Business as Usual [Clean]

Track Listings

1. I'm Mad

2. Hardcore

3. Rampage

4. Manslaughter

5. Jane 3

6. For My People

7. Mr. Bozack

8. Gold Digger

9. Give the People

10. Rap Is Outta Control

11. Brothers on My Jock

12. Underground

13. Hit Squad Heist

14. Funky Piano

Business as Usual,EPMD,Def Jam,East Coast Rap,Golden Age,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,R&B,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

Average customer rating:

Australia's greatest new wave export and that is no joke!
Great eighties rock music
80's cheese
Still a classic new wave album after all these years!
Listenable even after all these years....

Business as Usual
Men at Work
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cargo
Contraband: The Best of Men at Work
Man at Work
Rio
Are You Looking At Me?

ASIN: B000088E77
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

Who Can It Be Now?
I Can See It In Your Eyes
Down Under
Underground
Helpless Automaton
People Just Love To Play With Words
Be Good Johnny
Touching The Untouchables
Catch A Star
Down By The Sea
Crazy Non (Bonus Track)
Underground (Live( (Bonus Track)
Who Can It Be Now? (Live)
F-19 (Bonus Track)

Customer Reviews:

Australia's greatest new wave export and that is no joke!.......2006-04-20

Blue Racer: Bug, Men at Work were a great band who were one of the few great New Wave bands. Japanese Beetle: You are right Serpent Son, if it were not for Men at Work, bands like those losers Duran Duran would not ever have had US success. Blue Racer: This album has loads of classics like Who Can It Be Now, Down Under, Down By the Sea, Be Good Johnny and many others. Japanese Beetle: You are right Serpent Son, these guys were gifted but the original band imploded after a few years. If you trash this then it's HAASAH(karate chop) SAYONARA!

Great eighties rock music.......2006-04-20

Business as usual is a great album from MEN AT WORK a talented new wave rock band from Australia and features some excellent songs.Buy this with Cargo their excellent sophomore effort.

80's cheese.......2006-04-19

The title for Men at Work's debut album says it all: business as usual. More of the same vapid, silly 80s cheese that nobody listens anymore unless you're at some karaoke bar. "Who Can it Be Now" and "Down Under" were somewhat okay when they first came out but they aged very badly. Does anybody wonder why these guys called it quits so early? That's because they explosively stink! Demand for these losers got so low that they had NO CHOICE but to call it quits. Unlike Duran Duran, who stuck it out and continued to perform for over two decades and are NOT a nostaliga band NOR are they "in it for the money." If you like music from Australia, then you have only ONE option: Kylie Minogue.

Still a classic new wave album after all these years!.......2006-04-19

Australian new wave rockers Men at Work's debut album Business as Usual was released in April of 1982 in the US and late in 1981 in the band's native Australia.
The title for Men at Work's debut album says it all: Business as Usual(good straight rock songs with a reggae influence). This album is a classic.
The band(which consisted of Scotland born guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Colin Hay and Australians John Rees(bass), Greg Ham(sax/keyboards), Ron Strykert(guitar) and Jerry Speiser(drums)) got signed to Columbia Records first in Australia because of the song Who Can it Be Now. After the song did well in Australia, America's branch of Columbia/CBS signed the group and released this debut in the spring of 1982. How is this album, read ahead and find out(as I did at age 6 when I kept heisting my sister's record and then subsequently got the cassette now remastered CD).
The opening Who Can it Be Now kicks off the album and was the song that gave Men at Work its first US Top 10 hit and is a great rocker. Next is I Can See It In Your Eyes and is a great rocker with some tasty solos from Strykert. Next is the chart topping Down Under and is a great number and a classic flute solo from Ham and popularized the term vegamite in the US which was unknown outside Australia prior to 1982. Next is the rocker Underground which is a great rocker. The first half ends with Greg Ham's vocal debut Helpless Automaton which is about a robot helplessly in love.
The second half begins with the Strykert penned rocker People Just Love to Play With Words which is a great song. Next is Business As Usual's third and final single Be Good Johnny which is a superb rocker. We slow down a bit with the mid tempo Touching the Untouchables which is a great song. We follow with the reggae-ish sounding rocker Catch a Star which would have not sounded out of place on The Police's first three albums. We end with the classic epic Down By the Sea which is my favorite track on the album.
This album turned out to be a huge success and was #1 on the US album charts for an astounding 15 weeks in late 1982 and early 1983(only to be KO'd by Michael Jackson's Thriller).
I really didn't like new wave(save The Police and The Cars) but Men at Work was one band from childhood I did not ever really outgrow because their songs were catchy and quirky and are still good to listen to.
The album was re-released with remastered sound and FIVE BONUS TRACKS including three live versions and two B-sides.
Recommended!

