Music of Ireland & Vaughan Williams

1. Concertino Pastorale for string orchestra
Composed by John Ireland
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

2. A Downland Suite, for brass band, Nos 1-4, complete
Composed by John Ireland
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

3. The Holy Boy, prelude for piano
Composed by John Ireland
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

4. Variants (5) of 'Dives and Lazarus' for string orchestra & harp (or harps)
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

5. Fantasia on Greensleeves, for harp, flute, & strings (arranged by R. Greaves; from the opera Sir John In Love)
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

6. Partita for double string orchestra
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
with English Sinfonia
Conducted by John Farrer

Music of Ireland & Vaughan Williams,English Sinfonia,Farrer,Carlton Classics,Classical,Classical Music

Average customer rating: Great Value Great selection Continuing writers block The Legend Continues... Rock the gypsy in your soul

The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 Van Morrison Manufacturer: Manhattan/EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits The Essential Paul Simon (2 CD/DVD) Live In Dublin Live at Montreux 1980 and 1974 Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur ASIN: B000IY0FDA Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

1. Cry For Home
2. Too Long In Exile
3. Gloria
4. Help Me
5. Medley: Lonely Avenue/4 O'Clock In the Morning
6. Days Like This
7. Ancient Highway
8. Raincheck
9. Moondance
10. Centerpiece
11. That's Life
12. Benediction
13. The Healing Game
14. I Don't Want To Go On Without You

Tracks:

1. Shenandoah
2. Precious Time
3. Back On Top
4. When the Leaves Come Falling Down
5. Lost John
6. Tupelo Honey
7. Meet Me In the Indian Summer
8. Georgia On My Mind
9. Hey Mr. DJ
10. Steal My Heart Away
11. Crazy Love
12. Once In a Blue Moon
13. Little Village
14. Blue And Green
15. Sitting On Top Of the Wolrd
16. Early In the Morning
17. Stranded

Amazon.com

Navigating Van Morrison's extensive catalog since 1993 is a formidable task even diehard fans might not want to attempt. The Irish icon has flirted with blues, jazz, country, pop, Celtic, and his own style of indescribable into-the-mystic spiritually-oriented poetic folk on his numerous releases, making for quite a thorny culling assignment. So the EMI brass were probably ecstatic when the singer took the job himself. He weeds through a dozen or so albums released since Volume 2's mile-marker, and adds a clutch of previously unavailable mixes, rarities, and live tracks. The result: a nearly two-and-a-half-hour, 31-track double-disc set as sprawling, eclectic, and tenacious as Morrison's vision and discography. From occasionally rambling but spirited duets with veterans Bobby "Blue" Bland, Junior Wells, Georgie Fame, Lonnie Donegan, B.B. King, the Chieftains, Ray Charles, and even Tom Jones to concert versions of hits such as "Moondance" and an impressive take on Sinatra's classic "That's Life," along with hidden gems like "Steal My Heart Away," this is a beautifully assembled and sequenced collection. It presents most of this multitalented auteur's facets and softens his often crusty exterior by showing his appreciation for the journeymen that helped develop the trail that Morrison then blazed in his own distinctive style. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

The new 2-CD collection, compiled by Morrison himself, offers a comprehensive overview of his later material. The set's 31 tracks include previously unreleased collaborations with Tom Jones and Bobby Bland, as well as duets with John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Ray Charles.

Customer Reviews:

Great Value.......2007-07-23

This is a 2 disc CD with lots of great songs. I really like the mix of songs and definitely recommend this to Van Morrison fans.

Great selection.......2007-07-12

I won't call this definitive, but the collection's got some previously unreleased and seldom heard numbers that merit the price and hype. This is a very listenable CD that's something you can just stick in the changer and let it play. Definitely worth the money.

Continuing writers block.......2007-07-10

Despite having most of this already I paid out my money and what did I get? A reasonable overview with some obscurities, one of which "Blue and Green" is worth the cost on its own. While the music is all first class the compiling has created some jarring between tracks. I've always loved The Skiffle Sessions album but Lost John between Leaves Come Falling Down and Tupelo Honey sounds bizarre. Nearly all the tracks he has re-recorded are done better in their original incarnation and one gets the feeling that with this, the movie "best of" and the country abomination Pay The Devil before them that he has nothing to say at present. I love Morrison's music and sincerely hope there is more of it to come, its now been a fair number of years since there has been an album of original material and he is overdue for his muse to return.

The Legend Continues..........2007-07-04

This 'Best Of' is a must for any Vanatic (Van fan)... but more importantly it is a must for anyone who thinks Van's career ended in the 1970s... all the tracks on "Vol. 3" are from 1993-2005 - Van's later writing and singing are well represented on this compilation and with a superb supporting cast of John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Carl Perkins, Lonnie Donegan, Bobby "Blue" Bland and the great Georgie Fame as they come along for the journey...

Van is still a mighty force in a world that needs more soul and less pop.

www.vanmorrisonnews.blogspot.com

Rock the gypsy in your soul.......2007-07-03

An amazing compilation of Van Morrison's enchanting and haunting melodies. Although I am not a big jazz or blues fan, he has managed to put those two elements together in a way that is a lyrical treat. The melodies are addictive and very catchy. As he has matured, his renditions of some of his earlier works are performed now with more conviction, passion, and confidence than ever before. Van is an extremely talented musician and lyricist that successfully impacts music for the ages. I could listen to Van Morrison 24/7.

Average customer rating: Disappointing album bordering on BORING. that bueatiful voice from the cranberries is back A different style in the wonderful voice of Dolores WOW, what a comeback! EVERY SONG ROCKS! Good Cd!

Are You Listening Dolores O'Riordan Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Breakfast in Bed Courage American Doll Posse Volta The Reminder ASIN: B000O170YY Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

1. Ordinary Day
2. When We Were Young
3. In The Garden
4. Human Spirit
5. Loser
6. Stay With Me
7. Apple of My Eye
8. Black Widow
9. October
10. Accept Things
11. Angel Fire
12. Ecstasy

Amazon.com

It's been a long wait for the solo debut from Irish icon Dolores O'Riordan. After all, the Cranberries issued their swan song in 2001. After their break up, O'Riordan collaborated with Germany's Jam and Spoon, Italy's Zucchero, and David Lynch composer Angelo Badalamenti. She also appeared, as herself, in the 2006 comedy Click. All the while, she toiled away on her first solo effort. Fortunately, good things come to those who wait. Co-produced by Youth (the Verve, U2), Are You Listening? is a throwback to 1980s-era Siouxsie and the Banshees and Sinead O'Connor--sweeping keyboards, forceful drumming, and muscular guitar work. It may seem like a melodramatic move, but the music never overwhelms the slight yet steely figure at the center of the maelstrom, particularly on the lilting "Ordinary Day" and haunting "Black Widow." Cranberries fans expecting something more demure may be taken aback, but O'Riordan's supple voice should win over most skeptics. And lyrically, she compensates with tender words inspired by her husband ("Apple of My Eye"), the death of her mother-in-law ("Black Widow"), and the birth of her youngest child ("Ordinary Day"). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

More from Dolores O'Riordan and the Cranberries

Ordinary Day (Single)	Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We? (The Complete Sessions)	No Need to Argue (The Complete Sessions)
To the Faithful Departed (The Complete Sessions)	Bury the Hatchet	Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002

Album Description

2007 solo debut from the former Cranberries vocalist. Written and recorded in Dublin and Canada and featuring production from Dan Broadbeck and acclaimed musician/producer Youth, whose many production credits include Paul McCartney and U2. The album was written and inspired by her personal experiences over the last four years including her marriage, the birth of her third child and the death of her mother-in-law. 12 tracks including the first single 'Ordinary Day', 'Loser' and 'Apple'.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing album bordering on BORING........2007-07-19

I have been a Cranberries fan since the first time I heard their music. Dolores O'riordan's voice was simply magical. Listening to her singing always sent chills up my spine and gave me a buzz. Her original, intense, and emotional voice was a saving grace to much of the junk music that overwhelms us today. I was heartbroken to learn that the Cranberries split and went on to individual projects, but as long as Dolores was still singing, I'd surely be buying. And then she gives us "Are You Listening?" And well......What happened???!

