and recording that they lacked on their previous albums. Every song on this album is very good, with "Xanadu" and "Closer to the Heart" being the best of the group. Most bands can't follow up a classic album this well, and Rush deserves a lot of credit for putting out a strong record like "A Farewell to Kings" after "2112". If I had to find one negative about this album, it would be that it doesn't have the same raw intensity of "2112". Every Rush fan will already own this, but still a strong recommendation to non-hardcore fans that want to own a few Rush albums.

Average customer rating:

if you love living, you will love this
The best accoustic band in the world
Disappointed
bad mistake, it sits buried, never to be played again
Impossible to listen to and sit still !!

The Best of the Gipsy Kings
Gipsy Kings
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy Kings
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ASIN: B000005J38
Release Date: 1995-03-28

Tracks:

Djobi, Djoba
Viento Del Arena
Baila Me
Un Amor
Moorea
Volare
Quiero Saber
Escucha Me
La Dona
Montana
Bem, Bem, Maria
Trista Pena
Bamboleo
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Love & Liberte
A Tu Vera
Medley: Bamboleo/Volare/Djobi Djoba/Pida Me La/Baila Me

Amazon.com essential recording

Hailing from the Reyes and Baliardo Gypsy families, this ensemble from the south of France has been playing "rumba flamenca" since the late 1980s. With this 1995 compilation, the songwriting talent and virtuosity this unique group possesses were gathered together in one comprehensive CD. Notable inclusions are the anthemic hit "Bamboleo," from their debut, Gipsy Kings; the slowly emotive "Trista Pena" the Italian cover "Volaré," from Mosaïque; and assorted live cuts that wonderfully capture the wild energy these players spark onstage. In short, the Gipsy Kings are a celebratory bunch who know how to rock with a rhapsody of acoustic guitars, passionate vocals, and walls of congas, timbales, cabasas, and bongos. Check this caravan out. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

if you love living, you will love this.......2007-05-21

I guess to each his own, but this disc is breathtaking, soothing, emotional, fun, spicy, and many other thing all in one. My daughter loves their music as does everone I know. It is great for every age. I would rate this even more, if possible. Full of soul!!

The best accoustic band in the world.......2007-03-17

Beautifull rythms, I like this the best because of viento del arena.

Disappointed .......2007-03-16

If this is the "Best" then I definately don't want to buy anymore.

bad mistake, it sits buried, never to be played again.......2007-02-27

I was expecting something along the lines of Strunz and Farah, after hearing only one tune on the radio. What a disappointment! There is that one song, it is clearly different from the rest of the tracks. And thankfully, it contains no Kings vocals, which are as grating on the ears as pigs in heat! Of course, there are some reveiwers, as reflected by all the stars following this album around, who relish this stuff.
If you are new to these guys, beware! Taste the sauce first on someone else's dime before you buy.

Impossible to listen to and sit still !!.......2007-02-26

I've been listening to this CD for the past 10 years and it never loses its appeal. The energy, the raw/rough emotion in the voices, the fabulous rhythms, the intricate guitar work - all of them combine to make music that makes you want to move every part of your body. If you want to feel upbeat or energized while you drive, I suggest you play this at top volume in the car (hopefully with the windows closed); reserve the dancing until your feet are on the ground again. Just saw the Gipsy Kings in concert last night at Radio City and was lucky enough to hear them play 3 or 4 songs from this CD - the ENTIRE audience was on its feet, dancing, singing along and roaring with approval.

Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy Kings

Average customer rating:

This is my second copy!
I'm dancing as I write this!!!
Rumba Flamenca I love!
Great music!
Buy it already

Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy Kings
Gipsy Kings
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004WZOL
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

Volare
Bamboleo
Djobi Djoba
Bem, Bem Maria
Baila Me
Pida Me La (previously unreleased)
Soy
Sin Ella
Vamos a Bailar
A Ti A Ti
La Rumba de Nicolas
No Vivire
Allegria
La Dona
Oy
A tu Vera
Solo por Ti
Oh Eh Oh Eh (previously unreleased)
A mi Manera

Tracks:

Tu Quieres Volver
Un Amor
Escucha Me
Habla Me
No Volvere
Caminando por la Calle
Mujer
Este Mundo
Ternuras
Quiero Saber
Inspiration
Camino
Trista Pena
Viento del Arena
Passion
Mi Corazon
I've Got No Strings
Hotel California

