Love On The Inside

The cover of Life in a Northern Town gives me chills, it is so laced with passion and intensity! Love the Matt Nathanson Come on Get Higher cover that is on it too, it is positivly smothered with sensuality! Makes me think of old love one second, and the pureness of new love the next! I play these two songs over and over, and though I love the CD-all of it...these two songs-I love!

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

In the big-screen version of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's popular young adult novel, two high-school seniors fall in love over the course of one eventful evening. A straight bass player in a queercore band, Nick (Juno's Michael Cera) has just been dumped by the two-timing Tris (Alexis Dziena).

He's committed to making more self-pitying mix CDs until his bandmates convince him to help track down a top-secret rock concert. Meanwhile, Norah (Charlie Bartlett's Kat Dennings) and her hard-partying pal, Caroline (Ari Graynor), set off on the same journey. Nora had never met Nick, but she already had a crush on him (While attending the same school as Tris, she's been enjoying the mixes Nick keeps making--and Tris keeps throwing away). When the inebriated Caroline goes missing, they spend the rest of the night racing around the Lower East Side in his Yugo looking for the friend, the show, and trying to avoid Tris (Norah's ex-boyfriend, Tal (Tropic Thunder's Jay Baruchel), presents further complications). Peter Sollett's follow-up to Raising Victor Vargas aims to please several audiences at once. It starts out like a less dirty-minded Superbad, morphs into a post-millennial After Hours, and ends as a Big Apple take on Before Sunset. It's sweet and funny, but could use more of its own identity, though Cera and Dennings make for an appealing couple and the supporting performers, especially Graynor and Kevin Corrigan in a wordless cameo, enhance the proceedings considerably. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Beautiful Voice of Regina Ivanova - Someone Like You-Indonesian Idol 2012 -

Regina has amazing voice. Her voice is really beautiful.

"Someone Like You"

I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA ...

Nobody's Daughter [Explicit]

Wow. Who expected this? We all know the back story of Courtney Love. Her personal life has long overshadowed any musical effort that she has put out. And in her own words, she has spent more time being a "celebrity" than an actual musician in the past 10 years. After years of tabloid scandals, celebrity feuds and gossip, even the most hardcore fan could be forgiven for thinking this was going to be an absolute disaster. But it's not. In fact, this is a great record...actually, scratch that. The fact that this was made at all makes this a phenomenal record.

Glee: The Music, Volume 1

All in all, this CD confounds expectations with it's contradictory flair, as does the show...it should be THE uncoolest thing out there...a glee club performing songs by uncool people like Journey, REO Speedwagon, Broadway tunes, hiphop/R&B, and more...

But it's COOL!!!

The way the songs are rearranged and reimagined, the kids (and teacher, etc) can all really sing, the context is about underdogs, the writing is sharp as a knife, and you care about the characters...it's an unexpected, exciting, odd, and brilliant treat. The real surprise is how well the songs and performances hold up as a CD, outside of the show...and yes, get the Target edition for 3 great bonus tracks...I met the kids too, and they're all really nice, good kids...but the main 2 girls (Lea Michele who plays Rachel, and Dianna Agron who plays Quinn) are stunningly (as they say in the UK) "fit" in person. Here's the breakdown of the CD:

1- "Don't Stop Believin'" (Rachel & Finn, the Journey song from 1981, nice arrangement with the accappella opening...it works!!)

2- "Can't Fight This Feeling" (Finn, the REO Speedwagon #1 ballad from 1984, it's given a fresh acoustic guitar treatment and imperfect but tender reading that gives it new life)

3- "Gold Digger" (Will and featuring Mercedes, the Kanye West(?!) song that's sorta like the teacher trying to be "hip" and "up-to-date", but it actually works and is as good as the original...Amber Riley's booming Martha Wash-like vocals add flavour)

4- "Take A Bow" (Rachel, the Rihanna song which works in context of the show and this CD, and Lea sings it with real emotion...I like it better than the original!!)

