Late

Late

Track Listings
1. Tsip Tsap
2. Isdj08
3. Facing It
4. Tour Okada
5. Wenig
6. Nochwas
7. Disko+Bett

Not Too Late
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • LOVE IT!
  • The Voice and the Soul
  • Not as strong as the her first two releases
  • Not her best
  • Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring
 Not Too Late
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000KCHZK6
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

  1. Wish I Could
  2. Sinkin' Soon
  3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
  4. Until The End
  5. Not My Friend
  6. Thinking About You
  7. Broken
  8. My Dear Country
  9. Wake Me Up
  10. Be My Somebody
  11. Little Room
  12. Rosie's Lullaby
  13. Not Too Late

Amazon.com

Although the music of Norah Jones continues to blend pop, soul, folk, and country with a seasoning of jazz, her third album for Blue Note is the first where she's written (or collaborated on) all the material. Beneath the smooth surface lie darker strains on the album-opening "Wish I Could" (about a boyfriend lost to war), intimations of mortality in "The Sun Doesn't Like You," and the post-election horrors of "My Dear Country." The last seems to channel the inspiration of Brecht/Weill, while the equally bleak "Sinkin' Soon" is set to a jaunty Dixieland rag. Throughout, Jones's vocal intimacy and melodic warmth remain as disarmingly understated as ever. The soulful "Thinking of You," the countryish "Wake Me Up," and the syncopated "Be My Somebody" reflect the captivating style of her previous work. Although too much in the same midtempo mode becomes a dreamy lull, cut by cut, Jones's voice is irresistible. --Don McLeese

From Blue Note

Album Details

1. "Wish I Could" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Julia Kent: pizzicato cello; Jeffery Ziegler: bowed cello

2. "Sinkin' Soon" (Lee Alexander-Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Daru Oda: vocals; M. Ward: vocals; Jesse Harris: guitjo; Kevin Breit: mandolin; J. Walter Hawkes: trombone; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums, slit drum, pots and pans

3. "The Sun Doesn't Like You" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Paul Bryan: Chamberlain keyboards

4. "Until The End" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

5. "Not My Friend" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Adam Levy: backwards electric guitars; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: marimba, cymbals

6. "Thinking About You" (Norah Jones-Ilhan Ersahin): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Chuck Mackinnon: trumpet; Rob Suddith: tenor sax; Lee Alexander: bass; Tony Mason: drums; Devin Greenwood: Hammond B-3 organ

7. "Broken" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, electric guitar; Julia Kent: outro cellos; Lee Alexander: pizzicato, bowed basses

8. "My Dear Country" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; J. Walter Hawkes: trombones; Jose Davilla: tuba; Bill McHenry: tenor sax; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

9. "Wake Me Up" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitars; Lee Alexander: bass, lap steel; Andy Borger: drums

10. "Be My Somebody" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Richard Julian: vocals; Tony Scherr: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

11. "Little Room" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Daru Oda: whistle

12. "Rosie's Lullaby" (Norah Jones-Daru Oda): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Daru Oda: vocals; Adam Levy: electric guitar, vocal; Robbie McIntosh: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

13. "Not Too Late" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano, Mellotron; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

Produced by Lee Alexander

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Come Away with Me
Feels Like Home
New York City

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars LOVE IT!.......2007-07-19

What's not to love about Norah? She once again gives us super music on this cd. Can't think of anything bad to say about it.

5 out of 5 stars The Voice and the Soul.......2007-07-15

Bought this CD after hearing "Wish I Could" on the radio; this is a gorgeous, hauntingly beautiful, moving song.

I too am surprised to see the strongly negative reviews here. Her 3 CDs have sold more than 39 million copies worldwide, so there is clearly a strong fan base somewhere! The added plus on this third CD is that Norah wrote or co-wrote every song, so we are gaining a glimpse into her musical soul as well as hearing the beauty of her voice.

There are some real gems here. "Sinkin' Soon" evokes 1930's jazz with its honky-tonk piano (played by Norah) and its wah-wah trombone. "Until the End" has country roots. "Not My Friend" is a mellow, dreamy, wistful song with dagger-sharp lyrics. "My Dear Country" is a lament about what election day hath wrought. The final title cut, "Not Too late," winds things up on an optimistic note.

It is not surprising that Norah has good musical genes. Her father, Ravi Shankar, brought his sitar to the Beatles and Indian music to a global audience. Norah's seamless blending of country, jazz, blues, pop, and folk brings great talent and aural delight to a new musical generation.

3 out of 5 stars Not as strong as the her first two releases.......2007-07-11

In my opinion, this CD is simply not as strong as her first two CDs. Most of the songs are fine, but forgettable. A couple are just a bit weird-sounding for my taste. Out of her 3 CDs, I preferred "Come Away With Me", although I understand that Ms. Jones feels that her current CD is a truer reflection of her musical style.

Right after I bought this CD, I was privileged enough to see her in concert. She is clearly talented, and has an accomplished band. The concert was wonderful and was over before I knew it. Her performance got rave reviews in the local newspaper the next day.

I look forward to her next release, mostly to see how her artistic style evolves.

2 out of 5 stars Not her best.......2007-07-11

I own all three of her CDs. Come Away with Me is the best IMO. Her passion and talent shine through. Each song was worthy to be on the CD. In Feels Like Home, it seemed she relaxed a bit, had a little more fun, but lost some of the passion, a couple of the songs were not up to what I expected, but passed as entertaining. This third CD is the worst. My impression was that now that she has made a name for herself she can put any track on a CD without much scrutiny. I have listened to it a few times, but it just doesn't do anything exciting for me. A big disappointment.

3 out of 5 stars Insipid and inoffensive, uninspired and uninspiring.......2007-07-08

That's about the highest praise I can muster for this effort. It isn't that it's BAD, but it just never achieves "lift off."

I wish I could wax enthusiastic, but after quite a few listens at this point, I don't think my opinion is likely to change appreciably.

Time for Ms. Jones to find her passion. It isn't evident on this CD.
Late Registration
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Im feelin it
  • Trash.
  • Wild Card
  • Genius, par extreme
  • Good album but something is missing
 Late Registration
Kanye West
Manufacturer: Roc-a-Fella
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. The College Dropout
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ASIN: B0009WPKY0
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Tracks:

  1. Wake Up Mr. West (:41)
  2. Heard 'Em Say featuring Adam Levine of Maroon 5 (3:24)
  3. Touch The Sky featuring Lupe Fiasco (3:56)
  4. Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx (3:27)
  5. Skit #1 (:33)
  6. Drive Slow featuring Paul Wall & GLC (4:32)
  7. My Way Home featuring Common (1:43)
  8. Crack Music featuring Game (4:31)
  9. Roses (4:05)
  10. Bring Me Down featuring Brandy (3:19)
  11. Addiction (4:27)
  12. Skit #2 (:31)
  13. Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) featuring Jay-Z (3:53)
  14. We Major featuring Nas & Really Doe (7:28)
  15. Skit #3 (:24)
  16. Hey Mama (5:05)
  17. Celebration (3:18)
  18. Skit #4 (1:19)
  19. Gone featuring Consequence & Cam'Ron (5:33)
  20. **BONUS TRACK**Diamonds From Sierra Leone (3:58)
  21. **HIDDEN TRACK** Late (3:50)

Amazon.com

For haters eager to see Kanye hit a sophomore slump--no such luck. Late Registration can't replicate the novelty of last year's College Dropout, but otherwise, this is an impressively more mature and labored-over album. Lyrically, Kanye's only improved a notch but musically, the album sounds incredible, especially with co-producer Jon Brion helping polish the songs to perfection. Tracks like "Heard 'Em Say" (featuring Maroon 5's Adam Levine) and "Hey Mama," are richly textured in their soulfulness while the flint-edge of "Crack Music" and "Gone" (feat. Cam'ron) will appeal to the street-oriented. There's a few duds on here--the sickly-sweet, syrupy "Bring Me Down" (feat. Brandy) being one of the worst offenders--but when the album's good, it's very, very good. In short, Kanye's detractors may not be swayed in their resistance to his charms but not only will his past supporters be rewarded but Late Registration has enough appeal to earn new crowds of fans. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Im feelin it.......2007-06-26

Wit the exception of songs like gold digger , drive slow , and diamonds which were the singles of this album ? The rest is the album is tight. Good production and k. west's lirycs are truly sharp as an mc i must add. Idk why west chose to work with Paul wall ? he's super wack.Anyways i highly recommended its original as hell. Late registration is worth a purchase .