She told us her solo album would be something different from anything she's ever done before. Something more .... AHEM... "experimental" (very overused word in the music industry and hardly applicable considering so much pop garbage sounds alike). Well, Dolores, where's the originality in this album? This album is much more < > POP sounding than her previous work with the Cranberries. The musical originality is absent from most of the songs. It sounds like she uses typical pop arrangements, sounds, and tricks and as a result the album sounds like very all-purpose, generic pop music with Dolores O'riordan's voice sing the predictable rhyming lyrics. Very uninspired music.

Dolores does quite a bit of whisper (breathy) singing on this album. Usually when I hear that I think of a singer who's vocals aren't as strong as they used to be and who literally CAN'T sing crisply, clearly, or as strong as before. I hope that's not the case with Dolores' voice, but all the whisperings on this album make for a weak sounding voice. An annoyance when I'm eagerly waiting for her to just SING.

As for the lyrical content, Dolores continues to sing about the same subjects - her children, her husband (and her love and/or desperate need for him in her life), her other family & loved ones, people who put her down (remember the song "Loud and Clear"? well, she still sings defensively to people who hurt her and this time it's in the song "Loser"), and her efforts to evolve and grow as a human being. Dolores' lyrics tend to be simply put and straightforward. I've always like that. Listening closely to her lyrics give me the impression that she is still trying to find herself and climb out of a dark, murky something that is taking up more than enough space in her life.

I find most of the songs plain, uninspired and very forgettable. There are some standouts, namely BLACK WIDOW and OCTOBER. Black Widow is a song she wrong while going through the death of her Mother-in-law from cancer. She sings the song passionately and with a little creative use of her voice. It is heavy on the electronic musical *help* though. I wonder how the acoustic version would sound. OCTOBER is another song that I really liked at first. When I heard it the band Linkin Park came to mind. This one sounds like a Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" song. Meaning, "I may be down but I'm not OUT!" It's a You Go Girl! song and I have a soft spot for those.

My biggest complaint with this album is that Dolores just doesn't sound very alive when she's singing. I don't mind that she sings about the same topics. She could be singing about her cornflakes cereal for all I care. But sing it like it's the best stuff you've ever tasted and every bite tastes absolutely wonderful and puts you in 7th heaven! That kind of energy is missing from this album. Maybe Dolores went the way of some other artists (Tori Amos, Sinead O'connor, Alanis Morrisette to name a few) would could sing beautifully and with such raw passion when they were angry or unhappy, but somehow lost some of that spark when intense dark emotions left them. Can't they be just as intense when they're happy?

Dolores hasn't done a complete 360 (a la Sinead O'connor) with her voice, it still sounds great. But in this album it's sounding a little more flat and dull. Not a bad effort for her first solo album, but I hope for a better sophmore solo album. Buy it and listen for yourself.

that bueatiful voice from the cranberries is back.......2007-07-18

What a great debue solo album. I found the first half of the album awsome some of the second half dropped off a bit, but over all a great album. If you like the cranberries I think you will really like this.

A different style in the wonderful voice of Dolores.......2007-07-16

Even though there are bad comments for this album, as a Cranberries fan I think this CD is AWESOME!!! It's logical that Dolores try to make something different than the songs from the Cranberries. This new album shows that Dolores has everything to succeed!!! With a totally new style this album shows the taste of music that Dolores Has. All the songs in the album are wonderful!! My favourites, Ordinary Day, When we were young, Angel Fire, Apple of my eye, Black Widow, Loser, ALL OF THEM!!!

Here in Mexico, there's no too much promotion of this album, but I think that it has to have that promotion because it's a really masterpiece. This album combines new rythms, sounds and types of music that makes you imagine a lot of wonderful things. And the best part, the voice of Dolores... She has the most wonderful voice in this planet.

Buy it!!! you'll have no regrets!! Guaranteed

WOW, what a comeback! EVERY SONG ROCKS!.......2007-07-13

EVEN without the Cranberries, this album is so rich who needs them!? I also love her as always unique voice that can easily be recognized! EVERY SONG ON THIS ALBUM IS GREAT! That is a rarity these days!

Good Cd!.......2007-07-06

It arrived in less than a week and in good condition. The music is a bit different than that of the Cranberries but to me it still does it. Dolores is a very talented artist and any real fan should have in their collection this cd!

Average customer rating: Not my favorite Great CD...Van's The Man Brilliant Collection Van the Man at the Movies Absolutely awesome album

Van Morrison At The Movies: Soundtrack Hits Van Morrison Manufacturer: Manhattan Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: West Not Too Late Freedom's Road A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection Live at Montreux 1980 and 1974 ASIN: B000KQF748 Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

1. Gloria - (Them)
2. Baby Please Don't Go - (Them)
3. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
4. Domino
5. Moondance (live) previously unreleased version
6. Queen Of The Slipstream
7. Wild Night
8. Caravan (live)
9. Wonderful Remark
10. Brown Eyed Girl (re-recorded)
11. Days Like This
12. Into the Mystic (live)
13. Hungry For Your Love
14. Someone Like You
15. Bright Side Of The Road
16. Have I Told You Lately
17. Real Real Gone
18. Irish Heartbeat (w/Chieftains)
19. Comfortably Numb (live)Recorded live at the Berlin Wall in 1990 with Roger Waters

Amazon.com

If Hollywood's marriage with pop music is too often a marketing-driven shotgun affair, there remain musicians whose artistry can't help but elevate whatever film project they're associated with. This 19-track compendium underscores that notion, gathering a career-spanning collection of the Irish rock-R&B legend's contributions to an eclectic body of films that stretches from Pope of Greenwich Village's effusive early solo hit "Jackie Wilson Said" to the unlikely live collaboration with Roger Waters on "Comfortably Numb" that seasons Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated The Departed. The collection serves as a concise primer to the high points of Van Morrison's mercurial career, from the gritty career-breakout hits ("Gloria," "Baby Please Don't Go") of his British Invasion band Them through such early solo touchstones as "Wild Night," "Brown Eyed Girl," "Domino," and the collection's fine, previously unreleased live version of "Moondance" from An American Werewolf in London. But, as tracks like "Wonderful Remark," "Bright Side of the Road," "Someone Like You," and his Chieftains collaboration "Irish Heartbeat" ably argue, it's also an invitation to explore less heralded, if equally seductive, corners of the singer's rich oeuvre. --Jerry McCulley

More from Van Morrison

Moondance

Astral Weeks

The Best of Van Morrison

Into the Music

Customer Reviews:

Not my favorite.......2007-07-23

I am a huge Van Morrison fan, and really like most the songs on this CD, but they are not my favorite version of the songs. A lot of the songs are live, and I expected the studio versions.