5- "Bust Your Windows" (Mercedes, the Jazmine Sullivan song which works perfectly with Amber's booming soul vocals, which are on par with Jennifer Hudson & Martha Wash...I like it as much as the original)

6- "Taking Chances" (Rachel, the Platinum Weird song...you're like WHO?? PW was a fictional band with Eurythmic Dave Stewart, but the vocals were by Kara DioGuardi...yep, the American Idol judge...and those 2 wrote this song...their album was almost "released" in 1974 but got shelved, and that actually came out in 2006...they also did a "new" 2006 album, which DID get shelved but got packaged at the last minute with ONLY BestBuy's edition..."Taking Chances" is on that BestBuy CD only...this project was botched basically, and Kara & Dave gave this song to Celine Dion for her album of the same name from 2007/2008...Celine is now only known for this song, not Kara...the original KILLS, Celine's not as great and an identical arrangement...LEA's version here is BETTER than Celine's and as great as the PW version...similar arrangement too...I guess best not to change it at all.)

7- "Alone" (Will & April, the Steinberg/Kelly song that was a huge #1 hit cover for Heart in 1987...Heart's version is iconic, and it's never been a duet before, but it works...this blows all attempts on Idol...except for Alison Iraheta's career-making take...Kristen blows the roof off while Matt is ample support...the guitars are rawer here than on Heart's version...love it)

8- "Maybe This Time" (Rachel & April...the "Cabaret" song, in an iconic spot on "Glee", works excellently here...GREAT vocal dual by Kris & Lea and I love the jazzy arrangement)

9- "Somebody To Love" (Rachel, Finn, Mercedes & Artie...yep, the Queen song, and the cast's take is as great, or better, than George Michael's take...it comes mighty close, believe it or not, to Queen's original)

10- "Hate On Me" (Mercedes, the R&B/hiphop song, TI?!?, not sure, I don't follow mainstream hiphop/R&B really, but it's a decent track, better than the original, as I'd rather listen to this than seek out the original, and that's rare)

11- "No Air" (Rachel & Finn, a hit as a Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown duet, and it's as good as their version...JS/CB didn't write the song, so it was easy for Lea & Cory to match)

12- "You Keep Me Hangin On" (Quinn, the #1 hit Supremes classic, and Dianna pulls it off!!! The arrangement is close to the Supremes original, not Kim Wilde's 1987 #1 cover, but Dianna brings an innocence to her take, which meshes well with the lyrical defiance of the song...it works both in the cheerleader scene on the show and as a track on the CD...not easy...and I LOVE Lady Di's vocals...many think they're weak, but I disagree...I find her vocals charming)

13- "Keep Holding On" (Rachel & Finn, the Avril Lavigne power-ballad which works better on this CD and on the show than in Av's repertoire, I think)

14- "Bust A Move" (Will, see "Gold Digger", but his take on Young MC's memorable late 80s pop/rap classic works better than Kanye, as it showcases Matt's personality better, and the musical track is still just as fun, with the Glee-sters adding fun "you want It, you got it"...girls...and "Bust A Move!!"...guys...)

15- "Sweet Caroline" (Puck, the #1 Neil Diamond standard...on an unrelated note, this tribute to Caroline Kennedy and the Turtles' "Happy Together" are similar songs and the Glee-sters should do that song too...Mark does an AWESOMELY great take on this song, adding fresh energy to his great voice...he's like Neil Diamond mixed with Robbie Williams really...and I'm THRILLED the Glee-sters didn't add the annoying horn-line imitation "ba ba ba" on the chorus that they did on the show and fans of this song always do...but my one complaint is that this version is TOO SHORT!!!! It should have been 2 minutes longer...sorry, 1:58 is too short, it's inexcusable...I should loop it or something)

16- "Dancing With Myself" (Artie, the Billy Idol/Generation X new wave/punk classic, reimagined as a finger-snapping acoustic jazzy shuffler, and it really works...I at first found it annoying, but it was the biggest grower for me on the whole CD...go "Wheels"!!)

