Songs

Monday, June 30, 2008

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Wanted : by Danny Elfman

The original was released on June 24, 2008. The format is Mp3. The CD format is also available. See the movie! It is lovely. The one song which I really like is "Little Things," The movie was great and the music in the movie was good.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - The Sound of Madness : by Shinedown

Details

* Original Release Date: June 24, 2008
* Label: Atlantic Records
* Copyright: 2008 Atlantic Recording Corp. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
* Genres: Pop/General, Rock, Rock/General

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Rockferry : by Duffy

I'm sure a lot of people are going out and buying Duffy's debut album, "Rockferry," after hearing the single "Mercy." I am one of those people, and when I listened to the CD in its entirety, I was blown away because "Mercy" is probably the weakest song on the whole album, which says a lot because "Mercy" is such an amazing song. However, the rest of the album is even better! Duffy's voice is out of this world. It's soulful, powerful, and absolutely beautiful. People who compare her to the likes of Nina Simone and Dusty Springfield are not exaggerating, but Duffy is really in a league of her own, as she brings a youthful panache to every song.

As for the album itself, I don't even know where to begin. All the songs are incredible. If I have to pick a favorite, it's probably the title track, "Rockferry," which is amazing. My jaw literally dropped when I listened to it for the first time. Other highlights include the wistful "Warwick Avenue," the soulful ballad "Stepping Stone," the blues infused "Syrup & Honey," and the inspiring "Distant Dreamer."

My one complaint about this CD is that it's too short...there are only 10 songs, but they are OUTSTANDING songs. Duffy has an amazing career ahead of her, and if you only buy one CD this year, make it "Rockferry."

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Indestructible : by Disturbed

There are many bands trying to be hard these days. Disturbed do not have to try. Clearly their music is what comes naturally to them. Indestructible is not the awful manufactured Pop Metal like Nickelback and most recently the American Idol cookie cutter music from the likes of Daughtry and David Cook. Indestructible is straight-up Hard Rock.

In my last review of Disturbed's music I called them Metal and caught a lot of flack from fans of hardcore bands like Lamb of God and Slipknot who said Disturbed isn't Metal. I say Disturbed is Metal. Disturbed sounds a lot more like the pioneers of Metal like Zeppelin, Priest and Maiden than some of the unlistenable Nu Metal and Hardcore Metal that seems to have taken over today.

If fact, Indestructible is Disturbed's first CD where Donegan is fully released from guitar solo prison. Donegan is clearly one of the more talented guitarists on the Hard Rock scene today. But when Nu Metal became popular, it became taboo for a band to include guitar solos, and Hard Rock bands like Disturbed were guitar solo-silenced...much to the chagrin of outspoken critics like the great Zakk Wylde (of Ozzy fame). But fear not, Zakk, because one listen to Indestructible will bring a giant guitar soloist smile to your face.

Indestructible is Heavy Metal in its most grass roots form of the art...vocals that you can follow, harmonies, melody, intensity...a uniqueness to each song where there is no confusion as to whether the track has changed. Indestructible is great, hard rockin' fun.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Parachutes : by Coldplay

"Parachutes" is a really astonishing debut album from the British band Coldplay. "Parachutes" is best described as a mood piece--mellow, melodic, acoustic guitar, mopey at times but ultimately convinced that "Everything's Not Lost."

Coldplay's sound is a mixture of shimmering guitars, keyboards, and Chris Martin's incredible voice. His voice is probably the cause of the many Thom Yorke, Fran Healy and Jeff Buckley comparisons--like those three singers, he makes very effective use of his falsetto. His voice just crackles with real emotion. They have a great tendency to pair rhythm acoustic and lead electric guitars, which produces a very specificly textured and meshed sound.

All the tracks on the album are worth a listen. Highlights include the sublime "Shiver" (truly swoon-worthy), "Yellow" (simply romantic), "Trouble," and the last track, "Everything's Not Lost."

Highly recommended to fans of Travis's "The Man Who" and Radiohead's "The Bends." Coldplay shares a general musical aesthetic with those two bands, but they also have their own sound and musical project. Listen to the sound clips, and you'll see how Coldplay is both familiar and unique. You won't be wasting your money if you pick this album up.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Big Blue Ball

Details
# Original Release Date: June 10, 2008
# Label: Real World Records
# Copyright: 2008 *** C Credit not known ***
# Genres: Pop/General, International/General, Pop
# Format: MP3, 256 kbps What's this?
# Also available in CD Forma

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Fleet Foxes : by Fleet Foxes

There's something very warm and welcoming about the Fleet Foxes' music, and there's hardly a song on their self-titled album that doesn't contain that sunniness. And though the bittersweet songs focus on the usual topics -- family, love, lost friends -- there's a strong feeling of pastoral beauty, especially since they're sprinkled with meadowlarks, wood-women, "quivering forests," Tennessee and grassy graves.

In fact, the lyrics are crammed with vivid ("And, Michael, you would fall/and turn the white snow red as strawberries") and striking language ("I hold a cornucopia and a golden crown"). At times, the band's lyrics are pure poetry ("Wanderers this morning came by/Where did they go?/Graceful in the morning light/To banner fair/To follow you softly/In the cold mountain air...").

These songs are wrapped in lush melodies of striking music, which happily swirl together folk, classic earthy rock, pop, baroque and a bit of country. And an coustic guitar is the lead instrument here; sometimes it's all by itself, and sometimes it's intertwined with a smooth mix of other instruments -- hollow drums, rippling mellotron, steely guitar, and a hint of harp being plucked somewhere.

And finally there's Robin Pecknold. He sounds a little off-key in the spare ballads, but in the more complex songs he sounds sweet, strong and truly beautiful, especially when he does that soaring thing. And I have to say, I'm a sucker for the band's sunny chorale sound -- the harmonies really make those melodies sound exquisite.

The Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut is one of the best albums I've heard all year, with its blend of styles and bittersweetly lovely songs. Haunting and truly lovely.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Vampire Weekend : by Vampire Weekend

The first track is the lead single, Mansard Roof (google it). A track as studious as it sounds, with tight changes, nice lyrics, and crisp melodies, a perfect pop moment that would make fans of Belle and Sebastian squeal into their book bags. The band then up the ante with Oxford Comma, again, just as collegiate friendly, but with a little more bite to it. In it they even manage to drop a well-pronounced F-bomb and make it sound like the Queen's English. The overall result is my favorite track off the disc. The song A Punk (months already on itunes) continues the impressive string of songs at three now, A Punk carries a bit more Strokes flavor to it in its brevity and faster pacing, but its pace doesn't seem foreign at all. The Paul Simon-isms finally rear their head with the track Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. I immediately think of You Can Call Me Al, with that overbearing saxophone and stop-start melody. Even though that maybe be purely unfounded, I'm pretty sure others will hear what I'm talking about. Maybe it's the worldly guitar line, or it could be the vocal stop-start of the verses? After it's all said and done, it's nothing the hipsters won't be able to swallow. M79 brings in a harpsichord sounding synth as its calling card and does so without becoming annoying. Campus is another Stroke styled stroke, right down to the melancholy and wishful tone of the lyrics and for me another one of the better songs. A few more tracks that don't quite impress as much, fill the gaps until the album's closer, The Kids Don't Stand a Chance. The track adds a little bit of reggae into the repertoire but again, it isn't enough to turn me completely off. It just somehow works for these guys, call them lucky or smart, or both.

If anything, the afro-pop, New England fashion sense (docksiders), and even the reggae, pump up the irony of this very collegiate group of boys and their appeal to fans of all types of music, especially indie music. It may be a stretch to say everyone will like some part of this record, but I found most of it pretty darn enjoyable and that in this day and age is getting more rare than not. So not a perfect record, but I'll agree with the masses in calling it the first important record in a very young 2008. Have fun trying to get into their upcoming tour, I have a feeling it's going to be quite popular

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Raising Sand : by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

I have been waiting on this disc. I mean really waiting, like marking off the days on a calendar waiting. We don't have to go over the basics, how Plant and Krauss are gifts from the VOCAL GODS!! But what surprises me about this disc is how understated it all is. The music is the winner here -- well, the listener is.

The opening song "Rich Woman" with its elastic bass line and krauss almost purring into an oft-kilter bluesy tone is pure magic, but its also eerie as all get out. But so is most of this disc. It's almost as if Burnett turned up the gothic horror to a Tim Burton soundtrack and planted it down in the South.

Clark's "Through the Morning, Through the Night," gets more than an honest reading, the harmony between the two bleeds into one soft cushion that hugs the melody. And is honest and bitterly romantic. Wait's "Trampled Rose" gets another great reading, with Krauss howling just above a thumping beat. "Killing The Blues" gives Plants voice such softness and lilt that for some reason it reminds me of vintage Righteous Brothers.

The disc is excellent, and so far is my running for album of the year. They have taped an episode for CMT Crossroads and they have both stated that they are more than willing to work with each other again. And I will be marking off those days as well on my calendar. A gem of an album from two amazing singers with extremely rare gifts.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. ; by Jason Mraz

From the first track to last Jason Mraz dazzles, perplexes and scintillates on his high-octane 3rd full-length studio album "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things." His witty, highly individual lyrical style and organic, powerful backing band transform these songs into four minute detours into the mind of the most underrated singer/songwriter of the 2000s.

Lead single "I'm Yours" finally lands on its feet after many years in Mraz's setlists with its mellow, Hawaiian grooves, complete with visions of obligatory surfers and pineapple drinks in the background. It's just a slice of what "We Sing..." has to offer, however. "Lucky" is a sparse, melodic duet with Colbie Callait that transitions aptly out of "I'm Yours," while "Make It Mine" and "Live High" are classic Mraz with feel-good, enrapturing melodies designed to sweep listeners clean off their feet. "Make It Mine" is particularly upbeat, full of hand-claps and lush, horn-laden instrumentation. It should be a single, and if it becomes one it should give Mraz his first major hit since 2003's "The Remedy" if radio programmers have even a neuron left in their heads.

The subject matter is diverse on "We Sing..." but Mraz never suffers from mood swings. "Love For a Child," by far one of the most touching compositions of his career, touches on the effect of divorce on a young child ("When the house was left in shambles/Well, who was there to handle all the broken bits of glass?") while "Only Human" promotes environmental awareness without playing the blame game. "Details In the Fabric" featuring James Morrison is a moody, meditative look at life, love and relationships, while "Coyotes" takes Mraz's sonic pallete in new directions with layered vocals, percolating snyths and an awesome background chorus. His operatic vocals from "Mr. Curiosity" from his last LP make an appearance here.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Last Days At The Lodge : by Amos Lee

If you have not had an opportunity to see Amos Lee live in concert yet, he is a must see for any music lover. Amos' recent performance at the Minnesota Zoo was nothing short of spectactular. His performance of songs on his latest album brought the crowd to a standing ovation in the middle of his concert. Prepare to have your breath taken away when you hear him live. Never have I heard another musician sing with such heart. I've never heard him perform a song exactly the same way twice and it is the variations that make his musicianship so outstanding.

I always enjoy the music of Amos Lee but I must admit the recordings never seem to capture his talent as well as his live performance. For that reason, I rate this album 4 out of 5 stars Though if you catch a show, this CD will leave you waiting for his next concert. Let's hope there is a live album soon! Enjoy!