Great CD...Van's The Man.......2007-07-19

This is a great CD if you like Van Morrison...Kind of like a greatest hits album really from the various stages of Van's Career....Did not realize how many different movie soundtracks Van has appeared on..My only issue was that the studio version of Into The Mystic is not on here..they used the live version which does not have the same impact on you...still a recommended CD

Brilliant Collection.......2007-07-13

Just got this in and it's a great collection. It pulls together some very famous Van performances (like Caravan from the Last Waltz) and mixes it up with his best studio efforts. It's great.

Van the Man at the Movies.......2007-07-10

As Michael Heatley notes in the excellent accompanying booklet, when Van came in at The Last Waltz, it kicked that last concert of The Band up a notch, and the ensuing energy never came back down. He has that effect and, I think, in general, helped the films his music accompanied, rather than the other way around. This compilation ranges from "Gloria" with Van's early band, Them, to a duet with Roger Waters on Pink Floyd's The Wall of "Comfortably Numb". The question is, however, how well does it hold up for general airtime in the CD player?

Quite well. If you already have The Best of Van Vols one and two CDs, you already have most of the best songs this disc leaves off. Heatley makes the choice of soundtrack songs for the films seem so much a matter of director's decision, that rather than lionizing them for what they did include, you wonder why they left off your favorites. Where's "Full Force Gale"? "When Will I Ever Learn (to Live in God)"? "And It Stoned Me"? One could go on and on. Change of tactic, therefore, to celebrate what is included rather than decry what is not.

This disc ranges over what might be considered the various Van periods, which are distinctive musically. Hungry For Your Love" comes from what Heatley calls the "often overlooked" Wavelength album, which hails from the era of horns and gospel vocal back-ups. Astral Weeks, yes, but I think Wavelength is one of Van's best albums ever. Some songs exist in alt/ live versions here, to good effect, as with the best known classics, "Domino", "Caravan". "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic". The studio versions are easily available but most fans will enjoy hearing the new takes. Van handles them confidently, and drops into his effortless live groove, slurring the words of "Into the Mystic" which, like these other songs, can survive any number of interpretations. "Bright Side of the Road" comes from another Wavelength era overlooked album, Into the Music, which unveiled the amazing "Full Force Gale", the latter conspicuous by its absence. '90s Van appears with the standout "Real Real Gone" and "Days Like These". Two songs will already be familiar to non- van fans, having been hits for John Cougar Mellencamp and Rod Stewart.

As I write, Van still hasn't gotten the Nobel Prize, although he's done more to bring enjoyment and harmony than almost anyone on the planet, with the possible exception of Mother Teresa, who already did get it, so it's Van's turn. But until that oversight is addressed, at least there's this compilation which shows he's not only raised the bar for music but also significantly improved the movies.

Absolutely awesome album.......2007-07-03

A great Van Morrison album for someone who really loves Van Morrison and his legendary sound. It's in my CD player all the time.

Average customer rating: The Frames Rock! The Man has a great voice Disappointing A truly wonderful album Don't pass this one up!!!!!!!

The Cost The Frames Manufacturer: Anti ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Once Fitzcarraldo Burn the Maps Set List The Reminder ASIN: B000M06K98 Release Date: 2007-02-20

Tracks:

1. Song For Someone
2. Falling Slowly
3. People Get Ready
4. Rise
5. When Your Mind's Made Up
6. Sad Songs
7. The Cost
8. True
9. The Side You Never Get To See
10. Bad Bone

Amazon.com

You're three tracks into The Cost before you find a song, "The Rise," that opens with anything but singer Glen Hansard's voice as the first thing you hear. The beauty is, you're waiting for the voice, with its hints of Cat Stevens's tonality and its utterly distinct Irish lift. It's Hansard that provides the Frames with such a rising vibe, the sense of a band always lifting off, pressed higher by Colm Mac An Iomaire's violin. Mac An Iomaire's strings slip and slide in the thickets of guitar, playing exceptional cat and mouse both when the guitars are clear and crisp and when they're crashing furiously. The Frames wouldn't claim to write epic tunes, but over and over the songs build toward ecstatic sonic events. Witness the hushed open to "People Get Ready" how it morphs into a violin and guitar-grit blast of wind-blown energy or the distortion-scoured hum behind Hansard's lone voice on "True" launching a languorous, piano-driven backdrop as the singer lets loose a first-class yowl--the stuff of anguished beauty. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

The Frames Rock!.......2007-06-27

This is a great CD--great band. Some of the songs are in the movie "Once", a film where Glen Hansard finally gets his due and Carney shows his brilliance-- I saw Mr. Hansard in Chicago on a solo-tour and I've never heard a better version of Raglan Road, but also on the flip side what Aaron Copeland calls "good healthy dissonance."

The Man has a great voice.......2007-06-26

I actually saw the movie "Once" this evening and rushed to the store before it closed to by the soundtrack...since that was not available I picked up The Cost and played the album over twice on the drive home.

Disappointing.......2007-03-30

Mostly ballads, The Cost seems like a Glen Hansard solo album. But that's not really the disappointment here; few of the ballads present anything unique or musically compelling. Yes, Glen has a lovely voice and conveys great empathy, sincerity and beauty. But the songs themselves get too monotonous after a while.

A truly wonderful album.......2007-03-16

There is no question that the Frames are a quality band. The problem in the past has been that they frequently release albums that do not represent their best work. I first learned of them through a truly great album by the title FITZCARRALDO (named for the Werner Herzog film about an Irishman named Fitzgerald--Fitzcarraldo was how the locals transformed it--who had the insane dream of building an opera house in the middle of the Amazon). After several albums either somewhat or considerably below the high standards set by FITZCARRALDO, they have released a new album, THE COST, that is very nearly as great as that one. Truth be told, there is very little to separate the two in quality. I think the earlier album has a bit more of an edge. So may prefer the slightly softer contours of this newer album. But I will insist that anyone who loves this album will love equally the other, while fans of the earlier album will be delighted to find the band completely back in form. What is amazing is that it took them so long. FITZCARRALDO was released in 1996, while this one is a 2007 effort. Whatever the cause of their return, I am ecstatic that they are back.

I don't want to get into the debate about whether The Frames or U2 is the better back. Both are Irish, which is what invites the comparison. I will say that I rarely listen to U2, while I have frequently listened to one or another Frames album. I personally far prefer Glen Hansard as a vocalist to Bono. While Hansard lacks Bono's range and power, he has a subtlety and soulfulness that Bono lacks. He possesses some of the soulfulness of the greatest of all Irish rock vocalists, Van Morrison, though I wouldn't make the silly claim that he is on Morrison's level as a singer (for that matter, who is?).

The word on the Frames is that they are a mediocre studio band but an astonishing live band (I unfortunately have never heard them live), a distinction they hold with other great live acts. The Feelies, for instance, was one of the best bands in the world on a stage, but never recorded an album that matched their energy onstage (I did manage to see them live and can vouch for the excellence as a live act). The strategy on this album was to record the songs in very little time in the studio, hopefully to maintain some of the power of their stage performances. Whatever the reason, this isn't at all the same band that sometimes can sound a tad bland in a studio recording. The result is a great disc that might remind some of the Tindersticks at their best, but with far more emotion than that band ever exuded. And while there is some great playing on the recording, the engineers keep Hansard's incredible voice front and center.