17- "Defying Gravity" (Kurt & Rachel, the song from "Wicked", sung originally solo by Long Islander Idina Menzel, and it IS a beautiful song, love it, and I was curious if Lea's vocals would be just as magical, and they are...predictably...if not more so, but the REAL surprise is Chris' BEAUTIFUL falsetto on this duet...like goosebump-worthy...he's worthy of complete adulation...I asked him at the signing when he will get his own song on the show, he said next week...this is the one, and people will be blown away, seriously...again, my one complaint is that the song's a bit too short...2:21, should have been a minute and a half longer)

TARGET BONUS TRACKS:
18- "I Wanna Sex You Up" (Will, the Color Me Badd song freom 1992...here is the ACAFELLAS version, and it's actually pretty cool on record...I never thought I'd love ANY take on this song, but this version's pretty sweet and cool...an achievement)

19- "I Could Have Danced All Night" (Emma, the one track sung by fave Jayma Mays, and she has an utterly sweet voice, not unlike Julie Andrews, and the song fits her like that wedding dress, but the track is, again, way too short...a minute and a half, are you kidding?? 1-2 more minutes please...I'm not into these too-short tracks)

20- "Leaving On A Jet Plane" (Will, the real surprise of the CD...this song hasn't been performed on the show yet, and I had no clue that Matt would be doing this utterly sweet take on this John Denver classic...the guy is better at doing these types of songs than silly rap numbers...being he arranged this himself, I wonder if he's also a songwriter and has put out records before...cuz he has talent...and if you listen to the lyrics, you wonder how it will play out in the show...if it's geared towards his sham of a wife or towards Emma...we shall see...but these 3 bonus tracks are reason enough to buy Target's edition)

The show "Glee" is brilliantly realized and original, this CD is so good and fun and stands apart from the show as a CD itself, which is quite rare, the singing is great, the arrangements are cool and creative, and it makes me anticipate more music and CDs to come...boxsets perhaps???

Love is the Answer (Deluxe Edition)

Taken as a whole, this album is stunning. But the revelation is DISC 2! I have been loving Barbra Streisand for ages. I remember when my mother first introduced me to the sound of her voice as a little girl. I was enthralled with the sheer beauty of it. There is such an unnerving assuredness to her vocals that you just can't be denied. She will always be one of the most superlative stylists when it comes to lyrical interpretation. She is just so marvelous at it that you just forget about how gifted she is with phrasing and just fall and wrap yourself in the lushness of her voice.

Disc 2 allows that pure lushness in her tone to shine. It doesn't have the swell of the orchestra, it is more paired down and her voice as we all know has aged marvelously. As she has aged, and we have as well, you're not only startled by its clarity but also by its richness of tone. When she sings the opening lines of "Here's to Life: No complaints and no regrets/I Still Believe in Chasing dreams and placing bets," you just know its experience she's drawing from.

The album works so well because as a loyal fan, or a newcomer, there is a pacing that builds up a relationship with the listener. A natural intimacy is achieved with DISC 2. Songs such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," and "Make Someone Happy," have an immediacy that can't go unacknowledged. Especially with "Make Someone Happy," the woman can still belt that is well known, but here she reigns it in, giving just enough to draw you in closer and closer but not fudging you on the context of the lyric; a lovely rendition.

A beautiful album from a beautiful, gifted legend.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Original soundtrack to the 2009 motion picture, the sequel to the enormously successful romantic teen vampire epic Twilight. Features tracks from Death Cab For Cutie, Thom Yorke, Anya Marina, The Killers, Muse, Bon Iver & St. Vincent, Sea Wolf, Editors and many others

Track Listings
1. Meet Me On the Equinox, Death Cab for Cutie
2. Friends, Band of Skulls
3. Hearing Damage, Thom Yorke
4. Possibility, Lykke Li
5. A White Demon Love Song, The Killers
6. Satellite Heart, Anya Marina
7. I Belong To You (New Moon Remix), Muse
8. Rosyln, Bon Iver & St. Vincent
9. Done All Wrong, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
10. Monsters, Hurricane Bells
11. The Violet Hour, Sea Wolf
12. Shooting the Moon, OK Go
13. Slow Life, Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand)
14. No Sound But the Wind, Editors
15. New Moon (The Meadow), Alexandre Desplat

The List

2009 album from Johnny Cash's enormously talented singing/songwriting daughter. The List features Rosanne's contemporary interpretations of songs from a list of essential Country songs passed on to her by her legendary father. Featuring duet partners Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright, and Jeff Tweedy. 12 tracks.