1 out of 5 stars Trash........2007-05-29

When people start calling Kanye West one of the best new artists of the 21st century, you know something's wrong.

4 out of 5 stars Wild Card.......2007-03-18

Kanye West proves one thing if nothing else: Not all rap is created equal. Like many other achievements in popular music, West takes elements from soul, jazz, and pop, to mix with his bright, witty lyrics. Fun but also formidable, Kanye takes on the trappings of American material culture and understandably finds much to mock. With different meters and measures, Kanye West makes all other efforts seem stale. Giving snatches of wit, his rapping inspires some real laughs. While inserting the soundtrack of a seductive siren voice singing "Diamonds Are Forever," he tears off about the divide between American dreams and their (too often) unattainment. On 'Late Registration' the joker's wild--and often wise.

5 out of 5 stars Genius, par extreme.......2007-02-15

I have seen the future of music, and his name is Kanye West, the singular genius who embodies the new generation of music. More of an innovator than a synthesizer of past forms, West's name will stand with other giants of musical innovation, including Monteverdi, Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Wagner, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Armstrong, Parker, Coltrane, and Davis. Musically, this album rivals the best work by any 20th century artist, and is sure to set the course for many generations of composers, not only in the hip-hop sphere, but also so-called "art music," whose latest incarnation is mired in serialism verging on a complete divorcement from musical tradition. The album sounds amazing, with such tracks as "Heard 'Em Say" (featuring Maroon 5's Adam Levine) and "Hey Mama." "Crack Music" and "Gone" (featuring Cam'ron) rivals the most delicious in straight-up gangsta'. It's good to hear Brandy back on the wax with the duet "Bring Me Down." Peace, and a big shout out to my Detroit boyz'!!! Yaaah, son!

4 out of 5 stars Good album but something is missing.......2007-01-26

Kanye's first album going triple platinum might have went to his head. Even though he was the rookie of the year with College Dropout, this album is pale in comparison. The production for the album is just as tight as it was on his first album but some of the guest appearances were pretty tame. Standout tracks: HEARD EM SAY, TOUCH THE SKY, DRIVE SLOW, CRACK MUSIC(he could have let Game spit a verse on here), ROSES, BRING ME DOWN(dope track but the corny verse that goes /hater n****s marry hater b***hes and have hater kids/ might be a cause of concern), ADDICTION, DIAMONDS FROM SIERRA LEONE REMIX(The remix is superior to the original, not the other way around but I understand your confusion when you let a Cracked Magazine clone like XXL tell you what's what) and HEY MAMA(nice tribute to his mother). Filler: Gold Digger(the worst track Kanye ever made!), We major(nice beat but YAWN!), Gone, Celebration(its a funeral b***hes), Diamons From Sierra Leone and the bonus track Late sucks! Also the Broke Phi Broke skit is just plain cheesy. Bottom Line: Late Registration is a highlight album of 2005 but is pale in comparison to College Dropout. Its not a garbage album by a longshot but it lacks the oomph that the first album had.
Not Too Late
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not Too Late
  • Norah Jones is superb
  • Disappointing Trend
  • Norah In General
  • No Mere Grammy Guzzler
 Not Too Late
Norah Jones
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Norah Jones and The Handsome Band - Live in 2004
  2. Not Too Late
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  5. Feels Like Home

ASIN: B000KRN07S
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

  1. Wish I Could
  2. Sinkin' Soon
  3. The Sun Doesn't Like You
  4. Until The End
  5. Not My Friend
  6. Thinking About You
  7. Broken
  8. My Dear Country
  9. Wake Me Up
  10. Be My Somebody
  11. Little
  12. Rosie's Lullaby
  13. Not Too Late

Amazon.com

Although the music of Norah Jones continues to blend pop, soul, folk, and country with a seasoning of jazz, her third album for Blue Note is the first where she's written (or collaborated on) all the material. Beneath the smooth surface lie darker strains on the album-opening "Wish I Could" (about a boyfriend lost to war), intimations of mortality in "The Sun Doesn't Like You," and the post-election horrors of "My Dear Country." The last seems to channel the inspiration of Brecht/Weill, while the equally bleak "Sinkin' Soon" is set to a jaunty Dixieland rag. Throughout, Jones's vocal intimacy and melodic warmth remain as disarmingly understated as ever. The soulful "Thinking of You," the countryish "Wake Me Up," and the syncopated "Be My Somebody" reflect the captivating style of her previous work. Although too much in the same midtempo mode becomes a dreamy lull, cut by cut, Jones's voice is irresistible. --Don McLeese

Amazon.com

Album Details

1. "Wish I Could" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Julia Kent: pizzicato cello; Jeffery Ziegler: bowed cello

2. "Sinkin' Soon" (Lee Alexander-Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Daru Oda: vocals; M. Ward: vocals; Jesse Harris: guitjo; Kevin Breit: mandolin; J. Walter Hawkes: trombone; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums, slit drum, pots and pans

3. "The Sun Doesn't Like You" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Paul Bryan: Chamberlain keyboards

4. "Until The End" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer, piano; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitar; Adam Levy: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

5. "Not My Friend" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals; Jesse Harris: acoustic guitars; Adam Levy: backwards electric guitars; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: marimba, cymbals

6. "Thinking About You" (Norah Jones-Ilhan Ersahin): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Chuck Mackinnon: trumpet; Rob Suddith: tenor sax; Lee Alexander: bass; Tony Mason: drums; Devin Greenwood: Hammond B-3 organ

7. "Broken" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, electric guitar; Julia Kent: outro cellos; Lee Alexander: pizzicato, bowed basses

8. "My Dear Country" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, piano; J. Walter Hawkes: trombones; Jose Davilla: tuba; Bill McHenry: tenor sax; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

9. "Wake Me Up" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitars; Lee Alexander: bass, lap steel; Andy Borger: drums

10. "Be My Somebody" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Richard Julian: vocals; Tony Scherr: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3 organ

11. "Little Room" (Norah Jones): Norah Jones: vocals, acoustic guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Daru Oda: whistle

12. "Rosie's Lullaby" (Norah Jones-Daru Oda): Norah Jones: vocals, Wurlitzer; Daru Oda: vocals; Adam Levy: electric guitar, vocal; Robbie McIntosh: electric guitar; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

13. "Not Too Late" (Norah Jones-Lee Alexander): Norah Jones: vocals, piano, Mellotron; Lee Alexander: bass; Andy Borger: drums

Produced by Lee Alexander

Deluxe DVD content includes:

1. "Thinking About You" (Music Video)

2. "Until The End" (Music Video)

3. "Sinkin' Soon" (Music Video)

4. Interview with Norah

5. "Thinking About You" (behind the scenes at the video shoot)

6. "Sinkin' Soon" (behind the scenes at the video shoot)

PLUS two live bonus tracks from Rehearsals.com filmed in Burbank, CA, in November 2006.