Amazon.com

There's very little doubt that the Gipsy Kings are good at what they do--they've become the brand name in Sevillana, the pop-oriented flamenco style. Since 1989, when the single "Bamboleo" and their Gipsy Kings album broke through and went gold in the United States, they've found a willing audience in America for their style, which, while flashy, doesn't demand a great deal of the listener, unlike more hardcore versions of flamenco. This double set collects 37 of their biggest tracks, including a version of the Eagles' "Hotel California," into one package guaranteed to satisfy fans of their precise, jubilant playing. And there's no denying they have the power to move people with their singing and fretwork, making this a must for those who want to experience all the familiar material in one sitting. Like the band themselves, the record is an unqualified success as a greatest hits package. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

This is my second copy!.......2007-01-10

This double CD by the Gipsy Kings is one of my all-time favorites! I now have 2 copies of this CD and I introduce the Gipsy Kings to as many people as I possibly can. Everytime "Volare" plays, I feel like dancing! Just really great, infectious, "feel-good" music! You do not have to understand Spanish to enjoy!

I'm dancing as I write this!!!.......2006-07-25

While I am not a music connoisseur, I can tell you that my whole family LOVES this album. From my 34 yr. old husband right down to our 1 yr. old son and all others in between. You will not be disappointed! This is our favorite album of the summer and we try hard to be flamenco dancers while singing along and cleaning the house-it's quite a show, I assure you...

Rumba Flamenca I love!.......2006-04-04

I must say that the Gypsy Kings are simply musical geniuses. Every song of theirs is a "Hit" in itself. The history of how they came together is also very fascinating. I grew up listening to these guys thanks to my dad. The first time I heard the Gypsy Kings was in 1991 (this is when I didn't even know who they were!). When sitting in the car, he would pop his cassette in the tape player and all of a sudden, this music would put me in a trance. I finally found out who they were in 96' and I was glad that I did. Bem, Bem Maria; Tu Quieres Volver, and El Verano are my all time favorites. I could listen to these 3 songs over and over and never get tired of it. It's not only the strong rhythm that they bring in their music, but its also the hard melody they play out in all of their studio recordings. For anyone who is reading this and is not familiar with the Gypsy Kings, I suggest you buy an album from them. I recommend "Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy..." Since it has all their greatest hits. Once you do, you will fall in love with the sounds of Rumba Flamenca!

Great music!.......2006-03-13

I had been meaning to buy music by the Gypsy Kings for some time - having always heard mention of them. I am really glad I finally did! The collection is a great introduction to their wonderful music. It is fun and energetic - beautiful songs in spanish!

Buy it already.......2005-12-15

Whether you have all the previous albums, seen them in concert, or are just discovering this band you will love this album.
It is a must have for anyone with a little spice in their collection.
This 2 disc album brings to life the history of this group, it fills the room you play it in with love and energy, and it fills you with a taste of their inspirations.
Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!
Heartbroken Smiles
KOL's Best
Great Album from the best new rock band
The King ain't dead.....

Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00078XKD4
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

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Amazon.com

Nomadic Southern evangelist Leon Followill may take soap suds to the mouths of the kinfolk wunderkinds--his three sons and a nephew--in Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon, whose second album spins enough cuss phrases and sexual allusions to leave Dolly Parton flushed. But the peculiar 20-something longhairs also fuel up on a filthy shotgun bass and relentless guitar riffs, complementing the delightfully discordant drawl of vocalist Caleb Followill to whittle a 35-minute grab bag of garage rock, English blues, sixties psychedelia, London Calling-ska, spaced-out country waltzes and front-porch, red-state revelry. Without revising its 2003 debut Youth & Young Manhood, producer Ethan Johns (The Jayhawks, Ray LaMontagne) steers the band down a similar mischievous road, integrating poles-apart rhythms and techniques into an energized jumble of rotating tempos and lyrical bombshells. Putting faith in earth-shakers like "Velvet Snow" and "Pistol Of Fire," the wound down and pleasing "Milk" and its yodeling cousin "Day Old Blues," the Kings ultimately escape Preacher Leon's retribution, rendering him speechless--save for a simple "amen." --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-07-10

This ablum is great all the way around from the tempo, lyrics and instramentals to the tone and depth of each successive track. I definitely reccomend this to anyone who is a fan of The Rolling Stones, White Stripes or The Black Keys.

Heartbroken Smiles.......2007-06-21

This is, in my opinion, the best album put out by the Kings of Leon so far. It's right in the sweet spot between their early, gritty, garage rock days and their current, polished, art rock style. The songs have a strange poetic truth to them, going between stories of growing up, breaking up, incest, and even erectile disfunciton with grace and a unique, catchy sound.