Rosanne Cash was my favorite "country" female vocalist during the 1980's with her brillant string of country/rock songs that seemed to hit number one on the country charts with every single release. She was as big any female star during this era and yet she had never really chased fame, she was just a singer-songwriter who happened to be damn popular. Then suddenly after a decade of enormous success things drastically changed in both Rosanne's personal and professional life; her divorce from Rodney Crowell (who produced her records) and a drastic shift in her music from pop-rock flavored mainstream country music to a brooding folk/rock. The critics applauded but to many of Rosanne's longtime fans, it was almost as if she had divorced us as well, her music was still thoughtful and well-crafted but it was it if she was pointedly making it for new audience in a new arena. Since 1990 she has released five of these albums, which have sold dramatically less than her country work, a genre she seemed eager to shake off at the time.

Certain things are in one's blood and soul, however, and being the daughter of Johnny Cash, country music will always be a part of her. In 1973 when she was a teenager, she accompanied Cash on one of his concert tours and the country legend was startled to learn how many legendary country songs his California-raised daughter was unfamiliar with. He sat down and compiled a list of the 100 greatest country songs ever written and encouraged Rosanne to seek them out. A few years ago, Rosanne found the old handwritten list and was inspired to record this album, THE LIST, her first collection of covers from songs that were named on the paper. From Jimmie Rodgers MISS THE MISSISSIPPI AND YOU to Hank Williams' TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART to Patsy Cline's SHE'S GOT YOU, Rosanne sounds completely as at home with this material as she is with her own songs. performing most of them in a stripped-down country-folk manner, often accompanied just by husband-producer John Leventhal on guitar. A few of the songs feature harmony singing from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and Rufus Wainwright but these are not conventional duets. Indeed, Rosanne gives new life to every track with these new arrangements from a bluesy cover of Hank Snow's I'M MOVIN' ON to a new spin on Ray Price's HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER. She turns Danny Gill and Marijohn Wilkin's unforgettable LONG BLACK VEIL (a 1950's hit for Lefty Frizzell) into the 19th century folk song many believe it is, complete with retaining the song's male first person telling, something rarely done in country music since some of Sara Carter's vocals back in the 1920's (Rosanne similarly sings Bob Dylan's "The Girl From North Country" as it was written for a male vocalist). There is a legitimate 19th century "traditional" folk song on the album, the ever haunting MOTHERLESS CHILDREN as well as one of the Carter Family's greatest songs, BURY ME BENEATH THE WILLOW.

In this album, Rosanne finds a brillant, seamless marriage between her pre and post 1990 work, one that should satisfy every one of her fans and surely win her many new admirers. Not doubt it's already starting to do this, having hit number one on Amazon.com's Best Sellers list of all CD's. This is a outstanding recording. I think it's the best album of Rosanne's career - to date. It certainly seems to be the opening of a new door in the career of this 54-year-old artist.

Rosanne has always been one of the finest female vocalists of any genre of the last several decades, yet here she proves she is able to brillantly intrepret legendary songs as well as her own original compositions. And to having her recording "country" again is like a dream come true for many of her most devoted admirers. Heck, you can even get this collection on Vinyl LP at Amazon!! Thomas Wolfe was somewhat incorrect; sometimes you can go home again.

Crazy Love by Michael Bublé

'Crazy Love', Michael Bublé's first CD in two and a half years, features two original songs along with his always original take on 11 standards from various eras. The multi-Grammy winning artist hunkered down in recording studios in LA, Brooklyn, New York and his hometown of Vancouver for the last six months to make his 'ultimate record about the inevitable roller coaster ride of relationships.'