Listenable even after all these years...........2006-04-02

On July 2'nd, 2005 (the day Live 8 kicked off) I played DJ for my boss's farewell party. I had mentioned Men At Work to the New Zealander but I don't think he and his wife were ready for the songs I was playing at the party. Boss was pleasantly surprised and his wife confessed to me that she never expected "Men At Work" to be played in this part of the world, that night. To her I had to tell (like I had discussed earlier with her husband) that in the mid 80's I and another friend would "preach" Men At Work to our friends.

20 years have gone by after "Business As Usual" was released. The album got MAW the Grammy for Best New Artist and also was the largest selling debut album for many years. Maybe it still is. The album remained in the charts for so long that their follow-up album Cargo's release had to be delayed. And finally when "Cargo" was released both albums were in the top of the charts.

"Down Under", "I can see it in your eyes" and "People just love to play with words" are the songs I listen to from this album once in a while even to this day. The lines "....i used to see your old school photographs but I don't have them anymore...I wonder who is in my old college rooms..." from the song "I can see it in your eyes" still bring back strong feelings of nostalgia from school and college days. Side B has some good but lesser known pop numbers in "Down by the sea", "Catch a Star" and "Touching the Untouchables".

What a feeling it was when Colin and the band took the stage as the last act, and playing "Down Under" for the Sydney olympics when the curtains came down.

Average customer rating:

"All Non Believers Can Get The Bolzack" (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars) {400th Review!!}
My favorite by EPMD, topten list over best hip-hop records ever. Straight up
The Ancient Art of Neck Snapping
EPMDS BEST
The Third Of Three Straight Classics [Part 3 of 3] (5 Stars)

Business as Usual
EPMD
Manufacturer: Fontana Def Jam
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Old School | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Unfinished Business
Strictly Business
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
Long Live the Kane
Don't Sweat the Technique

ASIN: B0000024J0
Release Date: 1994-09-06

Tracks:

I'm Mad
Hardcore
Rampage
Manslaughter
Jane 3
For My People
Mr. Bozak
Gold Digger
Give The People
Rap Is Outta Control
Brothers On My Jock
Underground
Hit Squad Heist
Funky Piano

Amazon.com

EPMD's 14-cut third album, Business As Usual, is their bumpingest and most influential. By 1990 the Long Island duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith had perfected their beatmaking formula. They didn't have to raid vocoder guru Roger Troutman's vaults for the funk. On "Gold Digger," an austere commentary on materialistic female groupies, and the battle-rhyme cut "Manslaughter," the duo flex their unusual ability to meld danceable rhythm tracks with hardcore rhymes, a strength which helped EPMD appeal to rap fans of all persuasions. "Rampage" resurrected a burnt-out LL Cool J. "Hardcore" and "Brothers on My Jock" marked the introduction of Redman to the MC game, further proving that the boondocks can produce something other than strip malls. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews:

"All Non Believers Can Get The Bolzack" (Rating: 9 out of 10- -4.5 stars) {400th Review!!}.......2007-06-23

You have to hand it to Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. This duo has been putting out consistant album after consistant album since '88. My first taste of them was back in '99 when they released their final album Out of Business, but I remember those days when I used to watch BET years ago, and one day I saw the video for the song "Rampage" featuring LL Cool J (why was he behind the curtain in the video???). That song there reminded me of some hardcore east coast hip hop.

Business As Usual has many classic tracks on here. Redman gets his first appearance on the song "Hardcore" and "Brothers On My Jock" both excellent tracks. Another excellent track on here is "Manslaughter" where Erick and Parrish rhyme over a dope beat. Before Kanye West went popular with the song "Gold Digger", Erick and Parish had a song with the exact title and the same subject matter. I also like the beat to that song here as well. I personally believe that is the best track on this LP.

And the production here is done by Erick and Parish as well, with the exception of "Funky Piano" which was by George Spivey. The production here has that EPMD flavor that everyone loves so much. "Jane 3" has a nice beat as well and was produced nicely (with the samples and etc.). "Rap Is Outta Control" has a boom bap, neck snapping beat to it (I swear they are freestyling on this track).

There aren't really too much complaints about the album. EPMD's "Business As Usual" is definately worth owning. Also it wasn't easy to make, seeing that this came out in 1990, and the fact that Strictly Business & Unfinished Business were both made in '88 and '89 respectively. So making three albums in three years wasn't easy to do, not to mention that they are constistant year after year. Erick and Parrish are still running on this album. "Business As Usual" isn't their best LP, but it was definately one of the best in '90. Fans of 90's rap will love this album. They would go on to release Business Never Personal in '92 (which is out of print, why?) and break up into their solo careers for five years. In fact, I recommend the first four albums, because all of them are classic or near classic LPs. Peace!