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - X & Y : by Coldplay

It's hard to believe but it's been three years since Coldplay released A Rush of Blood to the Head. Now they are back with their third record X&Y. All of Coldplay's releases share one thing in common; they take some time getting into. When I first listened to Parachutes in the fall of 2000 I was not impressed. After a week it was the only thing I listened to for a six months. When A Rush of Blood to the Head came out it also took a few weeks for it to grow on me. The same thing applies to X&Y.

Starting off with the opening track "Square One" it is apparent that the record is a little more sonically dense than the band's previous efforts. While X&Y is a far cry from being experimental it's just enough of a change to make the new songs fresh. "What if" starts off as a slow piano song that finally builds up to a crescendo that exemplifies the transformation of Coldplay's sound. "Fix You," "White Shadows," Low" and "Twisted Logic" are instantly fan favorites. The hidden track "Til Kingdom Comes" was written for the late great Johnny Cash who passed away before he could record the song. It is a shame Cash did not get a chance to record it, but it makes a fitting and positive end to the album.

X&Y was a long time in coming but it was worth every bit of the wait. I cannot wait to hear how these new songs translate live. As one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year Coldplay does not disappoint with X&Y.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Camp Rock :

This CD is filled with upbeat and catchy songs that will cater to people who enjoyed similar Disney soundtracks like High School Musical and Hannah Montana. The standout songs for me are We Rock, Play My Music, and This is Me, but it's so hard to choose from so many styles.

1. We Rock - 5/5 : The title song is an awesome feel good song that has a strong beat and great group vocals. It's a very catchy tune that will have you moving to the beat. A+
2. Play My Music - 5/5 : Great song by the Jonas Brothers. It has a steady beat, good singing, and an uplifting tone. Fantastic overall.
3. Gotta Find You - 4/5 : A slow and sweet song about trying to find an unknown singer. I like it, but it's not as memorable as the other outstanding songs.
4. Start the Party - 5/5 : A very techno-like song with a strong background instrumentals. This reminds me of Corbin Bleu's style because it has a quick tempo and talks about getting up and moving. A
5. Who will I be - 4.5/5 : A song by Demi Lovato about choosing your own destiny in life. The message is great, but somehow the song doesn't particularly stand out. A-
6. This is me - 5/5 : A fantastic song about being true to yourself and standing proud. This song shows Demi's talent and is one of the best songs on the album.
7. Hasta la vista - 1/5 : Not my style. The notes, the chorus, and the style just don't match. I think it tries too hard with trying to blend hip hop with pop and ends up falling short.
8. Here I am - 3/5 : A slower song about getting back up when you're knocked down. The beat, the lyrics, and the chorus are all pretty generic and forgettable. Mediocre song.
9. Too Cool - 5/5 : A very upbeat and catchy song that works on many levels. It reminds me of the Hannah Montana style with quick and upbeat lyrics accompanied by a strong beat and a variety of instruments. This was the surprise hit of the album for me.
10. Our Time is Here - 3/5 : This song attempts to give a strong sense of accomplishment and victory, but it doesn't quite make it for me. It feels a little bland.
11. 2 Stars - 4.5/5 : A song that's similar to Too Cool. It doesn't have quite the same punch, but it has a unique sound to it that is very enjoyable.
12. What it takes - 4/5 : Another hip-hop/pop crossover that works a lot better than Hasta la Vista. The chorus is a little weak, but the song overall is not bad.

Camp Rock is going to be a very successful show and this soundtrack proves that it has what it takes to match High School Musical. I can't wait to see the show because the songs will probably make more sense in the context of the story, but until then, get this and Rock On!!!

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Tha Carter III [Explicit] :

and while i may not say he's the best rapper alive. I'm sure there are a few others out there right now just as good if not better than Wayne. But not that many that bring the energy, lyrics and the flow that he does to each and every track. Whether he's tearing up a track like "A Milli" or rapping about the virtues of a "Lollipop" or trading bars with Jay-Z on "Mr. Carter".

Wayne almost always brings you songs that are a both easily accessible, fun to listen and sometimes thought provoking like "DontGetIt" which is worthy of a few listen if only to hear him talk about various issues in the world and a certain person. I also enjoyed "Dr. Carter" where he plays a doctor that specializes in resurrecting the lost skills of down and out rappers. Whether he's rapping on his own with "3Peat" or with another artist "Shot Me Down" w/D. Smith which is easily one of my favorites on the cd. It's a slower, ballad style song with the vocals "please don't shot me down" being sung in the background to great effect.

I'm glad Lil Wayne took his time with this cd before bringing it out despite the pressures of dropping the cd early. It gave him the time to come up with another great cd that should net him even more attention and respect throughout the music business. You would think that with the number of songs on the cd that it wouldnt be that cohesive or together. But it is that way minus a song or two and thankfully no interludes/intros which i've never been a fan of at all.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Wall-E : by Various

This soundtrack really stands on its own, despite accompanying one of the most achingly beautiful films I have ever seen.

Stanton says in the liner notes that the movie as a whole was a space opera, something he kept emphasizing as Newman composed. Compared to the defining space opera, the original Star Wars trilogy, there are rather a lot of differences. Williams' score in Star Wars had a clear sense of accoustics and an expansive staging that translated even while watching the film. With a good sound system, you can almost imagine an orchestra pit just below the screen. The score seemed to come from the eternally romantic Star Wars universe itself, boldly proclaiming its themes of good, evil, love, and war.

Newman's score for WALL-E, on the other hand, has a sonically closed or condensed aspect to it that draws you in closer to the intimate world of its inhabitants. As breathtaking as Stanton's vision of outer space turns out to be, you are still invited to experience it through the eyes of a newcomer, a little robot who, like yourself, has never been there before. Rather than coming from the universe, the soundtrack to WALL-E seems rather to simply be the music that accompanies the imaginative, curious, and ultimately wonderstruck mind.