The first single, 'Haven't Met You Yet,' written by Bublé (with Alan Chang and Amy Foster) is scheduled to be released to radio on August 31st. Additional tunes on the album include 'Cry Me A River,' 'You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You,' 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Baby (You've Got What It Takes)' which was performed with Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. The title song is a cover of the Van Morrison gem 'Crazy Love.' The CD closes out with a haunting version of 'Stardust' which is performed with the acapella group Naturally 7. The album was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica.
1. Cry Me A River
2. All Of Me
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. Crazy Love Listen
5. Haven't Met You Yet
6. All I Do Is Dream Of You
7. Hold On Listen
8. Heartache Tonight
9. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
10. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
11. At This Moment
12. Stardust
13. Whatever It Takes (bonus track)

Kelly Clarkson : Thankful

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

In the big-screen version of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's popular young adult novel, two high-school seniors fall in love over the course of one eventful evening. A straight bass player in a queercore band, Nick (Juno's Michael Cera) has just been dumped by the two-timing Tris (Alexis Dziena).

He's committed to making more self-pitying mix CDs until his bandmates convince him to help track down a top-secret rock concert. Meanwhile, Norah (Charlie Bartlett's Kat Dennings) and her hard-partying pal, Caroline (Ari Graynor), set off on the same journey. Nora had never met Nick, but she already had a crush on him (While attending the same school as Tris, she's been enjoying the mixes Nick keeps making--and Tris keeps throwing away). When the inebriated Caroline goes missing, they spend the rest of the night racing around the Lower East Side in his Yugo looking for the friend, the show, and trying to avoid Tris (Norah's ex-boyfriend, Tal (Tropic Thunder's Jay Baruchel), presents further complications). Peter Sollett's follow-up to Raising Victor Vargas aims to please several audiences at once. It starts out like a less dirty-minded Superbad, morphs into a post-millennial After Hours, and ends as a Big Apple take on Before Sunset. It's sweet and funny, but could use more of its own identity, though Cera and Dennings make for an appealing couple and the supporting performers, especially Graynor and Kevin Corrigan in a wordless cameo, enhance the proceedings considerably. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Fearless : Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan caught my ear for the first time when I heard the exceptional first single from FEARLESS, "Need U Bad". The voice for me resurrected Lauryn Hill, who is one of my very favorite singers. Jazmine possesses soul in every song that she sings on FEARLESS, whether it is contemporary R&B or full on neo-/retro- soul favoring say Amy Winehouse. Face it, Jazmine can blow! This exceptionally consistent debut album that will probably be underrated as far as commercial sales ultimately is one of my favorite urban releases of 2008. Jazmine has successfully blended a plethora of styles and maintained sultry alto vocals all in the mix. There isn't a "flat" or bad song on FEARLESS in my mind.

"Bust Your Windows" opens the album brilliantly given and old school vibe the Mark Ronson could've easily produced for an Amy Winehouse album. In fact, here I believe Sullivan somewhat tries to embody that Etta James, Winehouse sound with her "extravagant" vocals. She sounds killer here that for sure. On "Need U Bad", Missy, as much as I hate to say it, isn't necessary at all as far as appearing on the track (yes she helped to write that brilliant song). Jazmine sounds fantastic with the tropical inspired beat supporting her. With that aside though, the track still sounds as if it could've easily appeared on a 70s soul album. "My Foolish Heart" keeps the momentum going with its great production work and with Jazmine's phenomenal vocal performance. "Lions, Tigers & Bears" keeps up the pace putting production absent of drums behind Ms. Sullivan. The result is vintage soul.

"Call Me Guilty" is great also, while "One Night Stand" is absolutely one of the best of FEARLESS. "After The Hurricane" is one of the best R&B ballads I've heard for sometime, while "Dream Big" is vintage Missy Elliott songwriting genius. Sure, it's a big clunky compared to some of the tracks, but it is still "great". "Live A Lie" is also strong, mostly because it is one of those R&B tunes where it is "out there" as far as the music theory behind it (for all the music nerds like me). "Fear" floats on by, though it is the soulful "In Love With Another Man" that steals the who as perhaps the VERY best ballad of FEARLESS. "Switch!" ends the album on a soulful, 70s pop-inspired high note.