Norah Jones Photos (by Danny Clinch)

More from Norah Jones

Come Away with Me
Feels Like Home
The Little Willies

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Not Too Late.......2007-05-13

The product is what I expected. It arrived on time and in the condition advertised.

5 out of 5 stars Norah Jones is superb.......2007-05-06

I bought this CD / DVD right before attending her show here in Boston. It is a great CD. I haven't watched he DVD yet.

3 out of 5 stars Disappointing Trend.......2007-03-23

I loved Norah's first album, her second was good, but not as good, the third had me wondering and this last album is a real disappointment. I think Norah believes she has to have dark and somber themes in order to be considered a serious artist, but her strength lies in her soothing, comforting, sensuous, "wrap me in a warm blanket" voice, which is largely absent from this work.

5 out of 5 stars Norah In General.......2007-03-17

This album is another solid performance from one of my favorites.
I have listened to it many many times and I like it better as listen to it more. Once again we have the voice and the piano. There are a few new moves she shows us but nothing heart stopping.
At the end of the day I don't think most of us care what she sings frankly, her voice is addicting and is like a drug to us. Oh you say you wish she would sing something different and stretch her talent and grow and yada yada but most of us would listen to her no matter what she sings because you become so addicted to the voice and sound that it doesn't really matter if she is singing an old country song like Cold Cold Heart, an early rockabilly like Love Me (from the Little Willies) a Bob Dylan number or somthing of her own composition. In the end it is just the soothing that we want and that is what she does. Her music is sometimes interesting, sometimes a little boring but always soothing. Even if she is talking about a broken heart and lost love she is making us feel like with her voice to hang on to we can make it.
So I love her and listen to whatever she puts out. I am not enough of a music expert to judge her artistically, I like what I like and if it sounds good to me I say it is good. Norah..you are as good as it gets.

5 out of 5 stars No Mere Grammy Guzzler.......2007-03-13

Like her 2004 sophomore effort, "Feels Like Home," Norah Jones' latest maintains the sound that brought her national acclaim while still furthering her artistic endeavors.

"Not Too Late" proves she is not given to relying on a cash- cow formula; she not only continues to add inflections of country like last time around, but she eschews the American songbook in favor of a uniformly original array of songs -- all of which she co-wrote. This aids the record's warm, intimate atmosphere, which glimmers and glows despite the absence of the late legendary producer, Arif Mardin.

The slinky blues of "Thinking About You" is the ideal lead single. With its plaintive melody, organic jazz horns and restrained yet expressive vocals, it is musical chocolate cake. "Sinkin' Soon," meanwhile, is the most perplexing track. With its curious lyrics ("Like the oyster crack in the stew/The honey in the tea/Like the wheel of cheese high in the sky/We're gonna be sinkin' soon), the song sways and jerks with Jesse Harris (writer of her monster hit "Don't Know Why") on banjo and drummer Andy Borger working pots and pans. It continues the theme of fame's fickle nature that began with "Carnival Town" on her last LP.

In spite of her popularity with white collar right-wingers, Jones is not afraid to infuse her music with passionate liberal beliefs. With its lush, nervous mix of pianos and guitars, "Wish I Could" is the story of a lonely war widow and even lonelier other woman ("She says love in the time of war's not fair/He was my man but they didn't care/I don't tell her that I once loved you too"), while "Broken" finds a soldier irrevocably hardened by war ("He's got blood on his shoes and mud on his brim/Did he do it to himself or was it done to him?").

"My Dear Country," with a cabaretlike interlude, waxes on a terrifying election and a "deranged" politician without naming names:

"I cherish you my dear country/I love all the things that you've given me/And most of all that I am free/To have a song that I can sing/On election day."

The soothing "Wake Me Up" appropriately follows with its resigned, world-weary attitude, bringing in sounds of the heartland that continue in "Rosie's Lullaby" and the fun-loving "Be My Somebody," the latter marked by cheeky lyrics: "Last night was a record to be broken/It broke all over the kitchen floor."

"Little Room" attempts to shed her fuddy-duddy image with sexual undertones, while "Not My Friend" finds her safe in her own company -- not content to maintain a relationship with someone who wishes her unhappiness.

"The Sun Doesn't Like You" and "Until the End" are full of grace and character, and "Not Too Late" closes the disc with spare piano/vocal simplicity. Its optimistic message provides a perfect conclusion and its overwhelmingly pristine melody makes it an instant classic.

If "Come Away With Me" was rich, delicious comfort food, "Not Too Late" is more complex and sophisticated. Making artistic leaps and bounds, Jones proves that she is not a Grammy guzzler laughing all the way to the bank -- she is an artist's artist.

This limited-edition version contains a DVD jam-packed with goodies, most notably the eye-popping video for "Sinkin' Soon," while iTunes has an exclusive alternate version of the aforementioned track available.
Late for the Sky
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Close to the end.
  • REMASTER ????
  • my favorite jackson browne album.
  • Simply the Best
  • Distress, sorrow, and pain captured so brilliantly, it will blow you away
 Late for the Sky
Jackson Browne
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002GXU
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Late For The Sky
  2. Fountain Of Sorrow
  3. Farther On
  4. The Late Show
  5. The Road And The Sky
  6. For A Dancer
  7. Walking Slow
  8. Before The Deluge

Amazon.com

His third album, and arguably his finest, Late for the Sky continues Browne's sincere self-analysis into positively grim territory. The title track concerns the lingering effects of a dead relationship and was featured in Martin Scorcese's film Taxi Driver. While "For a Dancer" confronts death head-on, "Farther On" explains the difficulties faced by us dorks who live life through books, films, or music; and "Before the Deluge" forecasts environmental gloom and doom. Guitarist David Lindley adds terrific counterpoint to Browne's musing, supporting the tracks with tasteful slide and fiddle work. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Close to the end........2007-07-05

When I was a kid, I didn't know much about celebrity's personal lives and never realized that this music was the result of the loss of Mr. Browne's wife. Re-visiting it all these years later is just as good as it sounded then. I only wish I still had the vinyl and the original alblum cover full size.

5 out of 5 stars REMASTER ????.......2007-04-11

Fantastic work again from Jackson! My main purpose for entering this "review" is to plead with the label for a REMASTERED version....

5 out of 5 stars my favorite jackson browne album........2007-03-24

mr browne has many fine recordings out there, but none of them match this masterpiece. this is contemplative singer/songwriter stuff of the highest order. "for a dancer," is an all-time classic; a haunting meditation on death that is about as moving as soft rock gets. his vocals here are aching and gorgeous in their delivery, with that trademark phrasing that is so singularly his own. david lindley's guitar work adds a stunning beauty to the whole thing, as well. a wonderful album. one of the true highlights of the early 70's.

5 out of 5 stars Simply the Best.......2007-01-11

If you grew up with Jackson Browne....buy it - just don't commit Hari Kari as a result ;-)

5 out of 5 stars Distress, sorrow, and pain captured so brilliantly, it will blow you away.......2006-08-04

Rarely does anyone capture the hopless and scared emotions of fear and sorrow on an album. Nothing really springs to mind actually. Some may point to Neil Young's On The Beach to counter this point, but after listening to album, you find old Neil is just pissed and lost like he's always been, not in pain. Late For The Sky so captures the feelings above, that the album comes across as startling and scarey at times. But besides showing the feelings of one man, everyman can relate to this Jackson Browne tragedy. As day turned to night on the Woodstockers, and the angst of the mid 70s came along, hoplessness followed. Jackson Browne showed everyone how hopless it had become.