Although I liked nearly all of it, EVE stood out as my favorite individual track. In all I recommend the album, especially to those who enjoyed the movie.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Narrow Stairs : by Death Cab For Cutie

After their big-label debut "Plans" in 2005, DCFC took to the streets and toured relentessly. This in turn lead to a longer than usual period in between new studio recording. Now, 3 years later, comes the much anticipated 6th studio albums from these guys.

"Narrow Stairs" (11 tracks, 45 min.) starts off with the best 1-2 punch ever: an epic opener "Bigxby Canyon Bridge", followed by an even stronger 8+ min. brooding "I Will Posess Your Heart" (1st radio single). Wow... these 15 min. of music alone are worth buying the album for. Smartly Ben Gibbard and the guys take a (musically) lighter turn after that, with tracks like "No Sunlight", "Your New Twin Sized Bed" and "You Can Do Better Than Me" (even though neither of them is a 'light' song lyrically...). Other highlights for me include "Grapevine Fires" (with great underlying keyboards) and the somber closer "The Ice Is Getting Thinner". But honestly, there isn't a single weak track as such on here. The songs are sequenced perfectly and it all flows from one to the next. Chris Walla's production is perfectly in tune with Ben Gibbard's slightly darker than usual songs. A terrific album all around (and right up there with 2003's "Transatlanticism", in my opinion).

I had seen DCFC in concert before, but when I saw them at Coachella in late April, the entire band played with a vigor and passion I hadn't seen before. They played quite a few of the new songs (including "I Will Possess Your Heart", which I'm guessing is Nick's (the bass player) favorite new song, but also "Grapevine Fires"), and also bringing a couple of classics such as "Sound of Settling". In all DCFC's set was one of the more memorable of the entire Coachella festival for me. Can't wait to see them again in concert. Meanwhile "Narrow Stairs" is highly recommended!

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Synchronicity : by Police

When a band releases its biggest selling record, it usually capitalizes on that success by rehashing the same formula on its next several albums. This didn't happen with the Police. In 1983, the trio released "Synchronicity," a record that not only sold millions but it spent more weeks at Number One than any other album in that year, including Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Fans, myself included, clamored for a followup album, but the Police decided to call it quits while they were still on top. How many groups today would do such a thing? Anyway, "Synchronicity" is a fine album that shows a more confident and self-assured band delivering its most accessible work at the time. "Every Breath You Take" will probably go down as the most misunderstood and misinterpreted pop song of the 1980s, especially considering that it's still being played at senior proms and weddings. Thanks to Sting's passionate lyrics, it's often been mistaken for a love ballad when it's actually a song told from the mind of an obsessive stalker (Every breath you take/ every move you make/. . . I'll be watching you). Other strong points include the tribal rhythms of "Walking in Your Footsteps," the subtle jazz-rock touches of "Oh My God," and the absolutely nutty "Mother," in which guitarist Andy Summers sings vocals. But "Synchronicity" gets its money's worth for the lovely "Tea in the Sahara." This song was the closing track of the original LP version, but on the CD/cassette versions it's followed by the jazzy "Murder By Numbers." In my mind, it hurts the sequencing a bit, and it was better off as a b-side as was originally intended. "Synchronicity" is one of the best albums of the 1980s, but I hesitate to give it 5 stars because it lacks some of the raw edge of the group's finer recordings like "Zenyatta Mondatta" and "Ghost in the Machine." Still, it's one of the essential records to own and has lost none of its luster after 20 years.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Picaresque : by The Decemberists

The cover of the Decemberists' new release is the first hint of what to expect: a literate yet melodramatic set of songs, done with an unusual musical blend of British folk-rock and old-style musical theater. Colin Meloy hasn't shaken his penchant for writing songs about doomed and tortured souls. "We Both Go Down Together," for instance, is a rather upbeat tune about two lovers' suicide. And then there's "The Mariner's Revenge Song", a sea-shanty epic that reminds us in a colorful way how revenge is a dish best served cold. No one has really done music like this since Steeleye Span, and The Decemberists have definitely created a unique sound in carrying on this kind of musical tradition. They're obviously not for everyone, but anyone who enjoys rich, dramatic storytelling in the style of the old English ballads, will enjoy this CD.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Sublime [Explicit] : by Sublime

I'm really sorry I didn't buy this album sooner. I heard "Wrong Way" on one of my co-worker's PC's at work and I had to ask him, "who is this band?" So I bought the album and I immediately zoned in on "Garden Grove", "What I Got", "Wrong Way", "April 26, 1992", "Santeria" and "Caress Me Down". But now I like the whole album, even my least favorite song (only because one has to be!) which is "Paddle Out" has fantastic Drums. Don't call this stuff "Frat-Boy" rock... that's The Offspring - who I like too, but Sublime is probably the best album I've heard in ten years, I've been playing this alot for the past six months and I was afraid I'd tire of it but that hasn't happened yet and that's the mark of a great album. When I heard that their lead man Bradley Nowell od'd on heroin a long time ago I couldn't believe I had missed this band, that's the problem with being old. I think it's a tragedy he's gone, but maybe it means he really did make and sing this music from the street which had been his home - at least we still have the music. If you don't have this album GET IT and really listen to it! This might be one of the best albums you can find that's been produced in the past decade.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Detours : by Sheryl Crows

If 2002's sun-drenched "Come On, Come On" found a nail-biting Sheryl Crow unsure of her position as pop tunesmith or serious singer/songwriter, 2005's "Wildflower" - her "art" record as she dubbed it - certified she could straddle the line without compromise.

She continues that progression with the aptly-titled "Detours," sifting through a myriad of topics like her breast cancer battle, broken engagement to Lance Armstrong and adoption of a baby boy. She may have been sidetracked, but she embraces the rhythm of life, an artist true to form.

Crow reunites with Bill Bottrell, producer of her 1993 debut "Tuesday Night Music Club," and the results are compelling and thoroughly listenable. Lo-fi opener "God Bless This Mess" is wall-to-wall Crow, reiterating the song's title line despite hazy post 9/11 life, while the jaunty radio-ready rock of the futuristic blue-collar anthem "Gasoline" and bouncy single "Love Is Free" keep the pace.