This is nearly the perfect debut. The production doesn't sound cheap, even if it does sound like say, an Usher album. This album lays very well and vocally, Sullivan is phenomenal. Fantastic home run for Sullivan!

Skeletal Lamping

Let me first say that if you were to put this cd in and play it from start to finish, you will really have no idea where the songs start and where they finish. Just when you think there's an "actual" song, it will completely change tempo and key for the last 50 seconds. Such is the way of the new album, and like it or not, "Georgie Fruit" is in full-effect.

If you weren't a fan of "Hissing Fauna..." then I'm not sure you'd be into this album, but it's still worth a listen.

My one major grip with the record is the opener. It starts out fine and dandy for 2:05 seconds, but then it turns into a mess of dissonant chords and pretty much just awful noise... which would be tolerable for about 15 seconds, but instead it continues and intensifies for a FULL THREE MINUTES! If anything, that should be saved for the last song on the disc, but instead they make a terrible decision to start of the album that way. If I wasn't already an Of Montreal fan, I would've shut off the album immediately and probably wouldn't go back, which is unfortunate as I would've missed a lot.

While the songs are scatterbrained, there are plenty of psych-pop hooks and overdubbed vocals sprinkled throughout to keep you entertained. The song Wicked Wisdom starts out nice and funky, and doesn't disappoint through all the in-song changes. Even when the track slows down, the dynamic shift is quite memorable.

My favorite track is "An Eluardian Instance", as I am a big fan of the 'Satanic Panic...' and 'Sunlandic Twins...' albums, and this is the closest they come to that sound on this album. Great track.

Other highlight tracks are "Gallery Piece", with its poppy yet daring vocal melody and "St. Exquisite's Confessions", which features some great lyrics against a nice soft and easy tempo.

There are a few other great tracks here besides what I mentioned, so it's definitely worth a buy!

Perfectly Clear: by by Jewel

Popular folk singer/songwriter Jewel tries something old for her new album, and comes up country fresh and honey sweet. The tracks are like Carrie Underwood channeling The Carpenters for a perfect blend of vintage country with pop and folk.

The lead single is "Stronger Woman", an anthem for women everywhere who are being taken for granted by the men in their lives. Her advice?

"I'm gonna love myself more than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can't see
A stronger woman in me"

She follows up with "I Do", which is a song about making a commitment to the person you love. I really like the clever lyrics, and chorus, "'Cause love is a game until it's played / And if it's lost, it can't ever be saved."

For some old-fashioned country violins and stuff, try "Love is a Garden" (a track with a little Shania Twain edge); "Anyone But You"; "Thump Thump" ; "'Til it Feels Like Cheating" (pure country); "Everything Reminds Me of You"; "Love By You (Cowboy Waltz)" (a bit of yodeling here) and "Perfectly Clear"

My son likes "Rosey and Mick", which has a chorus that reminds me of The Carpenters, and I also like "Two Become One" which is very familiar, but I can't recall the song it reminds me of right now. (Maybe "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny and Dolly, combined with "Love Doesn't Ask Why" by Celine Dion)

I prefer Jewel as a folk singer, but I appreciate her experimenting with a variety of styles. This is a very good country album by any standards.

Love On The Inside

The cover of Life in a Northern Town gives me chills, it is so laced with passion and intensity! Love the Matt Nathanson Come on Get Higher cover that is on it too, it is positivly smothered with sensuality! Makes me think of old love one second, and the pureness of new love the next! I play these two songs over and over, and though I love the CD-all of it...these two songs-I love!

