Radiohead - In Rainbows - 2007

On the deliriously satisfying In Rainbows, Radiohead returns to a more straight-ahead (though subdued) rock sound. Much hubbub has been made about this record's innovative release. Radiohead allowed fans to pay what they wished to download fairly low-resolution tracks from the band's own website. Like so many innovations, it already seems funny both that it was such big news and that someone else of similar stature hadn't done it sooner. Some pundits were appalled that it took awhile to download the tracks if you tried to do it at the same time as thousands of other people, while others decried that the group was trying to kill the music industry (or save it). Little of the press seemed to focus on the record itself, which actually made sense because it was so entertaining and inviting, the most low-key album Radiohead has made to date. There's even a very straight-forward, simple, silly little love song, "House of Cards." It might be a bit lethargic, but the simple instrumentation of electric guitars, bass, and drums is lovely as heck. A handful of these tunes enchanted fans for years before finally being committed to computer "tape." This is particularly fitting as In Rainbows is the group's most "band"-sounding album since OK Computer. This is not a record that hits you over the head with how far this group is pushing the envelope; it's simply a phenomenal, well-crafted, and exciting album. As soon as it's done, you're playing it again. --Mike McGonigal

James Cotton - Late Night Blues

James is called a young man on this CD, but he'd already played with Muddy Waters for a time. Recorded in 1967, it showcases his vocals and harp well. The recording, done at Montreal's Penelope Cafe, is a pretty accurate depiction of James Cotton's raw power and force. The sound quality is OK for the time and really captures the feel of a live performance. Cotton has long been one of the greatest of the Chicago blues harp stylists, and his energy, enthusiasm and sincere love for the blues jumps right out at you from start to finish. The idea of a blues musician doing a recording in a static and heavily controlled atmosphere like a studio seems odd; amplified electric Chicago blues really should be both played AND heard in a loud, raucous, dark, smoky bar-type environment. You can smell the smoke and feel the beer being spilled on you while listening to this CD. I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who loves Chicago blues.

Bobby McFerrin - Live In Montreal 2005 DVD-RIP

Also featuring : Evelyne Lamontagne, Jorane, Richard Bona, Tamango (from Urban Tap), Le Grand Choeur De Montreal This DVD, will lock you in front of your screen. You will get through it in no time with a permanent smile on your face, just as I did.

Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson In Russia (2 CD) (1974)

This is another stunning Peterson album. As the title indicates it was recorded in Russia in 1974 and the playing is great. As Benny Green says in the sleeve notes it would be fascinating to know whether the Russian audience could pick up on the little quotes that Oscar puts in his solos. Its a mixture of solo, duo and trio tracks with Neils Pederson on bass and Jake Hanna on drums. Starting out with solo Piano, Peterson plays a number of stunning solo interpretations of which perhaps the best are 'I Concentrate On You' and his own composition 'Place St. Henri'. This last track has some of phenomenal stride playing at amazing speed. Then Neils Pederson joins him and the remainder of disc 1 is Bass and Piano. Disc 2 starts with a superb trio version of 'Take the A Train'. There are multiple highlights on disc 2, including a great version of 'Just Friends' and perhaps best of all 'Hallelujah Time' (mis-titled on the disc as 'Hallelujah Trail'). Some really fast Boogie Woogie is in this tune (which Oscar was specialist at early in career) leading to a classic down-home blues finish.

Mediaeval Baebes - Mistletoe and Wine 2003

The Mediaeval Baebes are one of world music's treasures. The vocal ensemble's exquisite storybook beauty came to life in 1996 when ex-Miranda Sex Garden chanteuse Katharine Blake aimed to set her fascination with the Middle Ages to music and theater. She and 11 additional musicians and singers — Miranda Sex Garden's Teresa Casella, Audrey Evans, comic writer Marie Findley, Nicole Frobusch, Ruth Galloway, Karen Lupton, Claire Ravel, Australian native Cylindra Sapphire, Carmen Schneider, Nichole Sleet, and New Zealander Rachel Van Asch — defined a contemporary musical approach while incorporating Middle Ages Paganism and spiritual moods and sentiments.

Lee Morgan - Candy (1958)

A seminal figure in the golden age of Blue Note records, Lee Morgan was the definition of the '50s post-bop trumpet style and sound. His album CANDY from 1958 is a quintissential document of the easy swing and tight ensemble work that was prominant before the onset of hard-bop and free-jazz of the '60s. Morgan's nimble lines and smooth sound contrast perfectly with drummer Art Taylor's jumping solo spots in the opening title track. The bluesy ballad "Since I Fell For You" is just smokey and subtle enough to melt even the coldest heart. Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A." and Irving Berlin's "Who Do You Love, I Hope" are nice-and-quick workouts that find pianist Sonny Clarke and bassist Doug Watkins in perfect sync with Taylor in support of their agil leader. For Sinatra fans, Morgan's reading of the classic "All The Way" is a beautiful interpretation that would make Old Blue Eyes smile. Overall, this is a golden snapshot of one of the most stylish trumpeters in jazz.