If you're interested in the Kings of Leon, but don't know which album to pick, this is the one. I recommend all of their albums, but this is far and away their most inspired record to date.

KOL's Best.......2007-05-12

This album didn't grab me right away, but I liked it more and more as I listened to it. Now I consider it one of the rare albums that really does deserve 5 stars. For the full 5 I think every song should be good, and several of them should be great and that's the case here. I'm not all that fond of KOL's 1st or 3rd albums, but all the planets aligned for this one and they do their own unique thing just right.

Great Album from the best new rock band.......2007-04-19

I can't believe how many reviewers are trashing this band. Open your ears to GOOD music!

The King ain't dead............2007-04-16

How good is this album????

I heard Youth and Young Manhood at my local coffee shop a few years ago and went out and bought it straight away. I liked it, but this is better...way better. I love listening to a band that perfectly mixes lyrics, music and attitude.

To the reviewers who gave this 1 star because Caleb's voice is crap....get a life....if you place that as one of your criteria go and listen to Mariah Carey....his vocals and the raw guitar sound are one of the best musical matches I have heard in a long time and more power to these guys for keeping it real...

Now the tracks....Slow Night So Long, Taper Jean Girl, Milk, King of the Rodeo are all fantasic songs but pound for pound "The Bucket" is their best song recorded to date. The rattling drum beat in the chorus makes this one of my fav tracks.

Really there are no weak songs, it is just one of those rare albums that hits the mark in so many ways. My only regret is that I missed seeing them when the toured last year especially considering they held an impromptu gig at my local.....Oh well next time around...

The Big Lebowski: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

terrific!!
Not bad... but missing something.
8-miles high track... better in movie.
what the f*ck?!
camd908

The Big Lebowski: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stamping Ground - Moondog With Orchestra
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) - Kenny Rogers And The First Edition
Walking Song - Meredith Monk
Die Tote Standt - Gluck Das Mir Verblieb
Lujon - Henry Mancini
Hotel California - Gipsy Kings
Technopop - Carter Burwell
Dead Flowers - Townes Van Zandt

Amazon.com

One of the most inspired cobbled-together-from-a-stack-of-records soundtrack albums since Pulp Fiction, The Big Lebowski matches the goofily ramshackle spirit of the Dude, the hero of its celluloid companion. While offering Bob Dylan's luv-addled "Man in Me" together with the Gipsy Kings' redefinitive "Hotel California" and the psychedelic-era Kenny Rogers nugget "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," Lebowski also gives longer play to some cuts barely sampled in the film, including Elvis Costello's "My Mood Swings." Whether taken as a Coen brothers mix tape, a one-album CD carousel, or an apropos souvenir of one wiggy flick, this is a smart, eclectic buy. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

terrific!!.......2007-06-30

this is a fantastic album, if you like ecclectic music, that is. easily one of my favorites.

Not bad... but missing something........2007-04-17

This cd definitely has some good points. A great song by Dylan from the opening credits and my favourite, "Dead Flowers" done by Townes Van Zandt. But tremendously written by Jagger and Richards. Funny how my faves are from the start and end of the film. Between these two songs and a rousing "Hotel California" by the Gypsy Kings, I'm happy enough, but oddly, no Creedance. What am I gonna listen to while reaching for that joint I dropped in my lap in the car?

8-miles high track... better in movie........2007-03-19

The song that goes with the Treehorn dream sequence in the film (Kenny Rodgers et al "Tripped on a Cloud/ 8-miles high") was better in the movie, as the version on the cd is a poor original edit, with ackward reverses (and I like reverses, when not halfway through a measure...- for example, the reverse that opens it up is fine, the one three quarters through or so, you see, is not.), half measures chopping up the rhythm and in general either hastily done or naively... I've toyed with the idea of re-editing it myself in a track editor, but I'll just delete it from my player, because I'm lazy. The other tracks are good, but with a few odd ones like the feminist chant song- play this at your next Halloween party/[...]. I have loads of creedence, so not missing that. the Gypsy Kings' "Hotel California" is the best track, much better after first listen as anyone who has watched Lebowski more than a few times will be surprised by the new verses at first. "The Man in Me", if you don't already have it, isn't exactly representative of Dylan's work in large, but is a nice ditty. The Mancini song is filler. Elvis Costello's "My Mood Swings" rocks, and I'm glad it was included despite being minutely used in the film. Anyway, it's a good cd all in all, but only for "Hotel California", and "My Mood Swings"... otherwise the Kenny Rodgers' song is bad, should have been re-edited... Probably the reason it was obscure to begin with... The Man in Me is widely available. My advice... wait and find Gypsy Kings elsewhere. Same for Costello and Dylan. Not the best playing mix.