The first four tracks are some of the most beautiful music you may ever find. All have David Lindley, playing a creaking, pained guitar that moans with the same sorrow as Jackson. All four also carry gorgeous harmony, each voice echoing as if they all are lost. But these ones just bring you down for what comes soon. The fifth track, "The Road And The Sky" is a groovy rocker, an optimistic sounding tune that makes you feel like the damage is over and all is back in order.

But then track six comes along.

"For A Dancer," number six on Late For The Sky, contains so much pain, and so much sadness. It's hard to get through it, actually. But in the pain, there is so much beauty, Jackson's pleading voice looking for answers to the questions we all have, asking what happens to all of us at the end. Again, Lindley helps to catch Jackson's sorrows, but this time with an eerie fiddle.

Most every song on this album starts with deep sadness and distress. Many songs on here make you want to cry. Many will remind you pains you have felt yourself. But the experience this album will give you may very well change you. Each song gets a little more optimistic as is goes on, not so much as to forget the sorrows of before, but to remind us all that we just have to keep moving on. As Jackson himself sings on the For A Dancer,

"Don't let the uncertainty turn you around; the world keeps turning around, and around."

Late December
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • It's all led up to this
  • Too Good For Corporate American Radio
  • Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll
  • Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again
  • A Sheer Sonic Delight
 Late December
Maria McKee
Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Alt-Country & AmericanaAlt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music
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  1. Live Acoustic Tour 2006
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  5. Breakfast in Bed

ASIN: B000MRA88A
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

  1. Late December
  2. No Other Way To Love You
  3. A Good Heart
  4. Power On, Little Star
  5. Too Many Heroes
  6. Destine
  7. My First Night Without You
  8. Scene Of The Affair
  9. Cat In The Wall
  10. One Eye On The Sky (One ON The Grave)
  11. Bannow
  12. Straving Pretty

Amazon.com

Even in the early days of her solo career, Maria McKee had a penchant for penning dramatic melodies that seemed more conducive to Broadway than to contemporary radio. In fact, the former Lone Justice frontwoman makes reference to criticisms of that theatrical style in between songs on her "Live Acoustic Tour" CD. Pandering to no one, McKee continues to distance herself from her country roots on her sixth studio release, Late December, writing what might be best described as 'pop-ras,' miniature contemporary pseudo-operas sung in open-throated vibrato. "Destine" is a prime example, echoing Queen's "A Night at the Opera" with it's dramatic vocals and grandiose guitar solo. "Scene of the Affair" evokes a similar sensibility, as McKee mournfully sings "Four walls and a bed/best to let the dead rest with the dead." Those who prefer the old Maria will find a handful of songs to satiate their thirsty musical pallet. "My First Night Without You" has a soul/country cross that allows McKee to vocally shine; other notable moments include the gospel-infused ending to the title track and the infectious '60s Motown styling of "No Other Way to Love You." The one song that will likely please fans of both musical camps is McKee's inclusion of "A Good Heart," a track that she wrote at 18 years of age which became a worldwide hit for an Irish artist named Feargal Sharkey. --Denise Sheppard

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It's all led up to this.......2007-07-13

If you saw Lone Justice back in the day, you're a Maria Mckee fan. But thought she was always one of the great live performers, and an enormously talented songwriter, the recordings (both LJ and her own) were, by almost all accounts, an eclectic and mixed bag.

But here she is, part Edith Piaf, part Freddie Mercury, blasting through an outrageous set of operatic pop-rock that is about the most startlingly bold CD in recently memory. Hearing it is like when you first heard Jeff Buckley's "Grace": ohmygodohmygod, this person is out of his/her mind, shooting for the stars, and talented enough to pull it off. Wow.

This is the one we've been waiting for. And it's thrilling that in her forties, she is doing, without a doubt, absolutely her barking best work.

The gorgeous space of the opener, "Late December," sets you up. Then she rollicks along with the almost Motownish "No Other Way to Love You" (though the Rob Halford screeches mark it as a song only Mckee could sing). We're all glad to finally have her own studio recording of the classic "A Good Heart." And the next three only get better, with McKee out-Queening Queen on "Destine."

I could go on... every song is excellent, and the flow is dramatic and compelling.

If you're looking for a safe listen in a particular style you like to be able to ignore while you do something else, take a pass. But if you appreciate what can happen when a great songwriter, performer, and student of pop goes completely for broke, check it out.

5 out of 5 stars Too Good For Corporate American Radio.......2007-06-17

Continuing her penchant of putting out great albums (this being her third studio album since returning in 2003 after a seven-year studio hiatus) that are too good for corporate radio, Maria McKee's LATE DECEMBER is another stunning work from one of the finest and most painfully underappreciated (at least by the public) vocalists of the last thirty-plus years.

In contrast with 2005's PEDDLIN' DREAMS (a rustic acoustic folk/country/rock affair that sort of harkened back to her Lone Justice days), LATE DECEMBER harkens back to the power-pop/rock eclecticism of her 2003 comeback HIGH DIVE. Her voice soars on all twelve tracks, written either by her alone or in collaboration with her producer husband Jim Akin, in such a way as to make her perfect for Broadway. But there's the R&B influences as well, on the title track and "No Other Way To Love You." And there is also the kind of cautionary note on "One Eye On The Sky (One On The Grave)", which is faintly reminiscent of HIGH DIVE's "From Our TV Teens To The Tomb."

What this album, and all of those in Maria's canon, dating all the way back to Lone Justice, shows is that she has always had the goods in every facet and has always had a hugely eclectic musical pallet--and, unfortunately, has also been far too good to be accepted on corporate radio in America. This is why it is best to pick up this CD and experience this tremendously gifted and youthful lady who still packs a vocal punch in her early 40s.

5 out of 5 stars Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll.......2007-05-09

Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee saves Rock N Roll single handedly with this glam rock explosion! What an amazing power-pop record. The second song, No Other Way To Love You sums up what Rock has been missing. Life is sweet, indeeed! This album has restored my faith in Rock!

5 out of 5 stars Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again.......2007-04-28

Ahhhhh Maria. Still not doing what everyone expects of you. Why doesn't she play this? Why doesn't she record that? Why doesn't each new record sound like the last one? How do we solve a problem like Maria?

You little diva indeed.

In my opinion, the new album is flippin' brilliant. My favourite so far, I think. Truly. Amazing. No Other Way to Love You may be the most gorgeously perfect pop song she's ever recorded. I am 3 months sober and Power On, Little Star leaves me shaking and in tears. I LOVE Destine - killer hook in it. Would love to see her play it live. And Starving Pretty is rich and full and melodic and...again...Maria breaks my heart. Did I mention Late December? Uhhh, goosebumps. The end of a relationship? The end of a career? The end of a life? But still, the hope of starting over. Maria sees the bleakness but holds onto hope.

This woman is a genius. I cannot believe we have been blessed with five (count 'em, five) Maria albums since 2003. Around year 2000, I seriously wondered if we would ever hear from her again. I believe that LD is a more accomplished, cohesive album than High Dive. The production is stellar and exciting and Maria seems to understand now that, no matter what, her voice needs to stay front and center in the mix. She and Jim have done a remarkable job with this one.

Thank you, Maria, for a lifetime of music and passion and hope.

Life is sweet.

Caution: Rant ahead:
Why? Why? Why does every song/album that Maria records HAVE to be compared to some other sound/singer/genre, blah, blah, blah? Has the world not figured out yet that she is her very own universe, guided by her own insane muse? It's obvious. It's been obvious for a long time. She's not interested in doing the same thing twice. Ever. Let's all get over it. She's never doing an album of Bob Dylan covers. Ain't gonna happen! Record critics are truly out-to-lunch. Thank God for Thom Jurek!