This is a disc of many highpoints, but for me the best part might be the back-to-back gems "Sad Songs," which sounds like it could be a Top Forty hit, and the title track "The Cost." The former driven by wonderful hooks and infectious melodies, one of those songs that is so lovely that you love it almost on the first listen. "The Cost" is far more minimalistic, almost a duet between distorted guitar and Hansard, with just enough percussion to remind you that the drummer is still there. The song, like other cuts on the album, could easily slip over into bathos, but they keep the touch just right. Another cut I keep going back to is the opening one, "Song for Someone," but I love listening to the way that Hansard sings the chorus of the next cut, "Falling Slowly," nearly as much. But the next song, "People Get Ready," might be, if I were pressed to acknowledge a favorite, the one I like most on the disc. But there really are no bad cuts on the album, making it one of those albums you listen to repeatedly with tremendous joy.

While the Frames have not always been this good on record, they have been at least this good once before. Maybe they have turned a corner and this represents what they will do from here on out. But even if this is a one-time thing, this is a disc that anyone who loves great indie rock needs to own. Both THE COST and FITZCARRALDO belong in any decent musical library.

Don't pass this one up!!!!!!!.......2007-03-15

Never haveing heard of The Frames, I read a very good review of "The Cost" and ordered it. I am so glad I did. I put it in my cd player 2 weeks ago and I've listened to the whole cd about 10 times. If you buy music to listen to all of the songs on the cd, you'll especially like this one as EVERY song is great. As I said above, don't pass this one up. You will be forever gratefull that you got it!

Average customer rating: Bring me more Rice! Haunting Tracks And so it is, just like you said it would be My Most Prized Possession Great suprise

O Damien Rice Manufacturer: Vector Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: 9 B-Sides Back to Bedlam Trouble Life In Slow Motion ASIN: B00009V7P8 Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

1. Delicate
2. Volcano
3. The Blower's Daughter
4. Cannonball
5. Older Chests
6. Amie
7. Cheers Darlin'
8. Cold Water
9. I Remember
10. Eskimo

Amazon.com

Irish troubadour Damien Rice doesn't so much reinvent the folk genre on this lush, impossibly mature debut album as push its boundaries in several compelling musical directions at once--all the more remarkable considering the album was largely self-produced and home-recorded. His songs revolve around familiar, bittersweet concerns of life, love, and their attendant frustrations, but delivered with conspiratorial intimacy on melodic wings (like on the graceful "Cannonball") that Rice seems almost embarrassed to share. If there's anything like a template here, it's "The Blower's Daughter," the song that first attracted the interest/stewardship of film composer David Arnold (whose guest production provides "Amie" with expansive cinematic elegance) and became a massive Irish hit. His plaintive vocal, embroidered by the mournful solo cello of Vyvienne Long, is suddenly brightened by an instrumental flourish and Lisa Hannigan's vocals--before just as quickly wafting on the breeze. With touches that range from "Day in the Life"-styled string collages to the dizzy, exhilarating neo-operatic excesses of the 16-minute "Eskimo," Rice's musical palate here is as adventurous as his songs are grounded in emotional intimacy. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Damien Rice's intriguing brand of stylishly, un-styled dirty folk music has made him one of the standout artists of 2003. O was first released in Ireland, where it quickly broke the top ten, and achieved triple-platinum status. Slim hard-back digipak. Vector. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Bring me more Rice!.......2007-07-22

Ah, there's a good reason why Damien Rice's songs are so frequently used in tv and film soundtracks. They are haunting, unique and fascinating to listen to. This record does not disappoint. He may not have a gorgeous voice but he has a lot of emotion in his vocals, and a great ear for melodies.

Haunting Tracks.......2007-07-21

This CD is somewhat repetitive, but the intensity and meaning just blares though. Most songs are haunting, not light lyrics or melodies by any stretch, but great for soul-searching periods in your life.

And so it is, just like you said it would be.......2007-06-17

If there's ever been an album so hopelessly beautiful as Damien Rice's "O," I've yet to hear it. It's not a glittering beauty like the early music of Enya, nor a razor-edged beauty like Radiohead's "OK Computer" or the falsetto of Coldplay's Chris Martin. No, "O" is in a category all by itself. The title, a single, apparently meaningless letter, is so fitting for the record. Like the record, there's a beautiful simplicity to it, but close examination reveals a delightful intricacy. And so it is with Damien Rice's music. The Irish folk troubadour's sincerety, clear in each of his heart-tuggingly poetic compositions, is a welcoming nakedness that shines through his bittersweet vocals.

The magic's in the arrangements as well as the vocals, though - the echoing guitar and longing cello in the record's highlight, the dazzling "Blower's Daughter" (well-used as the main theme for Mike Nichol's screen adaptation of "Closer"); the mixture of classic and contemporary instruments which fall like an avalanche in "Cheers Darlin'"; the consciously insane opera in the wonderful "Eskimo." Rice is aware of the craziness of this world, but he's more interested in the simple beauty of it: things like the wind in your hair or the sun setting over a field. Lisa Hannigan's smooth, breezy vocals support Rice, who knows just when to let her soar. In fact, Rice knows when to do everything. His timing is impeccable. He knows when to sing, when to let Hannigan sing, when to bring in the violins - even when to let the opera singer loose.

There are by no standards any bad or even lackluster pieces on "O." There are some that are more extraodinary than others, however: along with "Blower's Daughter," the reflective "Cold Water," the bitter "Cheers Darlin'," the wise "Volcano," the another-day folk of "Older Chests," and the soaring lunacy that is "Eskimo" (hang around throughout "Eskimo" to hear two hidden tracks, the excellent, bombastic "Prague" and Hannigan's cynical take on "Silent Night"). As an added bonus, each song works equally well seperately or together with the rest of the album. I'd highly recommend buying the album as opposed to downloading the songs, though. Almost impossibly beautiful, "O" was one of the best records of 2003 (the best?) and remains one of the best of the decade.

My Most Prized Possession.......2007-06-17

Hands down this CD is my most cherished cd out the 100 or so that i have. Nothing else compares! I love all the songs on it,(except volcano)which is very rare, Most of cds i normally like three or four. But this, this is unreal, you have to have it. As soon as he released it in the states I bought it. And i heard his music long before they decided to sell it here. My all time favorite is Blower's Daughter,Cold Water,I Remember,Older Chests, Ohh i can't make up my mind. There all good, and Damien,Damien is Great!

Great suprise.......2007-05-09

This CD is better than I had thought. It is very sensitive, varied with a personal style. You do listen the song number 10.

Average customer rating: slice of heaven... Moondance polished gems..... another morrison masterpiece. MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

Moondance Van Morrison Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Rock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Astral Weeks Tupelo Honey The Best of Van Morrison His Band and the Street Choir Into the Music ASIN: B000002KHF Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. And It Stoned Me
2. Moondance
3. Crazy Love
4. Caravan
5. Into The Mystic
6. Come Running
7. These Dreams Of You
8. Brand New Day
9. Everyone
10. Glad Tidings

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks (1968), and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection, and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You." The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favorite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grownup in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward

Customer Reviews:

slice of heaven..........2007-06-22

She looked at me with those dark, mysterious eyes of hers and asked me to put on my favorite music. It didn't take but a moment for me to slip in MOONDANCE and so the night only got better from there. Smooth, mellow, rocking, with more soul then a Southern Baptist Church on a Sunday afternoon. No fillers here. Every song with a legacy of it's own. If music is the food of the gods then this one is a gift from the gods. Give it a listen and feel the rapture.