what the f*ck?!.......2007-03-06

No Tumblin' Tumbleweeds. That's a bummer, man, uh, you've got to have Tumbleweeds in there, the film f*cking OPENS with it, man, and it's in there again later with the Stranger. This is a f*ckin travesty. F*ck it. I'm goin bowling.

camd908.......2007-01-05

The Dude is the man for our times. John Goodman makes Walter the crazed Vietman vet a classic movie side kick. And what can you say about Donny except he loved to surf. Happy Trails.

Average customer rating:

its kings of leon
SIMPLY SUBLIME (not the band, the definition)
OK if Your Like it Basic
hallelujah the 3 minute high energy song is back!!
Still Fresh

Youth & Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Because of the Times
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Holy Roller Novocaine
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

ASIN: B00009YFP8
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Tracks:

Talihina Sky
Red Morning Light
Happy Alone
Wasted Time
Joe's Head
Trani
California Waiting
Spiral Staircase
Molly's Chambers
Genius
Dusty
Holy Roller Novocaine

Amazon.com

Already tagged with the unfortunate critical label of "southern-fried Strokes," the full-length debut by the brothers Followill (Nathan, Jared, Caleb) and cousin (Matthew Followill) may well have its roots in their itinerant evangelist father Leon blasting his sons with relentless doses of `70s rock as they traveled the South from one preaching gig to the next. But the way the Kings channel sources as disparate as Led Zeppelin's "That's the Way" into "Joe's Head" or the Who's "Circles" into their ""Molly's Chambers" seems almost subconscious; after a decade of bands trying to reinvent the rock wheel, it's refreshing to hear one content to gleefully pry it loose and send it spinning in their own peculiar directions. As with all the great ones, deconstructing the Kings' sound doesn't get you far: singer/guitarist Caleb perpetually seems to be rolling one too many syllables off a lazy, Southern tongue while his haystack-haired brothers and cousin chug maniacally along like some lost, recently re-tooled '60s garage-psych-rock legend. In the end there's not an ounce of the Strokes' latent pop culture self-consciousness in the Kings' intoxicating sonic haze--just the restless, often bittersweet noise of one of the most original bands to hail from Dixie since R.E.M. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

its kings of leon.......2007-05-17

do i really need to say anything more? One of my fav disks by one of my fav bands.

SIMPLY SUBLIME (not the band, the definition).......2007-01-22

New different sound that picks up some great influences - Strokes meet the Velvet Underground meets the "I don't give a @#$% what you think of my music" creativity of Jeff Buckley.

These guys are an open channel and both albums are must haves. Listen over and over - you'll get it.

If you don't understand this band or Caleb's phrasing - you were probably one of the people who thought Jeff Buckley's Grace album was crap.

This is the band to watch for the next decade. Enjoy.

OK if Your Like it Basic.......2006-12-12

Very basic rock and roll. I get the impression that these guys barely know how to play their instruments, and their singing is not particularly "schooled" either.

If you're looking for some simple rock, with a touch of folk here and there, this might be for you. Sort of Bob Dylan meets The Strokes.

Some of the tunes are quite engaging. But on the whole, it all seems sort of trite.

hallelujah the 3 minute high energy song is back!!.......2006-11-07

i found this cd to be one of my all time favorites! high energy, sexy lyrics, growly vocals. you don't get much better than that in rock and roll. then there's that amazing "dusty", true to form swamp blues, one of my favorites. anyone looking for a true rock and roll sound will not be disappointed by this cd!!

Still Fresh.......2006-06-17

3 years later, and this album still sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it. Garage rock with a southern twist. It took a few listens to really grow on me, but sometimes the best ones do. In todays music, there's not many albums that have a lot of "staying power", but this one does. It might be a familiar sound to some, but at the same time you'll know that you've never heard anything quite like it before. And it was definitely a treat to see them a few times last year, open for U2.
You know you're on your way up, when Bono calls...