5 out of 5 stars A Sheer Sonic Delight.......2007-04-27

As my wife can attest, I am a mark for all things Maria - and have been since buying that first Lone Justice album back in 1985. Yes, of course, through the years she's evolved, exploring different musical terrains and challenging us fans - as all artists should. As far as this album: it's a sheer sonic delight that echoes the likes of David Bowie, the Drifters, Laura Nyro, Queen, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Yet, as with all of her albums, the end result is 100-percent Maria: eccentric, heartfelt, theatrical and ... just plain addictive.

The finger-snapping title cut, about love on its last legs - or maybe just the fear of such ("baby, when can we start over?") - conjures NYC in winter with its bed of Nyro-like vocal flourishes and "Walk on the Wild Side"-esque spoken-word interludes. Another favorite: "No Other Way to Love You," which builds from its "On Broadway"-like intro to become ... well, I already used the word "addictive," but I'll use it again. It's a sweeping, hypnotic song about giving one's self over to love in total: "Want to talk about your wild horses/and the strength of 100 men/Attila and all his forces/couldn't keep me away from him ...." You'll feel Maria's sweat flying from the speakers, guaranteed. (Check out the guitar work on it, too.)

Other highlights: her cover of her own "A Good Heart," originally a hit for Feargal Sharkey way back when; the aching "My First Night without You"; the utterly poetic, operatic rocker "One Eye on the Sky (One Eye on the Grave)," in which she demonstrates why she's sometimes called "a punk Edith Piaf"; and the closing "Starving Pretty," in which she sings a song for starving artists everywhere: "lean on me, baby/we're going to make it/we're paperthin/we're gonna win...." The most challenging song, I suppose, is the oddball "Cat in the Wall" - but (as often is the case with Maria) there's a metaphor at play there. In a way, it's a bit like having a cat knead you - it's wonderful even though the tips of its claws dig a bit into the skin.

Of course, having singled out those seven songs, I feel compelled to single out the other five. I won't but, suffice it to say, "Late December" is an album that demands repeated plays; and, as all great albums, gets better with each listen.
High, Low And In Between/Late Great
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great introduction
  • other stuff to check out
  • Sweet writer, with a voice that grows on you...
  • For The Sake of the CD
  • Wrong track list
 High, Low And In Between/Late Great
Townes Van Zandt
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002UHX
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

  1. Two Hands
  2. You Are Not Needed Now
  3. Greensboro Woman
  4. Highway Kind
  5. Standin'
  6. No Deal
  7. To Live Is To Fly
  8. When He Offers His Hand
  9. Mr. Gold And Mr. Mud
  10. Blue Ridge Mountains
  11. High, Low And In Between
  12. No Lonesome Tune
  13. Sad Cinderella
  14. German Mustard
  15. Don't Let The Sunshine Fool Ya'
  16. Honky Tonkin'
  17. Snow Don't Fall
  18. Fraulein
  19. Poncho & Lefty
  20. If I Needed You
  21. Silver Ships Of Andilar
  22. Heavenly Houseboat Blues

Amazon.com

Packaged as two albums on one disc, these are among the best of Van Zandt's erratic studio recordings. The first is often overlooked, but it has many songs of dark, marvelous realism, true and accurate as arrows. Kevin Eggers's production is never heavy or busy: he mostly lets the songs breathe beside piano and guitar. And the poetic heights of the title track and "The Highway Kind" are remarkable by any standard. Late Great is important for a little known Guy Clark song "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You," as well as an orchestrated "Pancho and Lefty" and the sweetly simple "Heavenly Houseboat Blues." Both records show Townes's belief in the abracadabra of words, that their magic is as primary to being human as love and death and kindness and cruelty--those intense qualities that distinguish his work. --Roy Kasten

Album Description

UK reissue of original 1972 Poppy label album. Musicians include Larry Carlton & David Cohen (ex-Country Joe & The Fish). Includes detailed sleevenotes.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great introduction.......2007-02-16

I'm not a big fan of compilations and "best of" CDs; like a lot of music fans I prefer to hear entire albums in their original context. That's why this economically-priced two-fer from Townes Van Zandt is such a good introduction--it includes two entire albums from one of his most productive periods, and offers a wide variety of his music to get you interested in exploring more. Between these two albums, you can see what a talented songwriter, understatedly excellent vocalist, and all-around worthwhile musical personality he was. Not only that, you'll have over an hour of great country-tinged folk to listen to.

The first album included is High, Low, and In Between. It's probably the lesser of the two choices, but still very worthwhile. Van Zandt is usually accompanied by some subtle acoustic guitar, often combined with some bass, or even bigger band arrangements. He certainly has a skill for melancholy--songs like "You are Not Needed Now" and the title track really get under your skin with simple melodies and some occasionally chilling lyrics. He does include a few upbeat numbers, though, like the great and humorous "No Deal," and the groovy "Standin.'" There are a few weaker tracks, most notably the gospel tunes "Two Hands" and "When He Offers His Hand;" they lack the personality that Van Zandt is so capable of injecting into a great song. Overall, though, there are some great highlights.

The second album is even better. The Late Great Townes Van Zandt opens with "No Lonesome Tune," a very homey, heartwarming tune combined with some really cool music--the heavy bass sounds great combined with the mandolin. The singer sounds totally at ease in the relaxed "German Mustard" blues, and rips out some of his most harrowing compositions, the mysterious "Ships of Andilar," and the oft-covered "Pancho and Lefty." On both discs, he shows great skill at storytelling, and it's too bad every other country singer had a hit with "Pancho and Lefty," but its own composer couldn't. This album really shows off his deft skill at mystery, since more often the music matches his deceptively dense words. Again, though, there are also fun moments like the cover, "Honky Tonkin.'" Also again, though, there are a few weaker moments--"Sad Cinderella" sounds like a textbook paraphrased rewrite of Dylan's "Queen Jane Approximately," and "Heavenly Houseboat Blues" isn't quite a compelling closer.

All in all, though, Townes Van Zandt has made some great music, and deserves to be much better known. This disc is a steal, containing two solid albums' worth of music, with some music that's good, and some that's GREAT. If you're unfamiliar with TVZ, I recommend that this is as good a place as any to get into some great music!

4 out of 5 stars other stuff to check out.......2006-06-21

I am a huge fan of catchy, quiet folk music with insightful lyrics. If you enjoy this album then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
1) Ghosts Of The Great Highway by Sun Kil Moon
2) Kings Avenue Joe Kile
3) Subtitulo by Josh Rouse

5 out of 5 stars Sweet writer, with a voice that grows on you..........2005-07-03

This single-CD collection of two of Townes' early LP's should confirm for any lover of country/folk that Van Zandt's reputation is well-deserved. People such as Guy Clark, Nancy Griffith, Emmy Lou Harris, Billy Joe Shaver, Todd Snider, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle and many others who had more successful performing careers than Townes all praise his writing. I was pleased with the writing, but pleasantly surprised that TVZ could sing so well. His voice is limited, but endearing. He is one of a long line of artists who could not survive alcohol and drugs and the stress of the music business. All of the songs on here, all 22, are worth hearing, but more than half of them deserve and reward repeated listening. Those stand up to dozens of playings without getting stale. I'm speaking of songs such as "To Live is to Fly" and "No Lonesome Tune" and "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool Ya'" and "Poncho and Lefty" and "If I Needed You." While "Sunshine" was written by Guy Clark, Townes' version is almost as good as Clark's own. Eighteen of the tracks were written by Van Zandt. These performances were laid down on vinyl in the 1970's, but they hold up pretty darn well. If you have heard about TVZ, and want a good sample of his lyrics and singing, this item is a great value.