Lyrics: A-
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: A
Musical Vibes: A

My Top 5 Tracks:
1. Gold Digger
2. Rampage (featuring LL Cool J)
3. Manslaughter
4. Hardcore (featuring Red Man)
5. Jane 3

Honorable Mention Tracks
1. Rap Is Outta Control
2. Hit Squad Heist (with Redman and K Solo)

My favorite by EPMD, topten list over best hip-hop records ever. Straight up.......2006-06-16

Business As Usual (Def Jam 1990)

Long Island have raised a couple of rap legends up through the years. Rakim and the whole Public Enemy are originally from that area. The buddies Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith from Brentwood should also make huge success, and in the wake of the singles "It's My Thing" and "Strictly Business", their debutalbum sold to gold in just three weeks. This was impressive salenumbers in 1988, and since that EMPD have become one of hip-hops most famous duos. Their third album, which was their first for Def Jam, are in my opinion their highlight in their impressive long careers.

On Business As Usual, EPMD appears rougher than before, and even though a hardcore image ain't quite them, it was at least very timeright. Erick and Parrish have never sounded better than here. Check out "Hardcore" and "Brothers On My Jock", and the man himself LL Cool J are guest on the sovereign hitsingle, "Rampage". DJ Scratch have an insane hook on this song, where his scratching sound genius. It sounds very energetic, and it's hard to explain, but the whole record basically has an unique energy and mood feel which make you never get tired of it. When it comes to production, EPMD had dug deeper after funk-samples this time. They moved away from Roget Troutman and George Clinton to advantage for names like Bob James and O'Jays. The production was also more dynamic. You needed more than just loop now. You needed more layers with samples, and E Double and PMD accepted the challenge successfully. They perfectionized their formula for beatmakin', on the same time they sat a new standard for 90's hip-hop.

Their flawless debutalbum, Strictly Business, introduced us to a new type of funk which was about to affect a whole generation of producers. The follow-up, Unfinished Business, became a more coarse affair. On their third try everything matched. In fact this is so good I have it in my top 10-list, and it's actually Just Blaze's favorite record. He got his inspiration from this one, listen to The Game "No More Fun And Games", where Just used the same sample as the EPMD song "For My People".

You need this in your collection. Buy "Strictly Business" too, more classic material from EPMD.

The Ancient Art of Neck Snapping.......2006-04-27

Classic. Hard from start to finish. No nonsense from the brothers from Brentwood, Long Island. Erick and Parrish spend this album pretty much doing what they do best: harassing bitin' emcees,gettin' stupid amounts of paper and grabbing their d!$ks like real men! EPMD had a swagger about them that was all their own. This album is a microcosm of what it meant to be "flossin'" or more appropriately "livin' large" in the 90's. The production on this album is funkier than an African n!$$az underarms after a Parliament concert. Many of the beats are tight by today's standards. Erick and Parrish beat up the booth, especially Parrish with lines like "I'm top gun/pullin b!%@#es like Tom Cruise" and "I clock gees while you clock zees/and I don't smoke crack I smoke emcees".Combustible. Parrish Smith is the Elton Brand of late eighties/early nineties hip hop. "Business As Usual" is arguably EPMD's best work to date. Everything clicked on this album. Even the G.O.A.T., Todd Smith himself came in and murdered his verse on "Rampage", one of the album's strongest cuts. Peep the album's other co- star, a young Red Man spittin' imflammably (new word) on "Hardcore" and "Brothers on my Jock". Get this album immediately and don't be surprised if you find yourself defiantly grabbing your bozack as you warn all suckas to get off of it.

EPMDS BEST.......2006-04-13

This came out in the early to mid 90s when NY hip hop was at its peak.This is EPMD.If you dont know them then you are on the wrong page because this is for true heads.So what we have here is an EPMD album that came out of the greatest hip hop time period. When NY was grimey.If you dont own it then somethings wrong with you.

The Third Of Three Straight Classics [Part 3 of 3] (5 Stars).......2006-01-05

I see a couple of heads calling this album classic......and then giving it less than 5 stars. Go figure.

Anyway, this is a 5 star banger without question. I said this in my other two EPMD reviews and I'll say it here, only a few other groups hit the ground running and dropped three straight classics: A Tribe Called Quest, BDP, Outkast (and quite possibly Organized Konfusion). What makes Business As Usual such a banger is the varied subject matter over hardcore production. EPMD had a knack for storytelling and covered a crazy range of topics. Whether they tackle things like money hungry women (Gold Digger), raps influence on mainstream America (Give The People), rocking collaborations (Rampage), or just straight taking out sucker MCs (Hardcore), they do so all with a precision and flare that was practically flawless. And as a DJ, I can't forget to mention that DJ Scratch is simply one of the illest there's ever been. The scratches and cuts are definitely high grade. His skills are put on display for all to see all throughout the album (the scratches on Funky Piano are tighter that gnat booty).