Moondance.......2007-05-03

This album came after "Astral week" I find "Moondance" every bit as good, in fact more enjoyable to listen to. It has a timeless quality about it, and it really dos not sound like it's 37 years old. Overall it has a good fel to it. The first song,"And it Stoned Me",reminds me a lot of the band, and the brass, which is used throughout. The album has a very soulful vibe. On a couple of the songs there's even a gospel flaver ("come running" and 'crazy love"). When he sings"iI want to rock your gypsy soul" in "into the mystic", he makes it sound like tere is nothing mor important in the world. The best moment on the whole album is"Turn it up? Turn it up? Turn it up? a little bit higher" in caravan.
If people listen to the album a few times, the songs will stay with them forever.

polished gems............2007-02-25

Every cut on this album is a polished gem; there are no fillers. "Stoned Me" starts the journey; "Moondance" still retains its sparkle (especially for Libras in October); "Into the Mystic" still haunts.

My personal favourite, "Brand New Day" still inspires me like a reverant hymn. Join Mr. Morrison for a quiet journey that soothes the senses.

another morrison masterpiece........2007-02-13

"and it stoned me," and "into the mystic" are two of the greatest songs of the early 70's in my heart. and the entire album is almost equally as fantastic. after "astral weeks" and "veedon fleece" this is my third favorite van morrison album. music full of emotion, joy and spirit, this should not be missed out on by any audiofile.

MOONDANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. .......2007-01-24

Readers and reviewers, I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece album entitled "MOONDANCE" by one of Rock's most spiritual voices and one of Ireland's favorite son's, his name is VAN MORRISON. "MOONDANCE" was originally released in 1970 on vinyl/LP and 8-Track on the Warner Brothers Records label. I purchased one of the very first releases of this album on Compact Disc and the matrix or ID number is 3103-2. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

VAN MORRISON is a true legend. MORRISON will always be remembered in Rock history as being one of the most gifted spiritual singers of all-time. MORRISON is actually having a spiritual experience while he is singing his songs. He not only sings to you, but he makes you feel the song along with him. U2 frontman Bono paid tribute to his fellow countryman by saying "America has the legendary Jim Morrison, and Ireland has the legendary Van Morrison." I couldn't have said it better myself. VAN MORRISON started his career as lead singer for the 60's Irish group "THEM" and scored international hits in 1965-66 with "Here Comes The Night," "Mystic Eyes" and "Gloria." MORRISON would begin a solo career in 1967 and score a top 5 U.S. hit with "Brown Eyed Girl." In 1968, MORRISON signed with Warner Brothers and released the album "ASTRAL WEEKS" followed by "MOONDANCE" in 1970. "MOONDANCE'S" themes of mysticism, romance and the personal quest are found in classic compositions such as the title track "Moondance," "And It Stoned Me," "Caravan," "Into The Mystic" and "Brand New Day."

Rather than list and describe all the songs in full detail, I am going to descibe one song in this whole album that really tells the full story and personality of this album. If there was ever any one song that makes the whole album worth while and worth listening to, it is the classic song "Into The Mystic." When I listen to this song, it makes me feel alive, and at peace with myself. The soothing mellow music makes you feel like you're home. "Into The Mystic" actually makes you feel like you are having a spiritual experience of joining your whole body and soul with your spiritual being. I love "Into The Mystic" and I hope you will love it too.

I highly recommend this album for those who are really deep into soul searching. This legendary album will stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many years to come, NOW AND FOREVER.

In closing, VAN MORRISON is here to stay. Rock n' Roll needs a great spiritual singer to give Rock n' Roll the spiritual roots and rejoicing sounds it desperately needs in order to keep the spirit of Rock n' Roll alive. In my opinion, VAN MORRISON has accomplished these goals and more. Heres to you Van. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN MORRISON RULES. Long Live Rock n' Roll. Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock, John L.

Average customer rating: "I see seven towers, but I only see one way out." U2 at their best U2 Need To Have This Classic CD A great cd A Beckoning Towards Redemption and the Promised Land

The Joshua Tree U2 Manufacturer: Island ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Achtung Baby War The Unforgettable Fire Rattle and Hum All That You Can't Leave Behind ASIN: B000001FS3 Release Date: 1990-06-15

Tracks:

1. Where The Streets Have No Name
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
3. With Or Without You
4. Bullet The Blue Sky
5. Running To Stand Still
6. Red Hill Mining Town
7. In God's Country
8. Trip Through Your Wires
9. One Tree Hill
10. Exit
11. Mothers Of The Disappeared

Amazon.com essential recording

Having nearly exhausted their capacity for pop-song politics on War and The Unforgettable Fire, U2 turned toward themes of personal identity and complex relationships on The Joshua Tree. Not that the group was willing to come down off the barricades entirely: "Mothers of the Disappeared" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" turned a jaundiced eye toward Central America and the United States' role there. But the predominant mood here is one of self-discovery and the hunger for something more on tracks like the pulsating "Where the Streets Have No Name" and the gospel-ish "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." The album's masterstroke, however, is "With or Without You," a nasty love song dressed up as an ode of devotion and care. It ranks with the Police's "Every Breath You Take" as the most misread smash hit of the '80s. --Daniel Durchholz

Amazon.com

U2's most successful album (their first No. 1 album and the 1987 Grammy award-winner for Album of the Year) is also their most dour. From the stark, black and white cover photography, with U2 looking like missionaries (or at least M*A*S*H extras), to the existential angst at the heart of each track, The Joshua Tree is one long, atmospheric wail at the abyss. Producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois turn in an austere production that heightens the drama substantially. --Rob O'Connor

Album Details

Same as USA Version.

Customer Reviews:

"I see seven towers, but I only see one way out.".......2007-06-13

'Running to Stand Still' is essentially, THE archetypal Joshua Tree track in that it is imbued with an American sound, but a meaning far removed. The song deals with a girl struggling with heroin addiction, with the "seven towers" being a reference to the Ballymun Seven Towers area of Dublin, an area with a notorious heroin problem. Just as on The Unforgettable Fire's 'Bad', Bono tries to bring somebody back from the brink, a person so consumed by their addiction that they have already misguidedly accepted that there is only one escape. Suicide.

In certain respects, U2 can be said to be one of rock's most underrated bands, a contention almost laughable when considering their stratospheric success. Yet amid the hits and the bombast and the zeal, the intricacies and idiosyncrasies that have endeared them to the discerning listener have often been lost. Whereas (two of U2's other triumphs) 1993's Zooropa was something of a parody to Achtung Baby!'s (1991) pastiche, The Joshua Tree offers an earnest counterpoint to their oft-laconic 90s forays into electronica.

First and foremost the album is a startling artistic achievement; a master class in onomatopoeia, through artwork and aesthetic, subject matter and performance The Joshua Tree is expansive, invigorating and consummately cohesive.