4 out of 5 stars For The Sake of the CD.......2005-03-02

Steve Earle is certainly entitled to his opinion, but comparing Bob Dylan to anyone seems kind of foolish. However, just the fact that many, myself included, consider Townes Van Zandt to be in the same league as Dylan as a songwriter speaks volumes about the late Texan's considerable talents. This is a nice pairing of two of his best albums. It's always cool to get two albums for the price of one. A great introduction to a cult hero who deserves wider recognition.

5 out of 5 stars Wrong track list.......2002-10-04

High Low and in Between is a great album. But this page has the wrong tracks listed...
Late Night Special
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • If "0" was an option, that's what I would've given this
  • Pretty Ricky Is Something Special!
  • Late NIght Special
  • Oh, no; not these guys again...
  • Great Service
 Late Night Special
Pretty Ricky
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000KG4BP4
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

  1. Stay
  2. On The Hotline
  3. Peer Pressure
  4. Push It
  5. Late Night Special
  6. So Confused
  7. On The Rocks
  8. Up And Down
  9. Leave It All Up To You
  10. Personal Trainer
  11. Make It Like It Was

Amazon.com

Pretty Ricky pretty much have sex on the brain, and with hits like "Grind with Me" and "Your Body" off 2005's Blue Stars winning the Miami foursome overnight superstardom, you sort of can't expect them to mess with the formula. That explains the obvious if-it-ain't-broke approach the boy-band of brothers took on this, their sophomore CD: If song titles like "Up and Down" and "Push It" don't say it all, lyrics, as in the unapologetically raunchy ones to "Personal Trainer," most certainly will. Look beyond the sleaze (some of it borderline sweet, as in the line "I've been thinkin' about you all day/In a nasty, passionate way" from "So Confused"), and what you'll find on Late Night Special is a whole lotta talent, though. Pretty Ricky is the current decade's answer to Jodeci, with a little Bone Thugs thrown in; "On the Hotline" brings the heat of the latter, and "Make it Like it Was" steps up with the taut hooks of the former. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

On Late Night Special demonstrates the growth and maturity of Pretty Ricky's lyrics, production, and vocals. Forget everything else on the menu--Pretty Ricky is your one and only Late Night Special.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars If "0" was an option, that's what I would've given this.......2007-07-12

Awful, awful, awful lyrics....why does it have to be all about SEX. Can we sing about something else....why do lyrics today have to be so raunchy, just straight up nasty! Are they that crazed for SEX. Teens today need to know that other things exist other than sex, violence, and drugs...there's nothing "special" about this at all.

4 out of 5 stars Pretty Ricky Is Something Special!.......2007-05-01

So I was kind of skeptical about this cd. But I gave it a try anyway. And I am pretty glad that I did. The cd is great! All the songs are good and the boys blend the vocals and rapping perfectly. The rap lyrics, could have been stepped up a bit though. The beats are well produced too. Overall, I say Pretty Ricky did their thing on this album. They don't even begin to compare to Jodeci, but they are worth checking out.
Hot Tracks: Push It, So Confused

5 out of 5 stars Late NIght Special.......2007-04-10

Pretty Ricky was pretty much inspired by Jodeci and Usher to record this hot album. This album is very sensual and sexual at the same time. I love this album. This album seems destine to surpass their previous success. The growth and maturity of their lyrics, production, and vocals, coupled with their innate ability to connect with virtually any market that shows the diversity and expansion of these superstars. Forget everything else on the menu-This group is your one and only LATE NIGHT SPECIAL.

1 out of 5 stars Oh, no; not these guys again..........2007-03-27

I'll admit it; I never was much of a Pretty Ricky fan, especially after listening to Bluestars. I mean, I like sex as much as the next guy, but that seemed to be all these guys ever talked about -- and it didn't help that they have very, VERY below-average rapping skills (and Pleasure's singing is pretty okay). And this trend continues on Late Night Special.

Now, I won't say that nobody likes Pretty Ricky; after all, this album DID debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. But I have to say that this is another one of those cases where I looked at the other reviews and now I'm asking, "Did we all listen to the same album?" And aside from all the usual sexual talk, the guys still rely on dated rhymes, like "let me do you after school like some homework" ("Leave It All Up to You"), "you got me feenin' like Jodeci" ("Love Like Honey"), and, once again, "if I'm lyin', I'm flyin'" (the title track).

As was the case with the first album, the guys aren't very impressive when they DON'T talk about sex either, mainly because considering the way they normally rap (lyrics AND style), it's kind of hard to then take them seriously (especially Slick). This is evident on "Stay" (but Pleasure's singing is pretty God-awful on that song too) and the necessary song about clubbing, "Push It Baby". And "So Confused" is aptly titled because the chorus is about being in love with a girl who's taken, but then the verses contain their usual dirty talk.

This album also contains a pretty statutory song, the aforementioned "Leave It All Up to You". But in the long run, maybe that isn't HORRIBLE because teenage girls are probably the only people that'll pick up this album. Like I said before, I have nothing against sex, but if that's all you talk about AND you're wack, then it's really a turnoff. I'm going to have to pass on this late night special and see what else is on the menu.

Anthony Rupert

5 out of 5 stars Great Service.......2007-03-21

I received the CD brand new and it arrived in a timely fashion. THANK YOU. I will definitly use them again...
Beethoven: The Late String Quartets
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Takacs...what amazing musicians
  • Sublime Playing
  • MORE APPRECIATION
  • Takacs Complete Beethoven Quartets (part 3)
  • Defective Decca set of Takacs Late Quartets
 Beethoven: The Late String Quartets
Ludwig van Beethoven , and Takacs Quartet
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Richard Goode Performs Mozart

ASIN: B00067R3BG
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

  1. Maestoso - Allegro
  2. Adagio ma non troppo e molto cantabile
  3. Scherzando vivace
  4. Finale
  5. Adagio ma non troppo e molto espressivo
  6. Allegro molto vivace
  7. Allegro moderato
  8. Andante ma non troppo e molto cantabile - Piso - Andante moderato e lusinghiero - Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio, ma non troppo e semplice - Allegretto
  9. Presto
  10. Adagio quasi un poco andante
  11. Allegro

Tracks:

  1. Assai sostenuto - Allegro
  2. Allegro ma non tanto
  3. Heiliger Dankgesang e.Genesenden an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart.Molto adagio -. Andante - Molto adagio - Andante - Molto adagio.
  4. Alla marcia, assai vivace - Piegro - Presto
  5. Allegro appassionato
  6. Allegretto
  7. Vivace
  8. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
  9. Der schwer gefae Entschlu(Grave - Allegro - Grave ma non troppo tratto - Allegro)

Tracks:

  1. Allegro con brio
  2. Allegretto ma non troppo
  3. Allegro assai vivace ma serioso
  4. Larghetto espressivo - Allegretto agitato
  5. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro
  6. Presto
  7. Andante con moto ma non troppo. Poco scherzando
  8. Alla danza tedesca (Allegro assai)
  9. Cavatina ( Adagio molto espressivo)
  10. Overtura (Allegro) - Meno mosso e moderato - Allegro - Fuga
  11. Finale (Allegro)