If there are flaws on this album you'd be hard pressed to find them. I wasn't really feeling their attempt to sound "hard" on this album, but it works, so I can't really call it a flaw.

Business As Usual is indeed a certified classic. EPMD kept the clubs dancin' and got the street heads open. The beats are beyond dope, the rhymes are on point, and the scratches and cuts are nothing short of superior....and lets not forget that this is the album that Redman made his debut on. There's no way this album is anything less than 5 stars. This is a MUST HAVE album from one of the best groups in hip hop history.

Standout Tracks: Give the People, Mr. Bozack, Rampage feat. LL Cool J, Gold Digger (My Favorite), Funky Piano, Jane III, Brothers On My Jock, Hardcore feat. Redman, Hit Squad Heist feat. Redman and K Solo, & Rap Is Outta Control

Average customer rating:

One of the best albums of the early 1980s....
It Can Be Men at Work Now!
Greatest Album of all Time
No Work Just Play!
Good Beat, Great Sound, Moderate POP/ROCK

Business as Usual
Men at Work
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cargo
Cargo
She's So Unusual
90125
Contraband: The Best of Men at Work

ASIN: B0000025R3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Who Can It Be Now?
I Can See It In Your Eyes
Down Under
Underground
Helpless Automation
People Just Love To Play With Words
Be Good Johnny
Touching The Untouchables
Catch A Star
Down By The Sea

Amazon.com

Helped immeasurably by the heavy rotation with which its clever videos were greeted by the then brand-new MTV network, the Australian group Men at Work were one of the biggest--and least anticipated--success stories of 1982. On the strength of two No. 1 singles, the sax-driven "Who Can It Be Now" and the geocentric "Down Under," the band's debut album spent an astonishing 15 weeks at the top of the charts. Bandleader Colin Hay's Sting-like, reggae-influenced singing was welcomed by the emerging video music generation--even if they had no idea what a "Vegemite" sandwich was. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

One of the best albums of the early 1980s...........2005-10-11

And the best that Men At Work ever did. It starts out with their huge hit "Who Can It Be Now?", and is followed by the excellent "I Can See It In Your Eyes." Next is the other big hit "Down Under", followed by "Underground" and one of my personal favorites, "Helpless Automaton", sung by Greg Ham. Next is probably my least favorite, "People Just Love To Play With Words." Another hit, "Be Good Johnny" follows that, then "Touching The Untouchables", a song about homelessness. "Catch A Star" and the masterpiece "Down By The Sea" conclude this album. Too bad this group split up after only a few years, but by then, their music was becoming mediocre. This will always remain their true gem.

It Can Be Men at Work Now!.......2005-05-06

Men at Work exploded in the United States in the formative years of MTV. Their inventive music videos and catchy music captured an audience in the throes of a disco music backlash. Men at Work provided a new sound for a new decade and a new medium.

This album begins with one of Men at Work's signature songs, "Who Can It Be Now?" The song has a predominant saxophone that, in combination with Colin Hay's voice, provides a unique sound. The lyrics for this catchy song are somewhat humorous as they initially describe someone who might be us, wanting to be left alone by a salesman or some other unwelcome door knocker. As the song progresses, we realize that the singer's real fear is that they are coming to take him away, and you realize that perhaps the singer is mentally not quite all there.

The second song is more serious. "I Can See It in Your Eyes" conveys the strange feelings we sometimes have during changes in relationships. The fast song with its dark undertone speaks of images that we sometimes associate with relationships. The collage of phrases initially appears to be unrelated until you tie them together with how we often think as we replay things that happen over a period of years.

The next song is pure play. "Down Under" is yet another signature song for Men at Work. The song appears to have a number of Australian slang words, which makes the song incomprehensible in places. However, the enthusiasm, pace and harmony pull you into this song. The catchy beat and easily remembered refrain make this a song that will have you singing along when it appears on an oldies station, though it is hard for me to believe that the 80s are already classified as oldies.

I have always liked the next song, "Underground." However, I must admit that I am clueless as to the precise meaning of the song. The words hint at survival during troubled times, but other references are less sure. I think because I saw "Mad Max" and "The Road Warrior" about the time this album came out that I associate this song with those two movies. Like many other Men at Work songs, the music is catchy and you want to sing along, but the lyrics are too hard to remember without memorizing them.