Average customer rating:

6 stars out of 5!!
1+1=Kings of Convenience
every song is a poem
An excellent album from an excellent band
peaceful thoughtful peppy

Riot on an Empty Street
Kings of Convenience
Manufacturer: Astralwerks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Quiet Is the New Loud
Versus
Unrest
Let It Die
Alphabetical

ASIN: B00026W82U
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Homesick
Misread
Cayman Islands
Stay Out Of Trouble
Know How
Sorry Or Please
Love Is No Big Truth
I'd Rather Dance With You
Live Long
Surprise Ice
Gold In The Air Of Summer
The Build Up

Album Description

Their second album, 'Riot On An Empty Street' picks up where 'Quiet Is The New Loud' left off. Recorded over the last six months in Bergen, with periodic visits from ex-patriot Erlend - Riot contains more complex arrangements tWith You', 'Know How,' 'Love Is No Big Truth' or first single 'Misread', every track sounds like an old friend coming home to you.

"It's quite style schizophrenic," adds Eirik "We're each inspired by different things so it can be a little confusing, but that seems to be a modern phenomenon, people don't know what genre to put themselves in."

"I'm looking forward to everyone saying it's not as good as the first album," laughs Erlend, "It's funny because two of the songs are from 1998, so it's us, covering us from five years ago," he adds.

The Kings were joined in the studio by hotly tipped Canadian songstress Feist, who appears on two of the albums twelve tracks, the bossa-fuelled 'Know How' where she assists Eirik, and the album's closing track 'The Build Up'- where she duets with Erlend in what is one of the Kings' most stark and beautifully emotive tracks, a rare moment captured in time. Both were big fans of her much-fabled "Red Demos" and she melds perfectly amidst them, bringing an air of added suspense and emotion and of course her majestic voice. "Her voice is amazing", gushes Erlend, "I'm very proud of the 'Build Up', for the first time ever we managed to do something spontaneous, Feist wrote the words an hour before she sung them, and it doesn't sound like anything else we've ever done."

So there you have it. Kings Of Convenience - 2004. A therapist and a superstar singing DJ, an odd couple, but still the best (old) new acoustic band in the world. 'Riot On An Empty Street,' forms their very own republic of two, principality of Eirik and Erlend. A great place to visit again and again.

Customer Reviews:

6 stars out of 5!!.......2007-06-19

I'm late in discovering this, I know, but better late than never. Kings of Convenience are Norwegian duo Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe, and their gentle, caressing guitar driven folk/jazz with wistful harmonies is highly remniscent of Simon & Garfunkel.

"Riot on an empty street" is their sophomore disc and is simply brilliant! With beautiful delicate guitar strumming pushed to the fore, and subtle piano, banjo and string fluorishes, opening cut "Homesick" and the delicate "Cayman islands" represent this fully.

"Misread" is a lilting piano sprinkled jazzy piece which is simply awesome!

As pared down as the general sound is, there is (subtle) variety: "Stay out of trouble" is a horn sprinkled waltz, "Know how" (lovely scratchy guitars) is a Bossa nova styled piece featuring Canadian folkstress Feist harmonising midway through (she appears again on the more mellow "The build up"), while "Sorry or please" (nice jazzy piano and bass, sweeping strings, great horn break) is one of those rare songs (on this disc) featuring audible percussion.

"I'd rather dance with you" is more upbeat, and reminds me of UK singer Chris Rea. "Surprise ice" is a tender spare acoustic ballad with ethereal harmonies in the chorus.

Perfect!!! 6 stars out of 5.

1+1=Kings of Convenience.......2007-02-04

I bought this album after I heard "I'd Rather Dance with You" on a college radio station while I was cruising the coast of Delaware. It had a simple, very catchy formula, and I naturally prefer music with a folky feel these days. If simplicity is what you are looking for in an album, this is right up your alley. From the lyrics, to the music, to the harmonies themselves, sometimes you don't have to have all the "bells and whistles" to get an album right. It is clean, fresh, and pleasant to the ear. It's also pretty versatile. It's understated enough to not distract you as a background music, but catchy enough to keep your attention in regular rotation. Don't get me wrong, this is a good album, but if you want some folkish rock with a little "swagger," I'd suggest Iron and Wine.

every song is a poem.......2006-11-08

and erlend oye may be the most talented song writer of his generation.

the disk grows better and more nuanced with each listen. the lyrics are outstanding throughout. in this genre of music, it is really difficult to find a better disk (though 'quiet is the new loud' is in the running)

An excellent album from an excellent band.......2006-08-16

I was first introduced to Kings of Convenience by hearing their single "I'd Rather Dance with You" on an online radio station. Since then, I have been absolutely mesmerized by their use of beautiful harmonies and subtle lyrics. It is said that the singers were inspired by Simon and Garfunkel and similar artists, which one can immediately hear in this record (particularly on "Cayman Islands," a track favorite). Standout tracks on this album Cayman Islands, I'd Rather Dance With You, Know-How, and Misread. Overall, this band, and this album, are among the best in my large music collection.

peaceful thoughtful peppy.......2006-08-15

Kings of Convenience is very much Jack Johnson plus Coldplay. Some songs are mellow/sad and others are almost T-Rex with peppiness.