Amazon.com

Some Quartets, like the Busch, Italiano, and Talich, have come close to the inner core of these supreme masterpieces. The Takács Quartet now joins those select few. From the opening chords of the Op. 127--firmly stated, perfectly blended, just gruff enough while still sounding beautiful--you know you're in safe hands during this journey into the deepest, most timeless works in the repertory. Slow movements are always a major test here, and if the Takács doesn't surpass some of the above-mentioned groups, they are superior to their present-day peers in conveying Beethoven's deepest thinking while also attending to surface beauties. The Takács surpass the Emersons and Alban Berg Quartet(admirable as those performances are)in their interpretive insights and ensemble sound. But these masterpieces are so rich and dense that admirers need more than one version. The Takács are masters of Beethoven's quick-changing contrasts, making them sound logical, even inevitable. While their playing is full of drive and forward motion, it's never excessively energetic or overly lean. Of course, the Grosse Fugue is included, along with Beethoven's substitute finale Opus 130 and the Opus 95 Quartet, making for three well-filled discs recorded in excellent sound. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Takacs...what amazing musicians.......2007-07-23

Perhaps the best chamnber music group of our time, I was eager to purchase the CD after hearing them perform live a few months ago with the newest member of their group, Geraldine Walther (the best violist the San Francisco Symphony has ever had and lost). Listening to them in person, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Unfortunately with this piece the energy did not reach me in the same way. It is still an amazing performance, but I need to know my Beethoven better so I can be more selective in my purchases. I am committed to purchasing all future recordings from them, however, and if you have a chance to hear them live, do so!

5 out of 5 stars Sublime Playing.......2007-03-02

I have come to enjoy and appreciate string quartets much more in recent years, and my collection of recordings embraces Mendelssohn, Schubert, Haydn, Shostakovich, Borodin and Britten; but not Beethoven. I had some old LP recordings of the quartets several years ago (long disappeared) and I felt it was time to hear them again. So I was approaching this set of quartets as something new.

I bought these recordings having read several reviews of the Takacs Quartet's recordings of the Beethoven Quartets; indeed they have been so glowing that I could not help but be curious. These are not easy works to understand and I have heard the music a few times and feel that I am just beginning to learn about them. I would have to say that my favorites are the Quartet in F minor, Op. 95 "Quartetto Serioso" the Quartet in B flat, op. 130, the Grosse Fuge, op. 133 and the Quartet in F major, Op. 135. These works had an immediate appeal and the playing of the Takacs is luminous. The Quartet in E flat, Op. 127, Quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 131 and Quartet in A minor, Op. 132 have extended slow movements that are intimate and somber, and can become somewhat tiresome. When I was playing disc one with the Op. 127 and Op. 131 quartets my wife said it was the most boring music she had heard. Well, this is music that requires multiple hearings to understand and I do not plan to get rid of this set.

As has been pointed out by several reviewers, the late Beethoven quartets are not works for light listening. However, even the most challenging of the quartets contains music that I found appealing. For example, the Scherzo and Allegro from the Op. 127 quartet are brilliant and even the C sharp minor quartet with its beginning dark and somber adagio eventually brightens as the music unfolds. I usually listen to CDs with a headset and I found that the sound and balance of these recordings are second to none. The playing of the Takacs is fabulous and I highly recommend this set, even if some of the music may require some patience.


4 out of 5 stars MORE APPRECIATION.......2006-12-01

To be honest, I have never really understood or appreciated Beethoven's Late String
Quartets finding them very difficult to decipher and really not too enjoyable to listen to. (In reality, I honestly feel that they are very "private" compositions of Beethoven that are reflective of the inner turmoil of his life at the time of their composition) Although I don't feel that I really understand them now (nor do I ever expect to), I have enjoyed them more in this recording that is played by the exquisite Takács Quartet than I ever have enjoyed them. To me, the Takács Quartet has some semblance of understanding of these monumental works; they indeed seem to understand them or in the very least they indeed play them most beautifully neither being too gruff or too sentimental. Their sound is simply gorgeous making for a most enjoyable listening experience. Coupled with Decca's exquisite recorded balance and sound, (the recording also includes the Grosse Fugue in this 3 disc set) I now almost like and appreciate the works.

In conclusion, I don't still even pretend to consider Beethoven's Late String Quartets as some of my favorite compositions, however, I indeed do intend to return to this recording often hopefully garnering more of an understanding of these most important compositions by Beethoven.

5 out of 5 stars Takacs Complete Beethoven Quartets (part 3) .......2006-08-28

This is the 3rd part of my full review of the Takacs Beethoven string quartets. Part 1 is for the Opus18 Quartets and Part 2 for the middle quartets.

I am a Busch Quartet Lover (as are the Takacs players themselves) so those quartets loom in the back of my mind as the standard against which other performances are measured. Since the Busch performances were loved against years of listening to many other quartets as well, it is high praise for the Takacs that I consider the Takacs often their equal, and on some occasions (op59 no3) even superiour.

With the late quartets the Takacs come into competition with a well recorded (for 1930s) Busch performance on every quartet (except the full No13). Fortunately, the Takacs took these on at the last, and their style and insight has certainly matured. The "crescendo effect" I complained about in my other reviews is mostly gone here, and they generally seem more in touch with the emotional centre of the music. Furthermore, Duisinberre has for the most part laid off the heavy vibrato he sometimes brought to slow movements on the earlier discs.

The Takacs popularity is in large part to the variety of qualities they bring to the music. Many quartets have strengths in certain areas, such as great fire, sublime sensitivity, immaculate technique, superb dynamics...but very rarely does a quartet come along that is strong in so many of these areas at once, as the Takacs are. In my previous reviews I complained that their only "lack" was that they sometimes seemed distant to the essence of the music in a way my favourite quartet, the Busch, never seems to be.

In this final set of their cycle, they mostly correct this, and their performances for the most part take on the great authority of classics. Still, they are not (most of the time) in the same league as the Busch yet, either in emotional depth or, in particular, their ability to play in unison when called for. The uncanny way the Busch can blend into one sound at certain moments really gives them an extra edge when they need it. At those moments I often found myself slightly dissapointed with the Takacs when, remembering a moment where the Busch pulled out an extraordinary sonority for great effect, the Takacs, though playing with all their heart, still sounded like 4 individual instruments scraping away in not an entirely sure fashion.

Op95 starts off chock full of Takacs strengths: lively phrasing, varied textures, rippling fire, immaculate technique and dynamics. The first movement does not quite have the ripping tragedy that the Busch do, but still is very gripping.

No12 manages to outdo the Busch at times in sheer power and masterful melodic articulation. The long slow movement is very beautifully done and the scherzo amazes with its ferocity. The last movement slightly dissapoints near the end. The Busch make great use of their unified textural sonority to sustain the wild arpeggios, such that the piece ends leaving one exhilarated. The Takacs leave dynamic gaps here and the music sort of lurches to the finish in a dissapointing way.

No13 is only available in a poor Sony recording from 1943 by the Busch, one that omits the Grosse Fugue as well. Poor recording and all, noone has ever come close to understanding the first part of this quartet in the way the Busch do. The natural tempos and phrasing of the lonely 'horn calls' in the first movement makes the development section like falling into a well of amazing emotional depth. The Takacs are altogether more pensive, almost sweet. They try to turn this movement inward, rather self conscious and psychological, and it really pales compared to the Busch.

Great firey 2nd movement from Takacs as expected.

3rd movement gets it typical laid back Schumannian whimsy from the Takacs. O how infinitely better is the natural Busch rendering, with Adolf catching that wild central gypsy melody on the wing such that you won't get it out of your head for days. Takacs are snoozers here.

The Takacs catch up on the slow movement. Perhaps taking the warning that Beethoven called this short piece "my greatest work of chambermusic" they give it great gravitas and concentration, shaping the alternating passages with loving intensity. That sweeps forward into a nearly hysterical, and amazingly played Grosse Fugue, after which the monster quartet is finished off with Beethovens alternate ending. The Takacs really fly through this piece and its brilliant, much more becoming than the Busch laid back tempo.