Men at Work rarely created songs that, in retrospect, were throwaway songs. However, "Helpless Automation" may well be such a song. The music is reasonably good, but the lyrics seem like something Devo might have been singing rather than Men at Work. The following song, "People Just Love to Play with Words," is also one of Men at Work's lesser songs. The song starts out somewhat serious, but the reference to a puzzle throws a bit of humor into the song making it much less serious.

The following song is a song about a boy who wants to spend his time dreaming and doing his own thing. "Be Good Johnny" is a kind of tribute to the Chuck Berry song, "Johnny B. Goode." Like the Chuck Berry song, this song is fast and catchy, with Men at Work's unique style. The harmony on the "dreaming" portion of the lyrics is very good. However, the endless "be good be good be good" can feel a trifle overlong sometimes.

"Touching the Untouchables" is the first completely serious song on this CD. The words relate to homeless people. While there are wry twists in the lyrics, the ironic humor is cold because of the context. The music is somewhat downbeat and sad in places. The song is almost out of place given the lighter nature of most of the songs on this CD.

The next song moves back into a more hopeful subject. "Catch a Star" advise everyone to chase a dream, no matter how old you are. Though the tone of the music and the singing is downbeat, the words are relatively upbeat, suggesting there is always hope in a person's life. That hope can extend from career to personal relationships, suggested by various portions of the lyrics.

The last song on this CD has always been one of my favorite Men at Work songs. "Down by the Sea" can be interpreted to fit several topical genres. When I am reading a fantasy novel I see the song relating to voyages to unknown places or quests in faraway lands. At other times I see the song as being a love song. Of course, the plain reading of the words is that the song is about the men who go to sea, whatever their reason or purpose. The tone of this nearly seven minute long song, the longest on this CD, is serious. While Men at Work created catchy songs that are pop, this song is a beautiful song best played loud with the ability to concentrate. This song may be Men at Work's best song.

Men at Work existed for all too short a period of time. Their unique style has yet to have a rival. Of the three albums they created in the early 80s, "Business as Usual," in 1981, "Cargo," in 1983, and "Two Hearts," in 1985, this album was the best. Men at Work's star burned brightly during their relatively short run at the top of the charts; perhaps too brightly as they faded as fast as their rising fame.

Greatest Album of all Time.......2003-01-22

In my opinion, this is the GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME. Colin Hay's smooth vocals, Greg Ham's memorable saxaphone riffs, and the smooth blending of rock, reggae, and new wave music make this album a classic. It also features some of Men At Work's most popular hits, such as Who Can It Be Now and Down Under. This album has very diverse songs; the punk rock sound of Helpless Automatan, soulful reggae of Catch a Star, and the memorable Underground. Do yourself a great favor, and buy this album.

No Work Just Play!.......2002-07-06

This is one of those albums that no matter what era it is it still sounds fresh.
In a time when most artist were experimenting with the electronical side of things these guys keep to the basics.
Each of the five original members having a very unquie signature sound makes this Album as one of the all time greatest Australian Albums. Even todays standards most artists don't have that true originality that only comes every so often.
With hit songs like 'Who Can It Be Now' & Down Under there's no wonder why this album did so well!

Good Beat, Great Sound, Moderate POP/ROCK.......2002-04-11

This is one of those albums you can actually sing along with once you know the words, which by the way you can understand without having to look them up on a website. Back in the 80's before there were CD's, The lp stayed a hot seller for 15 weeks. And no wonder, They were a huge hit on MTV and the Song "Who Can It Be Now" was one of the most requested songs of all time as well as the "Who Can It Be Now" video. This is moderate rock. Nothing too heavy. In other words a pleasant upbeat sound. You have the usual drums, guitars, and the like, but you also have keyboards and sax. The tops hits from the lp/cd are "Who can it be Now" and "Down Under". I own it and I love it. The sounds on some of the songs are very artistic making me think of things like Africa and of course Australia.

Average customer rating:

Best Album on the Planet

Business as Usual
Grant Geissman
Manufacturer: Positive Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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In With the Out Crowd
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ASIN: B000000JYV
Release Date: 1995-08-08

Tracks:

Business As Usual
Chase The Dragon
Gypsies
Thinking Out Loud
Tomorrow The World
Skin Deep
India
Quiet Time
The Hardest Part
Tears Like Rain
Miles Apart
Chase The Dragon (Long Version)

Customer Reviews:

Best Album on the Planet.......2004-04-22

Blazin' Guitar Pirotechniques as well as cool melodies abundantly occur in this album. Terrific horn sections are just smokin' behind Grant, and great keyboard artistry abounds. Very engaging song writing. I recommend all of Grants albums.