America's arid south-west - the Nevada desert in particular - is the record's heartland. Desolate and unforgiving, yet numinous and majestic, the region's historically blurred demarcation between frontier and wilderness is perfectly articulated by the music through the band's enchantment at their surroundings. Where the ode 'One Tree Hill' and the exhalant 'In God's Country' and 'Trip Through Your Wires' bore witness to the stimuli of the landscape lyrically and musically, the real success of The Joshua Tree lies in its amalgamation of typically cherished American modes, particularly folk, blues, rock n roll and country, and heterogeneous humanist concerns. Indeed such aesthetic syntheses often leads to an intriguing incongruity upon closer inspection, for the specificity of Bono's lyricism is often dialectical in relation to The Edge's evocative America-infused guitar work. A notable example of this is 'Red Hill Mining Town' whereby his lyric "through hand of steel and heart of stone" alludes to the closure of England's northern coal mines by NCB chairman Ian McGregor and the disastrous free market economic policies of PM Margaret Thatcher, yet the instrumental pays homage to the classically American folk and blues genres.

Faith and religion also constitute a large part of The Joshua Tree's lyrical canon, but it is another area rife with contradistinction. Bono seems at ease with Christianity ('Where the Streets Have No Name'), despite its many innate paradoxes ('I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'), yet simultaneously at odds with fundamentalism.

The Joshua Tree also calls on America's more unseemly secular traits to convey the band's antinomy toward the Land of the Free. 'Exit' deals with a violent death, yet whether it is murder or suicide is indecipherable, while 'Bullet the Blue Sky' is the album's most flagrant example of antipathy with reference to then-US president Ronald Reagan ("His face red like a rose on a thorn bush...peelin' off those dollar bills, slappin' 'em down"), the economic blockade and civil war supported by the US in Nicaragua, and the US-backed campaign of murder and oppression in El Salvador. The album closes with 'Mothers of the Disappeared' a lament to the mothers and wives of student opposition and dissidents under both the Argentinean military juntas and Augusto Pinochet's brutal regime in Chile following his US-backed coup in 1973.

Massively successful, The Joshua Tree, by virtue of its three mega-hits ('Where the Streets Have No Name', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and the claustrophobic, masochistic ballad 'With or Without You') served to propel U2 to the position they had appeared destined for after stealing the show at Live Aid in 1985, that of the world's biggest band, a position they have held unopposed for nigh-on twenty years.

U2 at their best.......2007-06-13

What can I say, for me this is one of those CDs that you love most or all of the songs on, and in my humble opinion that is a rare thing. This is a must have for anyone who loves the band and/or 1980's music.

U2 Need To Have This Classic CD.......2007-06-11

There are defining moments in a music groups career, and music in general. The Joshua Tree, by U2, is one of those moments. From radio hits to impressive, reflective, and profound songs, this CD has it all. I was fortunate enough to see U2 in concert in San Fracisco for this tour. It was an incredible experience. If there are any people out there who have not heard this album/CD, this is a must have, and I envy you the joy of discovering this masterpiece.

The best songs on this CD were never released as singles. Three of my favorites and worthy of the purchase price alone are:

Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
and Red Hill Mining Town, my personal favorite.

This is a 5 star excellent CD, treat yourself to this one. If you haven't heard it, or are new to U2, this is one to run out and buy. If you have been a fan like me - for years - this CD version is a must have!

A great cd.......2007-06-08

Whether it was the Beatles or the Stones who sang these songs they would have been great.However, with the strong guitar leads of the Edge and the impassioned vocals of Bono, this album becomes magnificent! There is a reason this is one of best selling cds ever and one of the top 20 rock albums ever, find out why.

A Beckoning Towards Redemption and the Promised Land.......2007-04-23

Yes, I'm back. You must excuse the lapse. I have been busy setting up shelters (a Seer's work), for the chronically wayward or the chronologically confused. It really doesn't matter. It helps people. It's a good cause. Donations are gladly accepted, (and forms for tax write-offs are at the door). Yes, I know it's selfless work. And I have taken a Seer's oath for the good of humanity and I can't back out. Rats. I can't make exceptions but so what? Pure intent is hard to come by these days. They never warned me-whoever "they" are.
That being said, I have come here to review an exceptional, exceptional work by U2. These guys never cease to amaze me, and little did I know when they first arrived into my conciousness. I thought at the beginning "how nice, another typical 80's band", for I really wasn't impressed by them. The Edge's guitar grated on me and I couldn't adjust to the sound. But, glad to say, U2 were not to be deprived of their just place in the hierarchy of rock. They have built a tabernacle of considerable and reflective music over time. And, I must say, the quality and workmanship and thought and care that go into their profferings are nothing less than astounding. They care deeply about the music they make and present it to us in a way that many do not. It is this diligency towards excellence that comes to the forefront each and every time.
Admittedly, I do not know alot about their history or how they came into being. I don't think that it matters in the least with music this good. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jnr. have created their own unique sound, their own unique journey towards salvation and universal concerns. With "The Joshua Tree", they reveal their search, achingly, to God and to all heavenly powers. They reveal their weaknesses, their human frailties, and take us on a voyage of discovery and enlightenment. They take us on a journey of strength. And these are just a few of the things that set them apart from most.
To begin with, the Edge's guitar work is outerworldy, and I cannot attempt to explain it to anybody. It can be subtle and sweet and then turn into virile, powerful excursions somewhere that defy description. Whatever he uses (is it a synthesizer?) to make it sound this way-he has definitely created his own unique sound that nobody can copy. You can hear pure emotion in his playing- and this is just one component to U2.
Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen provide the considerable skeletal backbone which gives their sound such heft. They provide the balance to the sound. There is no grandstanding here-but essential stability that compliment The Edge in every single way. Professional and clear, they weave the tapestry, the contour that great edifices are built upon.
And what of Bono? Perhaps the glue that ties it all together. He is probably the most known member of this band, and alot of the reason may lie in his poetry and delivery. He sings from his soul- and he puts the full range of human emotion into his delivery. He doesn't hold back and it shows in songs like "With Or Without You" or ""Red Hill Mining Town" with the urgency and compassion of the line "I'm still waiting-I'm hanging on- You're all that's left to hang on to". These vocals are so impassioned that they send shivers out. Yes, he's that good.
But what of the songs here and their meaning? It seems that Mr. Bono has thoughts of sheer martydom running throughout many of these tunes. Plus, many of the poetic inferences harken back to Christianity or spiritual uplifting in some way. He wants to break free and evolve to a place where "The Streets Have No Name". Could this be heaven? Or, a place where things are not categorized? And after speaking with Angels and holding the hand of the devil- he is in-between and "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". The eternal search of salvation and redemption. "With or Without You" is just pure genius. Allusions to Christ with "See the STONE set in your eyes, see the THORN twist in your side". But, not only that, but, "On a bed of NAILS, she makes me wait". And, furthermore, "my hands are tied-my body bruised". It seems that the relationship in this song has made Bono a martyr of sorts. And, in a strange way, Christ can't live with or without you either. So entirely remarkable. So many biblical terminology throughout- the drout conveyed with the lines "the rivers run, but soon run dry" in "In God's Country". "Thunder, thunder in the mountain, there's a rain cloud in the desert sky" in "Trip Through Your Wires". There are many more examples. The need for human relief, and elevation, whether it be from a bruised relationship or inner spiritual need, is foremost and deeply embedded within the poetry. Many discoveries await here. Many gems to mine. All yours for the asking.
In closing- a superb achievement for a group relatively new into their career. The landscapes are a wonder and the music on a higher and grandiose level that satisfys so fully in the pop/rock genre. I cannot say enough.
And now, I think I finally have gotten the courage to ask Bono for a donation to my shelters. That is, if I can even get his public relations agent on the phone. But regardless, I can always play this c.d. for my clients. Get it. It's a classic.