So, if for quartet No 13 I could have the Busch upto the slow movement, then Takacs the rest of the way including the fugue, I would be in bliss, but life is not so simple!

I'd like to continue but am running out of space. Basically quartets 14 and 15, while not quite in the same league as the Busch for some of the aforesaid reasons, are still very great performances, ones that complement the Busch very well and are occassionally better. For slow movement lovers, the variations from no14, while very fine, misses alot of the profound emotional transformation that the Busch capture in the silences and amazing pure tonal sonorities. The Heilegen Danksang from No15 is just wonderfully done by the Takacs, perhaps even as good as the Busch, which is saying alot. No16 is as good or even better than the Busch. I think the Takacs make even more sense out of it. Rather like the 8th symphony it is full of Beethoven at his most wierdly personal and subtle and overall the Takacs catch the spirit of the melody better than the Busch.

All in all, a mostly triumphant finish for the Takacs. For a complete set with a modern recording the Takacs would certainly be my first choice, though as I have often stated the old Busch recordings (of half the quartets) for the most part still scale this music the highest.

But we are spoilt for choice. We can own all sorts of recordings of this wonderful music, wandering all the interesting and unique ways to the one musical core.

1 out of 5 stars Defective Decca set of Takacs Late Quartets.......2006-05-01

I purchased this set yesterday, and it has the same defect noted by others: Disc 3 is correctly labeled but is an exact copy of the music on Disc 1. Obviously Decca has a quality control problem and seems to lack the integrity to do a recall.
Late Orchestration: Live at Abbey Road Studios
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Impressed
  • Impressive
  • Brilliant, it's that simple.
  • A Masterpiece
 Late Orchestration: Live at Abbey Road Studios
Kanye West
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East CoastEast Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Experimental RapExperimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop RapPop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000F6ZFDQ
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Tracks:

  1. Diamonds from Sierra Leone [Live]
  2. Touch the Sky [Live]
  3. Crack Music [Live]
  4. Drive Slow [Live]
  5. Through the Wire [Live]
  6. Workout Plan [Live]
  7. Heard 'Em Say [Live]
  8. All Falls Down [Live]
  9. Bring Me Down [Live]
  10. Gone [Live]
  11. Late [Live]
  12. Jesus Walks [Live]
  13. Gold Digger [AOL Sessions]

Album Description

Import only release! Recorded in front of 300 personally invited guests and fans at Abbey Road Studios (the famous Beatles studio) in the UK on September 21st, 2005. Kanye was backed with a 17-piece all-female string orchestra and featured guest appearances by John Legend and Goldie Lookin' Chain. The CD release features the full perfomance (12-tracks) along with an additional bonus track, 'Gold Digger' (Live at AOL). Universal. 2006

Album Details

The Controversial Hip-hop Superstar Follows Up his Second Studio Album "Late Registration" with this Live Recording Taped at London's Legendary Abbey Road Studios Before a Specially Invited Audience of 300 Lucky Fans. The Musicians on Hand Included the Backing of a Full Symphony Orchestra. West Gives it his all for this Performance of his Biggest Hits and his Cerebral Rhymes Get the Benefit of a Huge Soundbed which Completely Alters the Dynamics of the Songs.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Impressed.......2007-07-21

After seeing Kanye live in concert 4 times I thought nothing could capture such an experience, but clearly I was mistaken!
Late Orchestration proves once again that Kanye is a pioneer and will not follow the standard cookie cutter output of music today.
Subliminal! If Kanye hadn't put orchestral instruments with a hip hop beat then I would have never thought it possible until now.
I enjoyed this just as much as Late Registration and wait in anticipation for his third 'official' album The Graduate.
People may ask when will he stop or hasn't he done enough and I think he hasn't even begun! Watch out world Kanye is here to stay....

5 out of 5 stars Impressive.......2007-05-02

This is really a classic. The orchestrated live versions of the songs just sound incredible. It's a must have for any fan of Ye.

4 out of 5 stars Brilliant, it's that simple. .......2006-05-15

This is the most amazing live hip-hop CD I have ever heard. The fact that it took a beat junkie like Ye to come up with something like this is NOT suprising in the least. It sounds a lot like the Live Portishead album of a while back. The string section does not overpower Ye and the beats, but take the songs to such a different place, it's mind blowing. The subtelty of it is amazing. I'm sure anyone checking this out is familiar with all of these songs, and this might not be up some peoples ally. But damn, It was recorded at Abby Road, you can almost hear John Lennon smile in the strings. This man will single handedly change hip-hop forever. Much like the Beatles changed pop music. Brilliant.

5 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece.......2006-05-12

Once again Kanye returns with another gem...While not an official LP this Live Album recorded in the Abbey Road Studios home of the Beatles, takes Kanye and hip hop music to a whole new dimension...

From Track 1-13 all of Kanye's hits packed into one cd played exceptionally well backed by a 17 piece orchestra (hence "Late Orchestration") and special appearances from G.O.O.D Music including John Legend, GLC, Consequence, and also Lupe Fiasco on the Hit "Touch The Sky"...

Even if your not a hip hop or R&B fan you can still appreciate the music and the production layed out by Kanye...Still not sure why he didn't release this in the U.S. but for you true Ye fans this CD is also available on DVD packed with alot of extra footage of his 5 music videos off Late Registration, interviews, and never before seen footage...
Late in the Night
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Best!!!!!!!!
 Late in the Night
Rick Holmstrom
Manufacturer: M.C. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Blues | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000NI3FJC
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

  1. Peculiar Hop
  2. I'm Leaving
  3. One Last Chance
  4. 77 Red V8
  5. Tutwiler
  6. Better Way
  7. On The Vine
  8. Descanso
  9. Dig Myself A Hole
  10. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
  11. Hey Johnny
  12. Wham-O
  13. In The Night

Amazon.com

Great blues guitarists are about tone, mood, and style. Being nimble helps, but intensity and passion more often exist between the notes. Rick Holmstrom revels in this abundance on his first album in five years. A West Coast veteran who backed harp greats William Clarke, Billy Boy Arnold, and Rod Piazza, Holmstrom can swing with the best of them. But 2002's controversial drum-loop-powered Hydraulic Groove showed the guitarist expanding blues boundaries rather then repeating past sounds. His fourth solo release retreats from those techno trappings, concentrating on a tough yet loose vibe driven by a stripped-down band of bassist/sax player Jeff Turmes and drummer Stephen Hodges, best known for his work with Tom Waits. Holmstrom kicks off with one of the album's five fiery instrumentals, slinging out resilient, ragged lines that build until finally exploding into the immortal riff from "Rumble," a nod to Link Wray, also no stranger to gristly tone. There's a sure sense of balance and tension as Holmstrom expertly weaves his gripping solos between the taut rhythm section's own dusky rumble. John Lee Hooker, another master of atmosphere, is the reference for "'77 Red V8" and a raw, instrumental take on Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"--one of only two covers--gets an unusually sleazy treatment thanks in part to Turmes' strip-club-style sax. Holmstrom is an effective, unfussy vocalist with an understated croon perfect for this album's dusky quality. But it's his guitar that really sings on Late in the Night, as it takes us on a rain-drenched stroll to the dodgy side of town. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Best!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-18

Greazzy blues, swinging roots rock, TONES to die for.
Just buy it already. Best MUSIC release in years if you ask me.

If you're thinking about buying it, you already know Rick's stuff...you already know he's one of the best in the world.

BUY IT

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