Average customer rating:

Seductively engaging 'new music'
Ambitious orchestral jazz with "middle east" ambience
RAK reaching new heights of creativity!
Exquisite music from a great original composer
Not that bad, not that great

Cactus of Knowledge

Manufacturer: Enja
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

Arabic | Middle East | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Al-Jadida
Yara
Odd Times
Tarab
Il Sospiro

ASIN: B000053ZLG
Release Date: 2002-05-25

Tracks:

The Lewinsky March
Business As Usual
Praises et Creme Fraiche
Got To Go Home
Oum Said
Malrese Chicken Farm
Me Muse M'amuse
Pont Neuf

Customer Reviews:

Seductively engaging 'new music'.......2003-10-02

A big band led by an oud (11-string forefather of the lute) virtuoso and musical visionary exiled from Lebanon, who keenly studied classical and jazz in Europe. Khalil's music is a very exotic and convincing hybrid of the improvisational and 'swinging' tendencies of jazz and Arabic music, and an elaborate approach to structural development and arranging more commonly associated with classical music. In this respect he reminds me a little of the Mingus and latter day Holland approach to big-band jazz (apart from the Arabic elements, of course), except that the music on this disc is more delicate and more densely textured. The closest comparison that comes to mind in terms of mood and eastern aesthetics are the more obviously Klezmer influenced parts of Masada's "Tet" (the only Masada album I own). However, here there is virtually no dissonance and free-style soloing (which I love for its own sake). This is much more focused music, more thematically developed and replete with immaculately placed nuances. It is also more consistently engaging.

The rhythmic wealth of this album should be a particular attraction. Apart from some beautifully subdued delights, there is constantly a firm but not overbearing rhythmic drive, which is highly syncopated but relentlessly groovy, while being overlaid with subtly varying percussive intricacies that add depth to the general theme/feel of each composition rather than detract from it.

The discipline of all the players, including the leader, might cause some less attentive listeners to overlook how highly skilled they are. That does not matter too much as this music can be enjoyed at a party or as a work/study background just as much as it can when you let it completely absorb you or when you try to analyze it. Also, for those particularly keen on strummed string instruments, I quote the Penguin Guide to Jazz description of Khalil's oud playing as "fleet and rhythmic as that of any jazz guitarist."

The attention afforded to the tone qualities of each instrument (oud, cello, two trumpets, euphonium, French horn, tuba, clarinet, alto and tenor saxes, frame drums, and drums), including the way the instruments complement each other in this respect is awe-inspiring.

I haven't been able to stop listening to this for two days straight. It has seduced me into breaking my own new rule against writing lengthy reviews.

Ambitious orchestral jazz with "middle east" ambience.......2003-01-01

This is a move up for Mr Abou-Khalil in the sense that he has moved beyond the percussive and rhythmic foundation over which a soloist such as the great Mr Sonny Fortune will solo improvise, to a more inclusive and richer palette in which the percussion does not predominate. There is no bass. The frame drummer Mr Nabil Khaiat plays an important role but Jarrod Cagwin is integrated effectively into the overall sound. The sound palette includes Mr Varner (perhaps a modern jazz genius on his chosen instrument the french horn), Mr Bargeron (euphonium), Michel Godard (Tuba), Mr Courtois (cello, arco or plucked one of the most beautiful sounds in all music). But added to this the delight of that Persian masterpiece, the 11 stringed oud, played by the leader, and the clarinet of Mr Mirabassi. Thus, it is clear to me that the teasing out of the most beautiful SOUNDS are an essential part of appreciating Mr Abou-Khalil's intentions here. This is underscored by the inclusion of sound engineer Mr Quintus listed as a MUSICIAN. Although there is ample space for solos - the opening by the clarinet and cello and frame drum on Track 3 (Fraises et Creme Fraiche) is ravishingly beautiful;the solos on clarinet and tenor on Maltese Chicken Farm soar; - much of the enjoyment from this programme of music comes from the ensembles, compositions and arrangements by the leader which contribute to the main effect of the music which is atmospheric and impressionistic. Does the ghost of Mr Ellington hover in the wings? Additionally, the production itself, the lithography, calligraphy, and,by Gamal Ghitany, the prose entitled THE BUTTERFLY OF LIGHT provided in English, German, Arabic and French attests to the care with which Mr Winckelmann and Mr Abou-Khalil wish to present this music. (If only Mr Ellington had had this opportunity for the presentation of his music during his lifetime.)
In short, an object, and a programme of music, to treasure.

