Wednesday, December 31, 2008
HAPPY 2009 To ALL!
Sorry for the hiatus, but I'm back on line friends with my Christmas presents and quick comments about each:
1. Coldplay PROSPEKT'S MARCH EP: Unlike the Maroon 5 remix CD (see below) this one is a keeper, and very enjoyable (especially the non-hip-hopped-disco-fied tunes). A great companion to VIVA LA VIDA; if you don't have the orginal CD, buy the double disc which includes the CD and EP. 5/5 stars in any combo.
2. Katy Perry ONE OF THE BOYS: OK, I'm late to this party, but it's a fun romp. Major quibble, the buzzy bass lines. I mean it makes your speakers sound cheap to this audiophile. Nevertheless a keeper. 4.5/5 stars.
3. Maroon 5 CALL AND RESPONSE: THE REMIX ALBUM: understand the M-5 boys are among my favorites...but this drek...I guess it's a greatest hits collection of sorts and I did leave it in the car CD player for a full 5 or more plays...but it grates on me. Each remix is worse than the next. The orginals are superior and this one is for the ultra-fan who needs EVERY disc they put out. Time for new music from Maroon 5 and in a hurry! 1/5 stars (zero is not a choice).
4. Asia LIVE IN MOSCOW 1990: a precious ancient nugget, available on cd-wow for $5 USD! It is not the original line-up. Howe is replaced on guitar by Pat Thrall, which lends itself for more noodling and a harder edge than the originals (now together for a 2008 tour and it rocked, see my photos etc.). Worth the listen for even a casual fan; for a real Asia fan it's essential. 4/5 stars.
5. Neil Young SUGAR MOUNTAIN (Live at the Canterbury House 1968): great to hear yet more truly formative Neil Young...but his archive releases are beginning to form a pattern. This one has unusually more chatter between songs than any other legal release I've heard (fun the first listen...boring the next). 3/5 stars
6. Guns N' Roses CHINESE DEMOCRACY: Maybe the title should tell you something is not "official" policy? Hey, easily the most overproduced album of all time...a powerful yet disabling headphone listen. Mindblowing wait for the release was mostly worth it. Just realize this is a Rose with whomever he wanted to sing that day (or decade?) compilation, and comes off as overly technical, as if studio/computer magic would gloss over that. 3/5 stars.
7. Air Supply THE SINGER AND THE SONG: Available also for 5 US dollars on cd-wow, is a bare bones hits compliation. The two voices and one guitar (except for the bonus track) heard on CD and a few of the songs seen and heard in the studio as it was recorded on DVD, make a lovely low-voltage listen. It also demonstrates the maturation of the duo vocally and otherwise, with grace and talent. The DVD by the way seems region-free; it's an Aussie release and did play on a USA standard DVD player for me at least. No guarantee here. 5/5 (mellow) stars.
8. Tom Jones ("international baby") 24 HOURS: Long live T.J. Breathtaking, back to his roots, looking to we hope a great future. Essential for any fan. 5/5 stars.
9. Sarah McLachlan CLOSE (the best of S.M.): Another best of that is truly a best of, beautiful and light. Get the TWO CD version, it's much more inclusive, including my favorite of the bunch "Building A Mystery." 5/5 stars.
10. The Fireman ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS: I'm baffled by this one. I was aware of Macca's previous collaborations with Youth, as instrumental projects. But this one is a McCartney solo album, done on the fly (obviously when you study it), and IT DOES FLY. Should have been a solo thing w/ cudos to Youth. Still it's a medium warm collection when you need a hot "cuppa tea." 3.5/5 stars.
More soon,
Zeph, out
Sorry for the hiatus, but I'm back on line friends with my Christmas presents and quick comments about each:
1. Coldplay PROSPEKT'S MARCH EP: Unlike the Maroon 5 remix CD (see below) this one is a keeper, and very enjoyable (especially the non-hip-hopped-disco-fied tunes). A great companion to VIVA LA VIDA; if you don't have the orginal CD, buy the double disc which includes the CD and EP. 5/5 stars in any combo.
2. Katy Perry ONE OF THE BOYS: OK, I'm late to this party, but it's a fun romp. Major quibble, the buzzy bass lines. I mean it makes your speakers sound cheap to this audiophile. Nevertheless a keeper. 4.5/5 stars.
3. Maroon 5 CALL AND RESPONSE: THE REMIX ALBUM: understand the M-5 boys are among my favorites...but this drek...I guess it's a greatest hits collection of sorts and I did leave it in the car CD player for a full 5 or more plays...but it grates on me. Each remix is worse than the next. The orginals are superior and this one is for the ultra-fan who needs EVERY disc they put out. Time for new music from Maroon 5 and in a hurry! 1/5 stars (zero is not a choice).
4. Asia LIVE IN MOSCOW 1990: a precious ancient nugget, available on cd-wow for $5 USD! It is not the original line-up. Howe is replaced on guitar by Pat Thrall, which lends itself for more noodling and a harder edge than the originals (now together for a 2008 tour and it rocked, see my photos etc.). Worth the listen for even a casual fan; for a real Asia fan it's essential. 4/5 stars.
5. Neil Young SUGAR MOUNTAIN (Live at the Canterbury House 1968): great to hear yet more truly formative Neil Young...but his archive releases are beginning to form a pattern. This one has unusually more chatter between songs than any other legal release I've heard (fun the first listen...boring the next). 3/5 stars
6. Guns N' Roses CHINESE DEMOCRACY: Maybe the title should tell you something is not "official" policy? Hey, easily the most overproduced album of all time...a powerful yet disabling headphone listen. Mindblowing wait for the release was mostly worth it. Just realize this is a Rose with whomever he wanted to sing that day (or decade?) compilation, and comes off as overly technical, as if studio/computer magic would gloss over that. 3/5 stars.
7. Air Supply THE SINGER AND THE SONG: Available also for 5 US dollars on cd-wow, is a bare bones hits compliation. The two voices and one guitar (except for the bonus track) heard on CD and a few of the songs seen and heard in the studio as it was recorded on DVD, make a lovely low-voltage listen. It also demonstrates the maturation of the duo vocally and otherwise, with grace and talent. The DVD by the way seems region-free; it's an Aussie release and did play on a USA standard DVD player for me at least. No guarantee here. 5/5 (mellow) stars.
8. Tom Jones ("international baby") 24 HOURS: Long live T.J. Breathtaking, back to his roots, looking to we hope a great future. Essential for any fan. 5/5 stars.
9. Sarah McLachlan CLOSE (the best of S.M.): Another best of that is truly a best of, beautiful and light. Get the TWO CD version, it's much more inclusive, including my favorite of the bunch "Building A Mystery." 5/5 stars.
10. The Fireman ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS: I'm baffled by this one. I was aware of Macca's previous collaborations with Youth, as instrumental projects. But this one is a McCartney solo album, done on the fly (obviously when you study it), and IT DOES FLY. Should have been a solo thing w/ cudos to Youth. Still it's a medium warm collection when you need a hot "cuppa tea." 3.5/5 stars.
More soon,
Zeph, out