Average customer rating:

Love this music
Fun and lively
Breezy.
Gipsy Kings' Acoustic Sounding Sensations
Pasajero

Pasajero
Gipsy Kings
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Unplugged
Cê
Roots
The Gipsy Kings
Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy Kings

ASIN: B000KJTF2K
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

Pasajero
Pueblos
Mira La Chica
Cafe
Chan Chan
Canastero
Donde Esta Mi Amor
Amor
La Tounga
Sol Y Luna
Guaranga
Pasajero
Recuerdos A Zucarados
La Vida De Gipsy

Amazon.com

With the feeling of an old-fashioned, locally produced radio show picked up accidentally while touring through the Andes, the Kings' latest excursion into their patented high-spirited rumba-flamenca harbors a strong South American bias, complete with a chiming charango (armadillo-shell lute) and vintage-sounding squeezeboxes. They also send a big, wet smooch to the late, lamented original Buena Vista Social Club with a delightful cover of Chan Chan. Although less slick than much of their earlier catalog, the set list presented here is also far from rustic and still fairly restaurant-friendly, with kicking bass lines, applied echoes, rhythmic augmentation (as though these guys needed any!) and plenty of other tech-oriented touches; but happily, these don't get in the way. The leather-lunged yet suavely romantic vocals are as soulful as ever, the guitars as round-toned yet insistent, and the handclaps as festive. But the real good news is that the band seems to have recovered both their primal chops and their sense of humor. Marred only by very occasional bits of over-production and a remarkably chintzy running-time of just over 45 minutes, the album is very nearly perfect, an effervescently virile project that continues and consolidates the career-reviving upswing begun with Roots, back in 2004. --Christina Roden

Album Description

With the same weathered charm and deep history as their Buena Vista bretheren, the Gipsy Kings use the simplest tools to make music that can move your feet, your heart and your soul.

Customer Reviews:

Love this music.......2007-06-27

I have always been a fan of the Gipsy Kings, I have most of their CD's, and this one does not disappoint! They are the best.

Fun and lively.......2007-06-12

This albums is on par with all the other albums released but I feel it has a more contemporary spin. Most of the songs remain upbeat and you can't help but sing along. I highly recommend it, especially if you like any of the other albums they've put out. Favorites are Mira La Chica, Cafe, and Donde Esta Mi Amor.

Breezy........2007-03-27

With their infectious blend of wailing and strumming, so unfailingly evocative of poolsides and paella, the Gipsy Kings have notched up 18 million album sales since their 1980s smashes "Bamboleo" and "Volare".
While their last album, "Roots", was a highly acclaimed return to their all-acoustic origins, "Pasajero" takes a poppier turn with a sequence of breezy, radio-friendly numbers so dependent on their well-worn melodic tics that it could test the patience of even the most die-hard fan.

Nicolas Reyes's voice has lost none of its throaty charisma, and the transition from plaintive verse to shameless crowd-pleasing chorus will inevitably make you smile at some point during the proceedings.

The arrangements, meanwhile, throw in Cuban guitar, North African-style accordion and subtle touches of reggae. But, whichever way you dress it up, the Gipsy Kings keep coming back to the same few tunes with which they began their career over two decades ago.

Gipsy Kings' Acoustic Sounding Sensations.......2007-02-26

I've been a fan of the Gipsy Kings for almost twenty years and have enjoyed--and then other times--disappointed with past albums. This album is a keeper and true to their roots: rhythmic guitars, strong vocals, singable melodies (although somewhat repetitive--I'm sure this was done intentionally), traditional hand claps, and even incorporating some South American instruments. If ever the Gypsies came close to making an unplugged, acoustic album, this is the one. You won't be disappointed.

In my opinion, this is what flamenco pop should sound like...true flamenco purists will disagree with me, and Gipsy Kings have certainly created their own brand of Spanish Pop, but for my money this album is certainly a keeper, not one to be thrown away as some other reviewer suggested. The Kings have certainly mellowed, no doubt. There is no gitano-whaling-descending-scales on this album as in other past works of their younger years, but the rhythms are contagious, the melodies are singable and the album is unmistakably "Gipsy Kings".