She bares her soul on "Make It Go Away (Radiation Song)" and delivers a high-octane rocker in the politically conscious "Shine Over Babylon," but the revelatory title track and cheery, swashbuckling "Out of Our Heads" keep the colors from running too dark.

In spite of life's hardships she finds comfort in "Peace Be Upon Us" and the gorgeous "Love Is All There Is" without a trace of sap left on her fingers, while perfect closer "Lullaby For Wyatt" finds Crow fully aware of the trials of motherhood as she tenderly croons "you're mine...for a time."

Crow is a rare flower of a talent in an entertainment industry full of weeds and flash-in-the-pans, but she is not fragile. Transforming the personal into the universal, she has the rare power to make listeners consider not just themselves but the ambiguous world they live in and keep things entertaining and fresh all the while.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Birth Of The Cool (Rudy Van Gelder Edition) : by Miles Davis

This album not only put Miles Davis on the map, it started a whole new style of jazz music. Miles worked with Gil Evans on this 1949 project and the results were pure magic. The supporting cast of musicians are a nice group too. He even had french horn players (Junior Collins on one session, Sandy Goldstein on another and Gunther Schuller). Most of the musicians Miles worked with on this album were white, because those were the only people he could get hired at the time. Of these musicians, Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone) and Kai Winding (trombone) all shine the most. Tracks like "Move" showcase the band's chemistry and innovative, playful harmonies. This song was originally recorded as a bebop tune, but Miles and company give it a little bit more of a cool, swinging style. "Jeru" is the ultimate definition of cool jazz. This Gerry Mulligan composition shows off Miles and Gerry's soloing abilities. It also has a nice theme and some good ensemble playing. "Moon Dreams" is kind of like a musical "still life", this ballad is played with a slow seriousness that makes it a classic. The ensemble playing here is beautiful. "Venus De Milo" is another Mulligan composition and has a somewhat laid-back latin feel. I like this tune because it just sounds nice to sit back and listen to. "Budo" is a classic Bud Powell tune, while this track only lasts about two and a half minutes, it's a classic instantly. The ensemble playing is very energetic and Miles, Lee Konitz and Kai Winding all take great solos. This tune was also recorded by Miles around the time of the 'Round About Midnight sessions. "Deception" is a track that Miles is given credit for writing but it's really another track called "Conception", that Miles recorded later on in the Dig session of 1951. It's a nice tune, with a kind of tension-building theme sequence, along with a nice solo from Miles. "Godchild" has a great theme because all the lower instruments play it making it a fun, playful track. Once again, Miles plays a nice solo and Kai Winding takes a good trombone solo as well. "Boplicity" has credit given to Miles Davis's mom, although she didn't actually write the piece, Miles and Gil Evans did. "Boplicity" is a masterful cool composition and has been recorded many times by other musicians. Gerry Mulligan starts it off with a great sax solo and Miles leads in with the group and then playing a good solo. Other tracks like "Rocker" and "Israel" were very influential in structure and composition, along with John Lewis's "Rouge", which has string bass played and is a very fun and amusing piece. The album ends with the Kenny Hagood vocal feature "Darn That Dream", which is a slow piece that wasn't recorded until 1950 (along with a couple other tracks from the "late" sessions). Hagood's vocal is cool, and Miles plays an outstanding solo in the middle of the piece. The band backs the vocal very well ending the album nicely.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Rumours : by Fleetwood Mac

As countless people before me have written and said, this is undeniably one of the greatest albums put out by any rock band--ever. I played it endlessly when I was in junior high--so much so I practically wore the grooves off the record! I got the CD early on and after so many years in my CD collection this remains one of my favorites.

Yes, the band was going through some tough times when they produced this music--and maybe that DID help them to produce such a great set of songs here. However, despite all their internal struggles, you'd just never know of it by simply listening to the songs, the overall smooth flow of the song set, and the electricity and energy of the songs and the way they are performed. The CD boasts numerous classic rock songs such as Christine McVie's "Don't Stop;" Stevie Nicks' "Dreams;" Lindsey Buckingham's "Go Your Own Way;" a song written by the band called "The Chain;" and a song I always liked personally, "Second Hand News" by Lindsey Buckingham.

The quality of the sound is excellent, even after all these years of playing this CD on several different CD players. I love the way the liner notes are so nicely done. You get great photos of the band and the lyrics are there along with the song credits.

This CD remains-and will remain-as timeless as the best of the best of the rock CDs. The songs deal with relationships between lovers as well as the entire range of emotions that come about when people are in love, together or be it unrequited. Indeed, Q magazine included this album as one of the "Best Relationship Albums Of All Time." When you listen to this album and the incredibly thoughtful way with which the songs are performed it will truly touch a nerve in you!

This CD is highly recommended for fans of rock, pop, and classic rock. If you fit into one of these fan groups, as I certainly do myself, you can't go wrong with this CD.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Consolers Of The Lonely : by The Raconteurs

Jack White is so influential and popular right now that when he tells the record company that he wants this album released on a certain date or else he is going elsewhere...it happens!

Sometimes a rushed release date has its drawbacks such as mistakes in the packaging or poor sound quality. However, this album is superb in every way! The album artwork is cool with the retro photograph, the sound quality is great (the opening guitar sounds massive), and the songs are all well written and recorded.

I cannot top the other reviews here going into a whole lot of detail on the songs etc, but I have listened to the album all the way through at least 4 times. It is a little more rockin' than the first release. The guitars sound great (probably recorded really raw with an old tube amp and a microphone). It is a great album! If you like The White Stripes or The Raconteurs 1st album, then pick this one up...you won't be disappointed!