Status Quo «Rockin' All Over The World» 1977

Rockin' All Over the World is a 1977 rock album by the British band Status Quo, featuring twelve tracks. The title track, originally written and recorded by John Fogerty, was released by Quo as a single in September 1977, reaching a peak position of No. 3, and remains their best-known and best-selling single to date. Two other tracks, "Dirty Water" and "Hold You Back", soon established themselves as favourites when played live on stage. "Can't Give You More" was re-recorded by the band in 1991 for their album "Rock 'Til You Drop"

Status Quo «If You Can't Stand the Heat» 1978

If You Can't Stand the Heat is an album by English Rock band Status Quo. Recorded at Wisselord Studios, Hilversum, Holland, and produced by Pip Williams, it was released in October 1978 and reached No. 3 in the UK album chart. The sleeve notes that Aphex Aural Exciter was used in the recording process, thus contributing to a more atmospheric sound than its predecessor, "Rockin' All Over The World". Unusually for a Status Quo record, a brass section, The David Katz Horns, was used, as well as a backing vocal trio, Jacquie Sullivan, later a member of Bananarama, Stevie Lange and Joy Yates.
Despite the album's success, the two tracks released as singles fared less well. "Again and Again" reached No. 13, while "Accident Prone" (perhaps a prophetic title) only made No. 36


Tracklist:
01. Again And Again (3:40)
02. I'm Giving Up My Worryin' (3:02)
03. Gonna Teach You To Love Me (3:09)
04. Someone Show Me Home (3:52)
05. Long Legged Linda (3:35)
06. Oh! What A Night (3:44)
07. Accident Prone (5:05)
08. Stones (3:55)
09. Let Me Fly (4:22)
10. Like A Good Girl (3:29)
11. Accident Prone (single version) (bonus track) (4:09)

Ayumi Hamasaki - GUILTY (Jacket B)

“Japan's leading Pop Diva Hamasaki Ayumi doesn't slow down her output of hit releases. She's ready to countdown to the celebration of her tenth anniversary on the music scene with her ninth major album, which arrives one year after last year's bestseller album “Secret”. Fans can prepare themselves for Ayumi's most recent hits glitter and fated, which were released as a double A-sided single, and the follow-up single “talkin' 2 myself”, all of which went to Oricon's No. 1 spot. decision, featured as a side track on “talkin' 2 myself” will also be included on Ayu's new 14-track strong release.

Meredith Monk - Book of Days (1990)

Dubbed as as “a film for the ears”, Book of Days (1984), which has been shown in the New York Film Festival and was subsequently aired on PBS, is a 74-minute film created and directed by Meredith Monk. The film draws parallels between the Middle Ages and the present day by presenting the visions of a 14th century Jewish girl who sees airplanes, cars, New York streets, and possibly everything in between.

Five Horse Johnson - The Mystery Spot (2006)

When Five Horse Johnson formed back in 1995, announcing themselves as a blues band, their friends may have thought they had cause to worry. After all, it is a well-worn banality that white boys can only ever hope to mimic the blues, isn't it? Thankfully, over the past decade, Five Horse Johnson has happily proven doubters wrong. Over the course of six albums, the band has carved out a niche all their own, combining their love and respect for the blues with classic rock and other less dog-eared influences to become one of the most loved and respected bands in the stoner rock community. Always a right freight train live, the band has spent a lot of time on the road with the likes of Clutch and Halfway To Gone, gathering fans, friends and drinking partners all over the world.

David Antony Clark - Terra Inhabitata (1995)

David Antony Clark was born in Dunedin, southern city in New Zealand. As a teenager of 15 he play acoustic and bass guitar in various band's. In third decade David was spent traveling trough Europe, Middle East and Indian subcontinent, and in combination with love to music and technology. In colaboration with Jon Mark and Thelma Burchell, David was released six solo and one collaboration album with Jon Mark.

The Ramones - We're Outta Here! (CD, 1997)

We're Outta Here was recorded for Billboard Live at The Palace in Los Angeles, California on August 6, 1996 when the Ramones performed their 2,263rd and final concert. It featured several special appearances from former band members as well as bands who were influenced by the Ramones.
http://avaxsphere.com/music/rock/ramones_outta_here_cd.html

Philip Glass - Itaipu & The Canyon (1993)

The Light and Itaipu originated as Glass's response both to nature and to a modern technological wonder. Noting in an interview that his music has always been strongly programmatic and that program music arose as a response to nature, Glass subsequently embarked on an analogous series of symphonically conceived "portraits of nature" similar to his "portrait operas" (Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, concerned with the life of Mahatma Gandhi, and Akhnaten). The result is a vivid portrait of musical evocations that merge and metamorphose as the music sweeps toward its destination, often reinforced and contrasted in unexpected ways, by summoning up a body of thoughts, mental pictures, and attitudes.