Refreshingly subtle and amazingly devout--your own, Metamorpho

Average customer rating: Great one disk compilation I think it's a great compilation A pretty decent compilation for casual fans DON'T HATE U2 U2 Marketing Blunder

U218 Singles U2 Manufacturer: Interscope Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Continuum Love U2 by U2 Sam's Town How To Save A Life ASIN: B000JJRINY Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

1. Beautiful Day
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
3. Pride (in The Name Of Love)
4. With Or Without You
5. Vertigo
6. New Year's Day
7. Mysterious Ways
8. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
9. Where The Streets Have No Name
10. Sweetest Thing
11. Sunday Bloody Sunday
12. One
13. Desire
14. Walk On
15. Elevation
16. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
17. The Saints Are Coming
18. Window In The Skies

Amazon.com

Whittling down the back catalog of one of the most popular and respected bands of the last quarter-century to a single-disc collection is bound to inspire argument and dissent from the fans and faithful over what is included--and all that gets left behind--and U2's 26-year career is as celebrated and beloved as any band of their generation. U218 Singles doesn't try to please everyone, wisely sticking to the acknowledged high points (and there are many) between 1983's War and 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Nitpickers may quibble that the collection leans too heavily on the band's most popular albums and skips the (admirable if less anthemic) techno-pop tangents of Zooropa and Pop and the earnest energy of the Boy/October years, but the musical majesty accumulated here testifies to the undeniable power and emotion U2 can muster in a four-minute pop song. Two new Rick Rubin-produced tracks don't break new ground for the band, but both would fit snugly somewhere in the U2 canon--"Window in the Skies" is pure late-period arena rock with a typically towering falsetto chorus, while Green Day helps inject some October-era urgency into "The Saints Are Coming". The sum of these 18 tracks is a first-rate primer, perfect for that 10-year-old niece or nephew who thinks U2's big break was that iPod commercial. --Ben Heege

Album Description

U218 Singles is the first single-disc collection - including 16 of their best-known songs. Also included are two brand-new tracks recorded with producer Rick Rubin at Abbey Road Studios in London: "The Saints Are Coming" (with Green Day) and "Window in the Skies."

Customer Reviews:

Great one disk compilation.......2007-07-16

This contains the most popular radio hits of U2. For the casual listener like myself this CD is all I need.

What makes a good compilation in my opinion is a collection where every song is enjoyable and you don't have to hit the skip button. This is one of those collections and it is one I bring along on every road trip.

This contains all the hits from the definitive album "Joshua Tree" and focuses heavy on the more popular albums. People like me who stopped listening after the 1990 album and started back up again in 2000 will be glad to see that there are no songs on this collection inbetween those years.

The big fans of U2 will stay away from this collection and hopefully for them this will help finance a project to get all the albums remastered because they are LONG overdue.

I think it's a great compilation.......2007-07-09

I've been a U2 fan for years, but not enough of a fan to collect all their stuff, so I've been waiting for a hits CD like this one to come out for a while now.

Very nice job. Quite complete.

A pretty decent compilation for casual fans.......2007-06-30

I can honestly say that I am not a big fan of U2. I fail to see the hoopla over one of the most overrated bands in the past two decades. I will admit that the band has put out some good songs over the years. J218 is perfect for casual listeners of U2 like myself. All of my favorite U2 songs are from the 1980s. Songs like "Without or Without You" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" still sounds amazingly fresh and never dated. I can never get tired of listening to the band's songs from the '80s. The '90s and'00s is another story. The only songs I did like from the past decade is "One", "Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment". Everything else was rubbish for me. I make no apologies when I say that I hated the song the band did with Green Day "The Saints Are Coming". What a horrid track. I'm glad I didn't pay anything for this cd which contains too much filler songs for my liking.

DON'T HATE U2.......2007-06-19

I always seem to do it. I'll be sitting somewhere and this band comes on the radio, and I say "Man, I hate U2!" and everytime, without fail someone is offended. If it's one person, they'll think I said Hate-you-too...and they'll say "I never said I hated you!" If it's two people they'll think I said Hate-you-two.. and you can guess what happens next. If it's more than that then they realize I'm talking about the band, and they say.. "Wally. They're not THAT bad."
So I stopped saying that I hate U2. Even though, I sort of do.
This has nothing to do with my review for this album, nor the fact that I gave it a cruddy rating. So stop being so pompous U2 fans. Even if I didn't hate U2, this album would still be a waste of my time and money.

Three songs that I do like, and not one of them appear here.. NUMB, STARING AT THE SUN, and one of the ones from the early eighties that wasn't so obnoxious... where are they? Forgotten in favor of VERTIGO? Do you really like that song?

And don't get me wrong, but isn't BEAUTIFUL DAY the WORST of them all? I know it gets played 1000 times more a day on every radio station than all the other U2 songs that get played a 1000 times a day, but that doesn't make it worthy. Turn on your radio right now, spin the dial twice and I'll bet you the song will be on. Free. Why bother?

The rest is pretty much JOSHUA TREE, WAR and a unearthed rarity from here and there. MYSTERIOUS WAYS is ok, but the rest is filler in order to span the whole career, where it probably should have been just 80's tracks... NUMB, SUN, maybe one or two more from ACHTUNG BABY and nothing later than 1998, because its all been garbage after that.

IMHO.

U2 Marketing Blunder.......2007-06-19

I've been an avid U2 goer for decades, seen them live in concert 3 times & bought a myriad of their CDs over said time. When I 1st heard of this latest greatest from them, I was excited to think that I could carry just ONE CD vs. the usual 3, in order to have all of my favorites on hand @ the same time. HOWEVER, my excitement was short-lived!

I don't know if the marketing team for this group could actually be so ignorant or if they just couldn't bother rewarding their long-time die-hard fans with a TRULY Best of Hits Collection! So, now on to the crux of my plight... In lieu of tracks 8, 15, 16, 17 & 18, they should have at the very least included "I Will Follow" & "Angel Of Harlem"! Others, such as "Even Better Than The Real Thing" & "Zooropa" would have been bonuses!

In FACT, the particular song line up on this CD has cost it countless sales, for the simple absence of some of its timeless gems being replaced with some NO name of songs!

Average customer rating: Secret treasure Is a good CD This is pure genius I love this man One case where I prefer O to 9

9 Damien Rice Manufacturer: Heffa/Vector/Warner Bros. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: O The Crane Wife B-Sides Till the Sun Turns Black Supply And Demand ASIN: B000IU3XTM Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

1. 9 Crimes
2. The Animals Were Gone
3. Elephant
4. Rootless Tree
5. Dogs
6. Coconut Skins
7. Me, My Yoke, and I
8. Grey Room
9. Accidental Babies
10. Sleep Don't Weep

Amazon.com

Not quite as endearing as his raw and seductive 2002 debut, O, the second full-length album by Irish troubadour Damien Rice finds him taking a more slapdash approach to his lyrics and arrangements, with balmy tracks like "Rootless Tree," "Coconut Skins," and "Me, My Yoke, and I" seemingly made up and recorded on the spot. Strange then that it took so long for 9 to actually arrive, with just a handful of odd collaborations (Tori Amos, Herbie Hancock) and one promising benefit single ("Unplayed Piano") to hold fans over during the four-year delay. Nothing here quite achieves the lush poetry on display there, although Rice and his singing companion Lisa Hannigan come close with the creepy opening track "9 Crimes" and the damaged whisper-to-a-scream ballad, "Elephant." --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

9 is the extraordinary follow-up to young Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice's critically acclaimed 2003 debut album O-which sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, including more than one million in the U.K. The single "9 Crimes" will have its network television debut on the hit ABC show Grey's Anatomy in the November 23rd episode.