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Rocket To Russia : by Ramones

ROCKET TO RUSSIA was released in mid-1977, at the height of the fury that was known as Punk Rock. Sire Records was gearing up for some serious sales and betting a lot on the Ramones. It's no wonder, then, that the album has the band's cleanest, leanest, most accessible sound, refined to defiant, power-chorded perfection. It contains many of their classics, and every song is a finely crafted pop-rock gem. Here's a bit of poetry from "We're a Happy Family":

"Sitting here in Queens/ Eating refried beans/ We're in all the magazines/ Gulping down Thorazines/ I'm friends with the president/ I'm friends with the pope/ We're al making a fortune/ Selling daddy's dope"

How can any rock lover resist the obvious, sugary-yet-substantial charms of "Rockaway Beach," "Do You Wanna Dance," "Cretin Hop," "Locket Love"? (Well, apparently lots of "rock lovers" did just that, too busy buying up all that Kiss and Grand Funk Railroad and Fleetwood Mac swill in 1977). There's the nihilist's anthemic "I Don't Care," a punk dirge in which Joey declares "I don't care about this world/And I don't care about these words." "Ramona" is a bittersweet confection with a lovely melody.

And then there's the song that I consider to be the most perfect pop song ever written, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker." An ode to free spirits everywhere, to New York City, and to the power of identity that the best rock'n'roll provides, "Sheena" is everything that makes the Ramones great in 2 minutes and 47 seconds:

"Well, the kids are all hopped up and ready to go/ They got their surfboards and they're heading/ to the Discotheque a Go-Go/ But she just couldn't stay/ She had to break away/ Well New York City really has it all Oh yea-ah, oh yeah!"

Second verse, same as the first. A put-the-top-down, fist-in-the-air, sing-along radio-friendly classic if ever there was one. However, when it was released as a single, radio stations took one look at the phrase "punk rocker" and recoiled in fear. Really. It's funny to think today that that phrase once struck horror into the stoutest of record company hearts, but it's true. Ah well, surely the less-threatening sounding "Rockaway Beach," with its Beach Boys-go-garage vibe and unforgettable chorus ("Rock-rock, Rockaway Beach/It's not hard, not far to reach/ We can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach") would leap to the top of the charts and ensconce the Ramones in the nation's warm bosom.

Except that this sunny, funny, delightful little ditty was released in the dead of winter. And it died. And that was it. The Ramones stopped cold. Despite relentless touring, the spectacle of Punk Rock was a dangerous one, and any band associated with it was thrown out with the bathwater. Plus, audiences outside of New York City's Lower East Side just couldn't get with four geeky-looking guys in motorcycle jackets, Captain America T-shirts two sizes too small and ripped-up blue jeans--not when there was John Travolta looking so suave and so dapper in his disco get-up!

The remastered version of this classic is beyond reproach--a booklet filled with photos I hadn't seen before and commentary by the illustrious Legs McNeil ("I mean, have you ever been to Rockaway Beach?" he writes. "The place is a sewer!"). Plus full lyrics, original record sleeve cartoons by John Holmstrom, and a nice little P.S. from Arturo Vega. The bonus songs are top-notch: the masterful "Slug" (this is a demo?!) and a slightly different version of "It's a Long Way Back to Germany" than the one on Road to Ruin. These are easily some of the finest re-issues on the market today--too bad Columbia didn't do the same when they redid the Clash catalogue last year.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Barry White's Greatest Hits: by Barry White

I don't think that there's someone who doesn't know one of Barry's songs. He's voice was incredible, the lyrics fantastic and the rythms amazing.
This collection includes his best best songs until 1975. You'll find here classics like the #2 "What I'm gonna do with you", the #1 "I'm gonna love you just a little more", the 1974 #1 hit "Can't get enough from your love" that actually returned to the Top 20 in 1993 performed by Taylor Dayne. Another song that was also covered was "Never, never gonna give up". The song was covered in 1997 by one of the most important singers in the U.K, the great Lisa Stansfield. The song made it to #3 in the U.K (performed by Lisa) and Barry took it to #1 in 1973 in the U.S.
My personal favorite song is the #2 "You're the first, the last, my everthing" the song is simply incredible.
This Greatest Hits version has been certified Multi-Platinum in the U.S and even though Barry recorded more albums in the 80's and 90's this one conteins the essencial.

- Bestsellers in MP3 Downloads - Viva La Vida Or Dbyeath And All His Friends : by Coldplay

Coldplay has turned in another solid effort with its 4th studio album, the indecisively-titled "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," but they expand their boundaries this time. Gone is the predictability of tightly-wound, highly catchy 4 minute arena pop/rock anthems marching in succession, not to mention the sensitive male singer/songwriter clichés and often dial-by-numbers production values. The British quartet has traded that solid but stagnant formula for artsy experimentation, and the results are commendable, even if their enlisting legendary studio wizard Brian Eno to bolster the LP's ethereal, left-field sound is in and of itself predictable. These songs do not lend themselves to radio playlists in the vein of "Clocks" or "Talk," but the album is their most intriguing and memorable. The results are a little less Phil Collins, a little more Peter Gabriel.

The highly digitized, nearly instrumental "Life In Technicolor" opens the album on a high note with sweeping Middle-Eastern instrumentation and loopy, buoyant beats. Immediately ascertainable is that this is not an album that can safely grace the intercom of the local ShopRite. With hand claps and frothy production values behind a droning, funereal organ, "Lost!" is a poignant, yearning ode to finding salvation and a new lease on life. Accented by just the right amount of electric guitar, the intriguing, atypical track not only rocks and invigorates but finds these talented musicians trying for something new and succeeding, underscoring the album's unexpectedly adventurous direction.