Pasajero.......2007-02-23

I was very disappointed in the latest CD from The Gipsy Kings. I have most of their CD's and have enjoyed all of them, but the latest one is not up to their standards. I have been at their concerts in Chicago and was moved to tears when I heard them play and sing, but I threw this CD in the trash.

Average customer rating:

The Kings even better
Messin' with Success
Nothing Exciting
I agree with Murat
Excellent chronicle of The Flower Kings sound

The Road Back Home
The Flower Kings
Manufacturer: Inside Out Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Angular Perceptions

ASIN: B000QEILLK
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Cosmic Lover
A Kings Prayer
Stupid Girl
Cosmic Circus
Babylon
Paradox Hotel
World Without A Heart
Church Of Your Heart
Vox Humana
What If God Is Alone
Starlight Man
Grand Old World
The Road Back Home
Cinema Show

Tracks:

Ghost Of The Red Cloud
Painter
I Am The Sun (part 2)
Different People
Little Deceiver
Chickenfarmer Song
The Rhythm Of The Sea
Touch My Heaven
Life Will Kill You
Monkey Business
Compassion
The Flower King
Stardust We Are

Album Description

The Road Back Home is the first `Best Of' compilation by the now legendary Swedish progressive rockers. The Road Back Home features 27 classic Flower Kings tracks which have been personally hand-picked and re-mastered by the band's founder and driving force, Roine Stolt, giving the listener a unique and comprehensive front-row look into band's evolution and creative process. The compilation also features a previously unreleased cover version of the classic Genesis song, Cinema Show.

Customer Reviews:

The Kings even better.......2007-07-23

The Flower Kings are one of the best band in the progressive band's world. I bought this CD and i just can't stop listen to it over and over again... This is simply amazing. All songs are re-mixed and re-worked version and the result is very good. One unreleased track from the Rainmaker album session is included for our pleasure.... hehehe. Well the rest is order the CD and enjoy it as i do.

Messin' with Success.......2007-07-03

First off, I absolutely love the Flower Kings and anxiously await their next release. This one though.....
OK, let me get this off my chest first - why, oh why would you play with the perfection that is the original "Church of Your Heart"? When I saw this on the CD's pre-release playlist on the TFK website, I was counting the days until it arrived just to hear a remastering of this song. (I think all TFK fans can agree that while "Stardust We Are" is one of the best albums of all time, it is also one compressed sonic mess). But instead of a nice clean remastering, we get a complete remix, and, gasp - an entire section of the song - a critical section in my eyes - is totally gone! Disappointed hardly covers it.
And therein lies the problem, for me. Most of these songs weren't just remastered, they were remixed as well. Instruments are added or taken away, changing the complexion of the songs in someways good but mostly not. For the most part, the new productions just don't stand up to the old. Several tunes, like "World Without a Heart" sound lifeless, are missing key instrumental parts (where is the lovely piano part in WWAH?) or have had the sometimes rough edges dulled down until they don't have the same impact the originals did.
Roine evidently has disdained the use of reverb for the new mixes, and for me, this new "dry" sound doesn't serve this type of music well.
Overall, it WAS a somewhat fun first listen, and of course the songs are pretty much wonderful anyway, but while there are great moments, I can't imagine listening to this one again anytime soon.
Having said that, thanks Roine for the effort - the liner notes are indeed exceptional, and maybe there is hope that you'll find time to go back and remaster (but NOT remix) the classic TFK albums like Stardust We Are, Flower Power and Rainmaker. Wouldja, please????

Nothing Exciting.......2007-07-02

The Flower Kings (Roine Stolt) take some of their shorter progressive rock tracks and re-mix and remaster them. The chosen list is pretty good and covers their entire career up to this point. The extra, never released track "Little Deceiver" from the Rainmaker sessions is nothing special.

The remixing doesn't seems to improve the songs much and actually seems to make them 'softer.' I word I could use is 'pillowy'....almost giving some of the slower parts of songs a new-age feel to them (not a good thing in my opinion). The punch of the original songs is missing, replaced by a broadening effect to fully take up the sonic range. Another point of dissapontment......should you really mess with "Church of Your Heart?" The classic Flower Kings song has been truncated and the dramatic key change at the last part of the original version is gone. That was the part of the song that got me hooked on the song in the the first place. Also "I am the Sun part II" seems to be truncated as well, and again, the best part of the song, in my opinion, is missing.