Shakiras's Album : "Laundry Service"

Review: By Daniel Jolley "darkgenius"


71 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Forget coffee - Shakira is Colombia's greatest export, May 24, 2003
By Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Laundry Service (Audio CD)
I had never heard of Shakira before she released this cross-over English album, but it took less than a second for me to become a fan. I first encountered Shakira's name atop a list of most popular videos and wondered who in the world this performer was. The Whenever, Wherever video totally blew me away; I admit it took a couple of viewings for me to get past her beauty and all of those amazing little moves and shakes she has perfected, but pretty quickly I realized that the song in and of itself was addictive.

Soon I was watching both the English and Spanish videos of the song, eagerly awaiting the moment when a CD full of Shakira's music would find its way to my stereo. As someone not very familiar with Latin music, this album brings a whole new type of sound into my world, and my appreciation and interest in this style has grown immeasurably as a result of my buying this album. My respect for Shakira likewise grew in leaps and bounds as I learned more about her, such as the fact that at 24 she not only wrote or co-wrote all of these songs but also produced them, as well as the fact that she was already one of the most popular Latin singers in her part of the world.

There is a lot of variety to be found on this album; alongside traditional Latin stylings, Shakira incorporates elements of Spanish, Arabic, and even good old American rock and roll music, melding all of these influences into a sound that is uniquely her own. Laundry Services offers up nine English-language songs, two Spanish tracks, and the Spanish versions of her two biggest hits. Now I wish I hadn't forgotten all the Spanish I learned in college, but it really doesn't matter all that much. Listening to Shakira sing in her native language is mesmerizing and provides a much clearer example of her unstoppable musical talent. Her English songs are great, but clearly she is more comfortable singing in Spanish, and the opportunity to listen to two great songs in both of their versions can be pretty illuminating. Whenever, Wherever pulses with obvious pop appeal, and it alone certainly earned Shakira this particular fan; its Spanish-language version, Suerte, is even more enjoyable. Underneath Your Clothes is a nice ballad that offers up the softer side of Shakira but fails to communicate the immense talents she has at her disposal. Tengo is a song that may not appeal to everyone, but I think its strong tango introduction makes for a great beginning of this cross-over album; closing the album with the Spanish-language version of the song, Te Aviso, Te Anuncio, is an equally nice and symmetrical touch. The One is another excellent ballad, while The Fool is a song that I would definitely release as a single; these two songs rival Whenever, Wherever as the best tracks on the album. Poem to a Horse is a rocking little number that belies its rather timid-sounding title. I don't know what Shakira is saying in Te Dejo Madrid and Que Me Quedes Tu, but I certainly like how she is saying it. The one and only song that comes across as a little weak is Rules, but I would like to say for the record that I personally would have no problem following any rules that Shakira might require of me.

This album isn't perfect, and in some ways it is a fairly unusual crossover album. Shakira's newly-learned English is not perfectly understandable at times (but the liner notes do contain all of the song lyrics) but her voice always resonates the beauty and passion and incredible talent she carries inside her. The Spanish tracks serve an important dual purpose - assuring her long-time Latin music fans that she has not abandoned them for the US market and allowing people like me to get an understanding and develop an appreciation of the incredible Latin music we have been missing out on all these years. Shakira has it all as far as I'm concerned, a true musical artist with a commitment to her career and to her fans all over the world that will assure her success for many years to come.

The album of Shakira : "Oral Fixation Vol. 2"

Review : By R. Guardado "nicktony12"

This review is from: Oral Fixation Vol. 2 (Audio CD)
Oral Fixation V.2 is smart, creative, thoughtful, new, fresh, inspiring, daring, and breaks from the conventional mainstream pop sound. This album is not your one night stand plastic pop kind of album---it's really beyond entertainment for those who take the time to understand it. If you like dance music and carefree lyrics go to Madonna, Rihanna, Fergie, and yes Britney Spears. However, Shakira is something else--something above them in terms of actual meaning and art. This is directly due to the fact that Shakira is fully responsible for writing her own lyrics.

Therefore, it's not surprising that many don't like Shakira because of her unique and "new" take on the pop world. Yet, she continues to have millions of loyal fans that continue to support her and continue to show her that there are many out there who have discovered her beauty and this treasure called Oral Fixation V.2

Her lyrics are awesome but they are deep and full of hidden meaning.