With its soul-searching sentiments and sizzling melody, chugging lead single "Viva La Vida" is the only track that oozes mainstream appeal with its sweeping, gorgeously evocative melody that has landed it at #1 on the Billboard pop charts. In that light, it is classic Coldplay and, amazingly, their first Top 5 hit. Even alternate lead single "Violet Hill," a Top 40 hit, defies radio programmers with its mercurial tempo and deep, adventurous lyrics. Singer Chris Martin, however, has never sounded more confident in his delivery, and the band's playing skills have never been demonstrated so impressively in-studio. These four guys sound truly in-sync, and rather than burying their sound Eno smartly accentuates it, bringing out the essence of the songs.

- Don't Stop Believin' (Album Version) : by Journey

Details

* Original Release Date: November 15, 1988
* Label: Columbia/Legacy
* Copyright: (P) 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1996, 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
* Song Length: 4:09 minutes
* Genres: Hard Rock & Metal/General, Pop/Soft Rock, Pop/General, Classic Rock/Album-Oriented Rock (AOR), Classic Rock/General, Classic Rock/Arena Rock, Rock/General, Pop

- Shadow Of The Day (Album Version) : by Linkin Park

First time I heard this song I thought it was from some electronic band, like Daft Punk. I'm still not fully convinced it's Linkin Park, since I like it. The simple bass line and muted background vocals give it a haunting quality (and yes, it's to the same rhythm as 'With or Without You', as approximately 1,000 rock songs are).

- Addicted [Explicit] : by Saving Abel

Details

* Original Release Date: March 11, 2008
* Release Date: March 11, 2008
* Label: VIRGIN
* Copyright: (C) 2008 Virgin Records America, Inc.
* Song Length: 3:42 minutes
* Genres: Classic Rock, Classic Rock/General
* Format: Explicit Lyrics

_________________________________________________________________________________

SONG LYRIC - Addicted (by Saving Abel)

I’m so addicted to all the things you do
When you’re going down on me in between the sheets
All the sounds you make with every breath you take
It’s not like anything when you’re loving me

Oh girl lets take it slow
So as for you well you know where to go
I want to take my love and hate you till the end

It’s not like you to turn away
From all the bullshit i cant take
It’s not like me to walk away

I’m so addicted too all the things
You do when you’re going down on me
In between the sheets
all the sounds you make
with every breathe you take
It’s not like anything
when you’re loving me
Yeach

I know it was getting rough
all the times we spend
when we try to make
this love something better than
just making love again

Its not like you to turn away
all the bullshit I cant take
just when I think I can walk away,

I’m so addicted to all the things
you do when you’re going down on me
in between the sheets
all the sounds you make
with every breathe
It’s not like anything

I’m so addicted to the things you do
when you’re going down on me
all the sounds you make with every breath you take
It’s not like anything when you’re loving me
yeach
when you’re loving me

I can not make it through
all the things you do
theres just got to be more than you and me

I’m so addicted too all the things you do
when you’re going down on me
in between the sheets
all the sounds you make with every breath you take
It’s not like anything
It’s not like anything

I’m so addicted too
all the things you do
when you’re going down on me

All the sounds you make with every breath
you take its not like anything
I’m so addicted to you
addicted to you

- Tattoo (Main Version)

For those who've won American Idol after Kelly Clarkson did back in 2002, they've had a much harder time of making their own staples in the music industry. For last years victor, Jordin Sparks, she has shown some growth with her debut single Tattoo. The song is a ballad that is fair, but doesn't really show that she stands out unlike past victors like Carrie Underwood did with Before He Cheats. The song isn't a bad one to listen to from Jordin, but she hasn't shown that she stands out completely from the other former contenders. I just hope that the next song she makes is better, and not something that is completely to leave on the tattoo.

- I'm Yours (Album Version)

- You're Gonna Miss This : by Trace Adkins

This song impresses me very much. I Love Trace Adkins! This song is one of his songs that made me cry. It is a true life story and it just touched my heart!! I chose to purchase this song on MP3 after hearing Trace Adkins sing it at the Grand Ole Opry a couple of weeks ago. I love the song!

- Bohemian Rhapsody ; by Queen

Queen dared go where few bands ever would dare and for the most part they pulled it off. Bohemian Rhapsody Was their best ever. It is a Rock Opera Before anybody knew what that meant.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

- Good Time : by Alan Jackson

I prefer his up beat songs to his slower songs and I think this one is typical Alan Jackson style. With that being said, it should hit the charts and climb quickly, if radio gives it any airtime.Alan Jackson's Good Time has a very familiar sound to it and it should be a hit. I have always prefered his more up tempo songs to the ballads.

- American Boy [Feat. Kanye West] (Amended Version)

When it comes down to this past year, we really haven't heard much with a good style of R&B from overseas. While so much of the latest Soul songs have been feeling mostly flimsy from newcomers like American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and even legendary divas like Mariah Carey, there really is a whole lot more that could sound better. For newcomer Estelle, she really has shown that she has a dominant beat from Londowntown in the U.K.. Her debut single, American Boy from her first album Shine. The song is a very strong collaboration with rapper Kayne West and captures the R&B beat that I haven't heard as well as when I've heard from since The Brand New Heavies back in the 90's. The song is really one of those hidden surprises out there that radio hasn't yet picked up in America. I really hope audiences give Estelle a warm welcome, and I hope she makes really good songs for years to come.

- We Rock

Details

* Original Release Date: June 17, 2008
* Release Date: June 17, 2008
* Label: Walt Disney
* Copyright: (C) 2008 Disney
* Song Length: 3:10 minutes
* Genres: Soundtracks, Soundtracks/General

- I'm Yours (Album Version) ; by Jason Mraz

"I'm Yours" has long been a favorite song of mine from Jason Mraz, a fabulous musical artist, ever since I first heard him sing it in concert in 2005. It has gotten a lot of recognition on the internet and has been a favorite with many others, and now it is finally going to be a single.