Songs picked from newer releases (Adam + Eve and Paradox Hotel) are less affected by the mixing and come off much like the originals.

All-in-all, this is a good collection of Flower King songs, but the remixing doesn't seem that great of an improvement of the originals.

I agree with Murat.......2007-06-28

Thank you Murat, for the fine review. I agree with everything you mentioned. I give the album 5 stars; it's that good.

Excellent chronicle of The Flower Kings sound.......2007-06-26

The Road Back Home is a two-disc compilation album put together by Flower Kings leader Roine Stolt. Not only does it feature the band's relatively more compact and "easy listening" cuts, the songs have also been treated to a new mixing job by Stolt. Add to that several newly recorded guitar solos as well as some backing vocals by Roine Stolt and Hasse Froberg. Some of the numbers have just been remixed whilst some others also feature previously unheard passages, instrumentation, and vocal parts.

The song long-time fans will want to hear the most will probably be "Little Deceiver", a leftover from the band's Rainmaker sessions. It is an interesting experiment where the tune wanders off more into Dire Straits-goes-country territory, bringing forth a true solo statement from Stolt and Froberg who are responsible for everything this song has to offer: unusual harmony vocals, cool loops and sound effects, and steady, straightforward drumming.

Also new on the CD is the band's Genesis tribute "Cinema Show", originally recorded in 1998. Being one of the greatest Genesis songs ever, Stolt says the band was rather nervous while recording it, but the result is nothing short of mindblowing. The acoustic guitar tone, the layered melodies, the awesome vocal parts, and last but not the least, Tomas Bodin's mindblowingly beautiful key solo that not only honours Tony Banks' original work but also adds its own touch to it -- everything is phenomenal about this piece. As noted in the liner notes, that solo is testimony that "great keys can be played with emotion without a trace of blues or jazz".

It would be impossible and meaningless to describe each song on this compilation. After all, they all represent a different era of the band; and they are meant to be enjoyed best in their original context. However, the little nuances brought out in the mixing stage do warrant a mention. "Cosmic Lover", for instance, features new vocal and some clarinet addition as well as a heavier focus on rhythm. This brings out the funky aesthetic and underscores the brilliant Beatles-like vocal harmony. "Stupid Girl" has a brand new guitar solo; and truth be told, I can't choose which one I like better cause the new one is truly sublime. Also, the guitar solo of "A Kings Prayer", one of the greatest Flower Kings songs ever, is different. I love how the deep message is conveyed on this one amidst glimmering acoustic guitar notes and McCartney-like vocal arrangements.

The last few minutes of "Church of Your Heart" have been cut off, and rightly so. The result is a more direct and powerful tune driven by tons of organ work by Bodin and soaring harmonies by Hasse Froberg. The African tribal rhythms merge seamlessly with a gorgeous soprano sax arrangement on "Grand Old World" whilst "Monkey Business" proves once again why everything on Unfold the Future is gold. Jonas Reingold's fretless bass, Hasse Bruniusson's percussion rhythms, and Stolt's unmistakable guitars form the musical aspect of the otherwise tragic lyrical theme. Stolt's vocal part in the intro of "The Road Back Home" has been replaced by Hasse's more fitting singing -- perhaps the best Retropolis song with its melodic hook and blazing Hammond elements.

The songs with Pain of Salvation's Daniel Gildenlow providing backing harmonies have mostly been left untouched, such as "Starlight Man" and "Cosmic Circus", but you can still tell a remix was done on them. The somewhat cluttered soundscape layering of the former piece seems totally gone on the reworked version of "Different People" off of Stardust We Are. Unlike the original version, the piece has a stronger psychedelic centre here thanks to Stolt's meticulous remixing, and the melodious flow is more evocative. The backing voices have enhanced this cut greatly as well.

It doesn't matter whether you're a long-time fan or a new listener. Any Flower Kings fan should pick this up in a heart beat and hear these songs in their new format. If you have never heard any of Flower Kings' studio albums, on the other hand, then, depending on the songs you like the best here, you should go and pick it up impromptu. Once you're hooked, you'll want to have their entire discography anyway.

Kudos to Roine Stolt for not only compiling and remixing all these songs, but also for the detailed song-by-song analysis he offers in the liner notes. He even designed the booklet and cover art himself and added some photos as well. The packaging is superb -- it couldn't be any better.

I wish all compilation albums were this amazing.

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