Jose Padilla - Navigator

Biography by Drago Bonacich Spanish Jose Padilla was seduced by the idea of becoming a DJ while working as a waiter in Barcelona, moving to Ibiza, known as the White Island, in 1975, Padilla soon got involved in the local night club circuit. In 1991 Cafe del Mar gave him the opportunity he was waiting for, producing an acclaimed collection of club/dance records during the 1990s. After issuing his solo debut album called Souvenir, Jose Padila recorded Navigator, an experimental album featuring songs by Seal and N'Dea Davenport, released by DRO East West in 2001.

Dodie Stevens - Ultimate Collection (1997)

Famed for her girl group-era novelty smash "Pink Shoe Laces," teen singer Dodie Stevens was born Geraldine Anne Pasquale in Chicago on February 17, 1946. Raised primarily in California's San Gabriel Valley, as a child she took singing and dancing lessons, and at age eight issued her debut single "Merry-Go-Round and Round," released on the Gold Star label and credited to Geri Pace.

Philip Chapman - Journey to the East 1999

British artist Philip Chapman is inspired by the mystical and beautiful works of art that form an integral part of his recording Studio in Dorset, England and he writes many of his musical compositions whilst visualising these beautiful objects. He has a huge world wide following and has created a position as the Master of the orchestrated music with the sounds of strings and piano being a hallmark of his style.

Loudness -1995- Best Songs Collection 2CD

An amazing collection spread out over two CDs, highlighting what has to be the best work of the band's career. Though nothing from the excellent 'Lightning Strikes' album is here, you can count on a representation of everything else that was great about this band in this one collection. From debut 'The Birthday Eve' to 'Thunder In The East', the band's critical early phase is well-represented, including a few previously rare and hard-to-find tracks.

I Salonisti - The Last Dance, Music for a Vanishing Era

Visit the Palm Court Orchestra of the great ocean liners of the last century (in this case, the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic). The music is romantic without being sentimental, colourful but never flamboyant. A tender soiree, a romantic tete-a-tete, the anticipation of a jour fixe are what come to mind when listening to this album of fond reminiscences from a vanished but perhaps more colourful and intimate era

Ayreon - The Universal Migrator 1 & 2 [Special Edition] (2004)

Following the monumental release in early 2004 of The Human Equation, Arjen A. Lucassen, mastermind of the Ayreon project, has remastered and rereleased special editions of all 5 of the previous Ayreon masterpieces, in reverse order. All of them have updated artwork and multimedia extras, one has a DVD, one has an extra CD. As with The Human Equation, every Ayreon album has a plethora of guest singers and musicians, with Arjen playing everything but drums. Literally. Many of the singers come from prog rock/metal bands but some come from other walks of music-life. All of the Ayreon albums are a journey. Yes, that cliched music-reviewers term really does apply. Every album is complex, varied and tells a story, complete with characters and locations that stretch the imagination and merge an impossible number of musical styles into one coherent piece. No one else produces albums like this. No one else tackles projects of this magnitude for every release he puts out and includes this many musicians on each one. No one else is Arjen Anthony Lucassen. And no one else can create Ayreon.

Ozzy Osbourne - Live At The Budokan (2002)

Known for biting the head off of a bat, bickering with his vulgarity-happy family on MTV, and being one of the icons of heavy metal music, Ozzy Osbourne is nothing less than a cultural treasure and train wreck rolled into one dazed-and-confused man. LIVE AT BUDOKAN was filmed at Tokyo's famed concert venue in 2002. With his backing band, the inimitable Ozzy performs two hours of his greatest hits, including "No More Tears," "Crazy Train," and "Paranoid."

David Antony Clark - The Leaving of Ireland (1999)

David Antony Clark was born in Dunedin, southern city in New Zealand. As a teenager of 15 he play acoustic and bass guitar in various band's. In third decade David was spent traveling trough Europe, Middle East and Indian subcontinent, and in combination with love to music and technology. In colaboration with Jon Mark and Thelma Burchell, David was released six solo and one collaboration album with Jon Mark.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Complete Works

A very different set than Teldec's Bach 2000. The Hanssler Bachakademie, supervised by Helmut Rilling, is not HIP (historic instruments performance). The orchestras are warm and lush (but not huge). The soloists are, in general, extraordinary. The tempos are sane. Hanssler has included fragments of some incomplete BWV's that are not included in the Teldec set; a minor plus but appealing. I found I preferred these traditional instruments and the daring using of forte-piano in place of harpsichord on a few of the recordings (flute sonatas). Highlights for me are The Well-Tempered Clavier Books 1 and 2, Musical Offering, Flute Sonatas, The Motets. I also found I prefer these Cantatas recordings to any other, including the new Koopman, Suzuki and the well-known Leonhart-Harnoncourt. While not the newest recordings, the sound is warmer which I prefer to the new state-of-the-art HIP recordings. Although most of the Cantatas are older recordings, much of the Hanssler Bachakademie edition is newly recorded for this project and the sound is consistent and excellent.