This recording is a good one, including the trademarks of a Mraz song that endears his music to his devoted fans. It also has a lot of potential to catch the attention of those who aren't so familiar with him yet.

A great song to listen to at any time, and a surefire way to cheer up if you're feeling down.
I absolutely LOVE MRAZ. I have since the very beginning of his musical journey on the airwaves. He's amazing, and not just because he has a great voice, a kool name, nice beats, and an appreciation for his musical elders, but because he is just SO UNIQUE. This guy is awesome, he grabs you and keeps up the folky funky rythym and ryhme until the end. I absolutely have worn out my Waiting For My Rocket To Come CD, so it's about time for this new one!
Mraz keep on funking, and if anyone is a hater it's just cuz they don't get it. Think outside the box, forget aout the 'rules' of the pathetic culture, it's about living and loving, and music is a big part of that.
Peace Out!!

- When I Grow Up

Details:
# Original Release Date: July 15, 2008
# Release Date: May 27, 2008
# Label: Pussycat Dolls
# Copyright: (C) 2008 Pussycat Dolls, LLC
# Song Length: 4:05 minutes
# Genres: Pop/General, Pop

- New Soul

I feel happy when I listen to this song. Isent that what music is about? making the person who is listening to the music to 'feel' something? Israeli-French singer Yael Naim is a relative newcomer to the music scene. She got her big break with this song,"New Soul" through the Mac Book ad. The excerpt all about "learning to give and take" struck me as slightly sappy,especially the "I'm a new soul",and the vocals struck me as breathy. However,any music lover should know that first impressions aren't everything.

"New Soul" is a spiritual&uplifting song. It's about embracing life&being willing to make mistakes. "New Soul" is inspirational. It's a refreshing change from the current trends in music (hip-hop as well as the prefab pop of High School Musical) Yael Naim is a promising new talent. With its mixture of klezmer,folk rock&trip-hop,"New Soul" breathes new life into current pop.

- Damaged (Album Version) ; by Danity Kane

Details:
# Original Release Date: March 18, 2008
# Label: Bad Boy Records
# Copyright: 2008 Bad Boy Records LLC. Manufactured and Distributed by Atlantic Recording Corporation, A Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
# Song Length: 4:09 minutes
# Genres: Pop/General, R&B/General, Pop

By Danity Kane. Im not too fond of reality show put together groups. Especially when diddy, sean John or whatever he chooses to call himself is involved. I love this song tho.

Friday, June 27, 2008

- Love In This Club (Main Version)

Usher is indeed coming back.
This song makes you think, "Welcome back."
It's catchy, it'll be a hit in the club but it's no 5-star song.
Believe that.
The beginning, "And I promise I'm gonna keep it comin' all night lo o o o o o o o ong." is the best part in the song.
But the song gets repetitive.
But the lyrics are fun.
It's better than Yeah.
It's extremely radio-friendly.
Good luck, Ush!

- Take A Bow

This song reminds me of Beyonce's "Irreplaceable". Rihanna's vocal range isn't as good as her previous singles, also the chorus isn't that memorable. This will be another hit for Rihanna, but in 5 years, we'll remember "Irreplaceable" not "Take a Bow".

- Mercy

There honestly has not really a lot of great music that has came out this past year, which is very sad. It is just surprising that artists from the U.K. have really shown their stuff even better than American acts. That has shown well from newcomers Estelle, Leona Lewis, and that could also be shown with newcomer Duffy. Her debut single Mercy really brings in a classic distinctive rhythm of classic 60's Blues and Soul, which is something we haven't heard on radio in awhile. The song isn't a bad song at all, but I just wish though that she could've brought in a little more grit into her voice on the song. Thankfully, though she does have a strong attitude on the song. I really hope she comes out with better material with her career.

- Play My Music

Details:

* Original Release Date: June 17, 2008
* Release Date: June 17, 2008
* Label: Walt Disney
* Copyright: (C) 2008 Disney
* Song Length: 3:17 minutes
* Genres: Soundtracks, Soundtracks/General

- Carlin on Campus [Explicit]

If your a George Carlin fan then you have got to get this one. Irreverent as ever and about as UNpolitically correct as you can get. This isn't one for the little kiddies or those people that are easy to take offence. If you like the one about the Seven Words That You Can't Say On Television you will love the ending of this one. He adds to that list considerably.
This is a "Must Have" for those of us that like to listen to very funny stuff while driving to keep from having road rage, or just to make other people wonder what your laughing at. I have found that it works pretty well at that too when I'm listening to it on my iPod while walking down the River Walk.

- Last Name

Details:
# Original Release Date: October 23, 2007
# Label: Arista
# Copyright: (P) 2007 19 Recordings Limited
# Song Length: 4:03 minutes
# Genres: Country/General, Country/Bluegrass, Pop/General, Country/Contemporary Country, Pop

- Life In A Northern Town

Details:
# Original Release Date: June 24, 2008
# Release Date: June 24, 2008
# Label: Mercury Nashville
# Copyright: (C) 2008 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
# Song Length: 4:15 minutes
# Genres: Country/General, Country

- Love Song (Album Version) : by Sara Bareilles From the Album Little Voice

Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" is a refreshing change- from its electrifying opening piano chords to her lyrics about a dysfunctional relationship. It's irresistible. It swings. It's not the usual "Love Song" despite the title. It's a cry against manufactured emotions (Bareilles is definitely taking on the prefab pop world) It's also a battle cry against manipulation in relationships. For a deep subject, Bareilles tackles it deftly&beautifully. "Love Song" isn't the usual old-fashioned love song. It captures your attention. It's raw&personal. It's a "love song" you'll love!

- This Is Me

Details
# Original Release Date: June 17, 2008
# Release Date: June 17, 2008
# Label: Walt Disney
# Copyright: (C) 2008 Disney
# Song Length: 3:09 minutes
# Genres: Soundtracks, Soundtracks/General