RAK reaching new heights of creativity!.......2002-10-04

Rabih Abou Khalil's albums vary in the degree of their "nerve" to fuse arabic music with other world elements. He may do it in many different styles which all stand as jewels in his latest masterpiece "The Cactus of Knowledge". RAK uses a large ensemble allowing each & every one of the musicians many opprotunities to express themselves. The balkan stylings of the clarinet, the modern-classical bursting cello sawings, the jazzy saxophones, the funky trumpets, and Gordard's etheral tuba expressions.
The compositions are intricate, using new methods of scoring (as can be seen in the partiture for "oum said"), giving room to solos, duets and fun cacaphonies (as in Got To Go Home for instance) and also play a lot on dynamics - utilizing the potential of this relatively large ensemble.
The moods swiftly go from mythological to post modern, and yet there is so much sincerity and dignity in every note. This album shows us RAK experimental and true as ever.
Listen, learn, and enjoy!

Exquisite music from a great original composer.......2002-07-06

To me, Rabih Abou-Khalil is one of the most fascinating writers and arrangers in the music business today, and even though there are some "samenesses" in several of his albums, there is always enough original music to make up for it. This recent addition is no exception, presenting the composer and Oud player at his most salubrious and elegant. Outstanding music, beautifully played.

Not that bad, not that great.......2002-06-25

Two stars seems a little harsh for this CD, but the 4 1/2 star rating it got from Downbeat is also way out of line. 3 1/2 would be more like it. Although CACTUS OF KNOWLEDGE is not up to the standard of Abou-Khalil's best work, there are at least three tracks that I like well enough to include on my personal mix tapes: "Fraises Et Crème Fraiche", "Business As Usual", and "Oum Said". As for the rest of the CD...well, the size of the group is a large part of the problem. Abou-Khalil usually works with groups of 4-6 musicians; here he's juggling 12. It's not surprising that some tracks are a bit over-arranged; the individuality of the players does tend to get lost in the crowd. (How many contemporary jazz composers can write well for a group of this size, anyway? Henry Threadgill, Andrew Hill, Ned Rothenberg, maybe Edward Vesala...and that's about it.) Still, the high points here are as good as anything else in Abou Khalil's oeuvre: the fine trumpet solo on "Business...", the solo cello introduction to "Fraises...", the oud solos throughout. If you've never heard Abou-Khalil before, this is probably not the place to start; any of the CDs featuring Charlie Mariano or Sonny Fortune would be a better introduction. Better yet: the wonderful quartet recording, YARA, with Dominique Pifarely and Vincent Courtois (both on loan from Louis Sclavis' quintet) on violin and cello.

Average customer rating:

Glad To Hear Frankie's Guitar Again
It's only Rock'n'roll

Business as Usual
Robin McAuley
Manufacturer: Zard
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Perfect Timing
World Upside Down

ASIN: B00002NDNP
Release Date: 2001-01-03

Tracks:

One Way Ticket
Easy On Me
When The Rain Came
Every Little Thing
In The Groove
Bad Times
Time Will Dry Your Tears
Glass Houses
Let Me Go
I Was Gonna Be The One
Where Will You Go

Album Description

Japanese edition of the M.S.G. vocalist's 1999 solo outing. 11 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Glad To Hear Frankie's Guitar Again.......2000-05-21

Since I am not a MSG fan, the reason I bought this album is the guitar of Frankie Sullivan(Survivor). When The Rain Came is a great ballad with excellent guitar solo of Frankie. Its guitar solo reminds me of Burning Bridges, a track in Too Hot To Sleep album in 1988. Time Will Dry Your Tears and Where Will You Go are also my favorites. Overall the style of rock is hardly like Survivor maybe close to Billy Squier? But it is enough to prove Frankie's songwriting and sound producing talents outside Survivor works. Survivor fans who likes Frankie's guitar will sure to enjoy this album.

It's only Rock'n'roll.......2000-04-12

Another great album by Robin Mcauley. His fans since Mcauley-Schenker Group won't be disappointed. The album has moments of pure rock'n'roll and some ballads, all with the great voice of Robin. Frankie Sullivan (guitarrist) and Curt Cuomo (drums, bass) complete the band, with great work. Track list include: One way ticket, Easy on me, When the rain came (beautiful ballad), Every little thing, In the groove, Bad times, Time will dry your tears, Glass houses, Let me go (the best), I was gonna be the one and Where will you go. Buy it!