Customer Reviews:

Secret treasure.......2007-07-07

I loved his first cd, especially Volcano. The lady who does the backing vocal stole my heart. The strings are simple and powerful. This cd seems to follow on the same path. It reminds me of a secret treasure not many folks know about. I am not sure why this man is not a major star, perhaps marketing, perhaps timing. His voice and talent are hard to deny. I will listen and continue to be a fan. As for the lyrics advisory, don't sweat it. You hear worse on CNN.

Is a good CD.......2007-07-03

worth getting it indeed but the best experience from this artist I believe are the live performances. So if its possible, go to one of his shows.

This is pure genius.......2007-06-29

This album is nothing short of genius, and its even better than O. Listen carefully and play it the whole way through and you will realise that. Its more heart-felt, more intense, its stronger, its sexier, its angrier, its darker and its more varied. There are some tracks on O where I feel he drones on a bit. Not on 9. I am grabbed by virtually all of the songs. For me, the stand out tracks are Rootless Tree and Accidental Babies. I saw Damien Rice play most of this album live at Radio City in New York and he was simply unbelievable. If you get the chance, do not hesitate to see this man live. The emotion was pouring out of him. Go buy this album.

I love this man.......2007-06-08

Damien has continued to keep me intrigued, with his intense singing and moving lyrics, I can't stop listening. This latest cd isnt as firey as the first, a bit sobering, but it still packs a punch. Especially like "The Animals were gone".

One case where I prefer O to 9.......2007-06-05

I don't envy Damien Rice having to follow his first CD and "Unplayed Piano." He's one of the best singer-songwriters to come out of this era--so far--and I'm looking forward to hearing a lot more from this poetic Irish bard.

But, there's still a lot to like about Damien Rice's second release. The title track "Nine Crimes" is probably my favorite of this collection, but I wouldn't skip any either. Even "Coconuts" which I felt was kind of off the cuff, is still good music.

Average customer rating: Van the man... Always a writer of songs ...it's raining and i have this on... WONDERFUL Almost perfect Wondering why they call this guy Van the Man?

The Best of Van Morrison Van Morrison Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Ireland | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music Rock | Celtic | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Blue-Eyed Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Moondance The Best of Van Morrison, Vol. 2 Magic Time Tupelo Honey Pay the Devil ASIN: B000009DDJ Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

1. Bright Side Of The Road
2. Gloria
3. Moondance
4. Baby Please Don't Go
5. Have I Told You Lately
6. Brown Eyed Girl
7. Sweet Thing
8. Warm Love
9. Wonderful Remark
10. Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
11. Full Force Gale
12. And It Stoned Me
13. Here Comes The Night
14. Domino
15. Did Ye Get Healed
16. Wild Night
17. Cleaning Windows
18. Whenever God Shines His Light
19. Queen Of The Slipstream
20. Dweller On The Threshold

Amazon.com

Van Morrison reputedly wasn't crazy about the idea of a greatest-hits package, and this set's haphazard programming--which leaps from period to period, style to style, tossing in two key singles by his mid-'60s band Them--speaks to his lack of involvement. Still, it rivals Moondance as Morrison's most popular album, and for a reason: like that classic, it offers one deeply soulful, spiritually and musically thoughtful track after another. Much of his more "difficult" work is ignored here; in fact, Best of... gives us an intriguing picture of a Van who's almost eager to please. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Import pressing of this ace collection now deleted in the US! Van Morrison has boldly followed his own musical path since the '60s and this compilation proves that he has the talent to match his own vision. From the early days with Them ('Gloria') through his critically successful solo career ('Moondance', 'Brown Eyed Girl', 'Have I Told You Lately'), he remains one of the most beloved and influential artists in modern music, 20 tracks total, also including 'Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)', 'Domino', 'Here Comes The Night' and more. Universal. * Please note this version is not remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Van the man..........2007-06-22

There's no organization to the music on this cd which has always been one of the great joys of a Van Morrison release where one song seems to lead to another and the sound as a whole is like listening to one inspiring arrangement but even with that in mind this collection is wonderful. Rather then having one large spiritual experience, you get 20 small spiritual miracles. Because to me, Van's music has always been so full of soul it is like a spiritual ride.

Always a writer of songs ...it's raining and i have this on..........2007-01-27

These are awesome..good album.

I like them as much as Philosopher's Stone, In the Midnight, Precious Time, Back on Top, When the Leaves Come Falling Down.....Rain check, These Dreams of You, Golden Autumn Day, Reminds Me of You, High Summer....opps there is my favorites list.

I'd recommend listening to Van. He's a poet. He's able to say what I'm thinking. And I'm going to see him one day because I have a ticket to go to an upcoming concert....like his concerts.Glad he comes to LA. So this is just a CD to get me in the mind frame. But even without that I'd listen to these. I guess I can IPOD my favorites now....

WONDERFUL.......2006-11-10

This is my favorite CD ever. I have bought it for many friends as gifts, and they all love it! He is the best!

Almost perfect.......2006-08-14

I had this disc once before and it was stolen. Loved it so much I had to buy it again. I wish it cotained Tupelo Honey and Into the Mystic. Other than that I love this disc . I recommend this to anyone. Whether you are a big fan or just only know a couple of his songs. Lively and uplifting. Great for traffic jams.

Wondering why they call this guy Van the Man?.......2006-07-15

Then you obviously don't own this CD. Fix that sometime soon. Any album with Brown Eyed Girl and a bunch of crappy songs is still worth a purchase, but you get lots more: Three good songs by Them (garage-band anthem Gloria, Baby Please Don't Go, Here Comes the Night) and several great songs by Van himself: the aforementioned Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Thing, Moondance, And It Stoned Me, Domino, Jackie Wilson Said, Cleaning Windows and the previously-unreleased Wonderful Remark especially stand out, though there's more.
Still, it's not perfect. I don't care how popular Have I Told You Lately is, I don't like it. In my mind it's a sap-fest from someone who isn't really sappy. Same with Queen of the Slipstream. Get rid of these two, as well as Dweller on the Threshold and Warm Love. Swap in Madame George and Caravan. Then you'll have the true Best of Van Morrison.

Track Listings:

1. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition No1-10; Songs & Dances of Death
2. Net Surfin'
3. No Stranger, Not at All
4. Omaggio a Ezio Pinza
5. Orlando Di Lasso: Lagrime Di San Pietro
6. Palate Pleasers
7. Panorama
8. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 41
9. Plays Debussy: Last Recital
10. Popular Music of Italian Renaussance

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Olson's Lot [Import]

Symphony No. 2/Song Of The Mountain Forest

Smile & Nod

Music Romance, Vol. 2: Taboo & Exile

The Five Day Week Straw People/The Attack [Original recording remastered]

Street of Dreams

Sprout Wings and Fly

Rare and Unreleased Arias from Verdi

Spanic Family Album

Que El Cielo Espere Sentao [Import]

Tears of Joy

Soy Milk II [Explicit Lyrics]

The Hidden City: Sound Portraits from Göteborg

Music for Productivity

Snatch (2001 Film)