1. How do you do? Is the first song in the album. It is a direct attack to the Catholic church. One of Shakira's memorable lines is :You've made mistakes/Well that's OK' cause we all have/But if I forgive yours/Will you forgive mine?

2. Illegal--is the 2nd song of the album. A memorable lyrics is: "You don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm sorry"/You said you would love me until you die/And as far as I kno you're still alive, baby/You don't even know the meaning of the words "I'm sorry."/I'm starting to believe it should be illegal to deceive a woman's heart."

3. Hips Don't Lie--I won't even go into this one. Everyone knows about this song.

4. Animal City---the most memorable lyric is "With you I feel safe/There's nothing to fear from us/Away from the fangs/The fangs of the world/I may be a coward but you are brave/And nothing seems so dangerous"

5. Don't BOther---there are several memorable lines but here my favorite "I'm sure she doesn't know/How to touch you like I would/I beat her at that one good/ Don't you think so?/She's almost 6 feet tal/She must think I'm a flea/ I'm really a cat you see/ And it's not my last life at all

6. The Day and the Time--The most memorable lyrics is "Well, we know/How empemeral life is/Disillusion takes what illusion gives/What's the use of make believe?/This is the day and the time/ I wanna believe that we may still have a chance/We took a leap in the dark/And I can see now/ How our shawdows have turn to light

7. The Day and the Time---"Once upon a time you and I/When we were dreaming easy/Fresh as limes and happy as a Sunday sky/There was nothing we could sell or buy/Cause all we really needed/Was our bare feet and a pair of wings to fly"

8. Hey You---"Hey you/Makin' an offer that/No one could ever refuse/Don't play the adamant/Don't be so arrogant/ Can't you see I've fallen for ya?

9. Your Embrace--"HOpe it isn't too late/To say 'I love you'/Hope it isn't too late to say/ That without you this place looks like London/It rains every day/Don't you know it, babe/I'm only half a body/Without your embrace"

I wanna go on but you get the picture. You will love this album. Just give it a chance.

Fate : by Dr. Dog

Review: By john hubner "hubner73"
If you're reading this, then you are familiar with Dr. Dog already, so please go buy this album. Buy several copies and pass them out to the uninitiated. Buy more copies and leave copies in your neighbors mailboxes. Buy even more and send them to our boys in Iraq, Afghanistan, and any other armpit of the world our soldiers may be. If you're new to Dr. Dog, please buy this album.

Then buy 'We All Belong', then buy 'Easy Beat'. And if you can, go see them live. This is an absolutely beautiful album. Army Of Ancients is like a conversation with a loved one long dead. Savoring every word, knowing at some point you will wake up and they will be gone. The Breeze, Hang On, and The Old Days come at you like an old photo album you thought was long lost in a fire years before. The Ark is like a lost Abbey Road song that Lennon/McCartney wrote in a alternate universe where they grew up in Philly instead of Liverpool...From first song to last, this is soul-cleansing music. Music only once heard in your dreams and in childhood memories that may or may not have happened...if music could save us, this would be that music...Dr. Dog, thank you!!!

Some Mad Hope

Review; By Matthew W. Paradise "nutmegs"
I had heard most of these songs from his concert and bootlegs, but unlike his last ...Fireworks CD these tracks are just as good as their live versions.

Make no mistake though, it's not because they sound the same. They sound totally different. A Matt show has all the great acoustic comforts of an intimate coffee shop, personal musical outpouring, accompanied with great crowd rapport and overall fun. This CD captures the essence of what makes those Matt live songs so great, takes it, refines it, shines it and purifies it, bottling it up in a nice package for us to consume at home, all without the loss of any of the elements that make his live songs so great. And the additives, while noticed, go well with the traditional raw Matt Nathanson flavor we've all come to to know, love and even get addicted to.

If you love acoustic coffee shop style heartfelt music, then you will love this CD. When you go to the concert and hear the songs live later on you will enjoy them even more.

I am thrilled that the production version came out so well.