Average customer rating:

Business as Usual
Darrell Nulisch & Texas Heat
Manufacturer: Black Top Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000007QBF
Release Date: 1992-07-13

Tracks:

Count On Me
Just Around The Corner
Love And War
Beggin' You To Leave
Teach Me How To Love You
Love Attack
Orange Soda
Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
Inside Out
Business As Usual
I Can't Be Satisfied
Won't Throw It All Away

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Building Up Christ's Kingdom
Another hidden treasure
Business as Usual is anything but

Business As Usual

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005YTEQ
Release Date: 2001-05-02

Tracks:

All I Need
Get Real
Barriers
One Wish
When I Get Home
Got To Get You Into My Life
Silent Ruin
I Can't Wait
Not The Same
I Want To Know You
Days Gone By
The Return

Album Description

"If you can make a record, you ought to—why not?"

That's the response of Steve Hindalong, lyricist/percussionist for The Choir, when asked about the release of Flap Your Wings, the band's first studio album in four years. "Ultimately," says Hindalong, "if you get to keep making records, you win. You're fortunate. At this point in our career, with all of us well beyond the age of optimum marketability, we're astounded that we get to keep making music and that people want to hear it. Whether it's a million or a thousand. That's a lot of people that you receive feedback from and get to establish a rapport with."

To understand the band's motivation for recording Flap Your Wings, one needs to look back to a reunion concert The Choir performed at a festival sponsored by KLYT in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the summer of 1999. Hindalong has a similar response to a query about what coaxed the seminal modern rock band out of its three-year long, self-imposed retirement.

"Somebody asked us to play a concert, and we asked, `How much?' And then we said `Yes,' the drummer explains, a sly smile crossing his face. Guitarist/vocalist Derri Daugherty, Steve's friend of over 20 years (and creative partner for 17) offers a bit more elaboration on the subject. "There's always been a tremendous amount of good will toward The Choir—nobody's ever said `please stay retired!' That was definitely one motivation for doing the reunion show. We had been away from the band long enough that the business stress didn't bog us down." Perhaps saxophonist "Buckeye" Dan Michaels nails it best: "We had all grown so much as individuals since we last performed as a band. Maybe we found that we still have something to say. Maybe we still want to connect — with our audience and with each other. Maybe we simply wanted to rock. I'm sure it's more than that, but either way I think we're pretty excited to get back to doing what we love in The Choir with the friends that we love so much."

Customer Reviews:

Building Up Christ's Kingdom.......2007-05-29

I can't say that this is the best CD ever. However, a few of the songs are pretty close. One Wish and Silent Ruin alone make this CD worth buying.

Another hidden treasure.......2003-03-09

I have been looking for some christian music that is good and lately ive just been stumbling upon bands that i have never heard of and i end up loving them.
Buck Enterprises is a great band. I liked their trumpets with their music and the singer is pretty good too. He voice isnt the best, but i still like it. The cd has some good beats and i like the love and emotion showed in the song When I Get Home. Only hope has good lyrics and Real proclaims for christains to get real in their faith as some dont. Track 3 talks about how the christian church is divided and that we should forget our differences and just worship and serve god together as we are called to do.
All in all, if you like soft rock u will probably like this cd, even if u dont like it at first, just give it a shot, u wont b let down.

Business as Usual is anything but.......2002-11-21

This album is awesome. The vocals are great, the music is great, and the lyrics are amazing. They offer a huge amount of insight in a manner that is both easily understood and will still haunt you long after you've heard the song. The music is energized and catchy with some great horns even in their slower pieces. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who had a chance to listen to it.

Average customer rating:

Mod Perfection

Business As Usual
Secret Affair
Manufacturer: Captain Mod
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Behind Closed Doors
Glory Boys
Beat That!

ASIN: B00005AXPJ
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

Lost in the Night
Follow the Leader
Do You Know?
Hide and Seek
I Could Be You
Somewhere in the City
She's on Fire
Three Wise Monkeys
One Voice in the Darkness
Dancemaster
Big Beat
One Day (In Your Life)

Album Description

Reissue of The Jam inspired, mod revivalist's 1981 album. 12 tracks including, 'Lost In The Night' and 'Follow The Leader'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

Mod Perfection.......2001-07-17

This is one of those albums I have searched for repeatedly with a hope that it would some day come out on CD. In high school, a friend of mine had this on vinyl and I, consequently, had it on tape. It was an expensive and hard-to-find import. I picked this up as a CD as soon as I found it (about one month ago).As far as I'm concerned, this is the best mod album that was ever put out. The Jam was great, but a bit too serious and punk-tinged for me. This album is more upbeat, without being silly like some of the Merton Parkas, Squire, or Three O'Clock. The band is less pompous than they were on "Glory Boys", and this album is better than that one in every way. The vocals are good, the lyrics sometimes excellent ("One Day in Your Life"), and the music is driving, danceable fun--excellent drums, brass embellishments, and, on one or two, female backing vocals. The whole album has a very clean, clear, and energetic sound from start to finish. One of the best CD's I own.