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| CLASSICAL |
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| $16.98 |
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 |
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| Title: |
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Tone Poems |
| Label: |
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EMI Classics
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Composer:
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Antonin Dvorak |
| Performer: |
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Berlin Philharmoniker / Rattle |
| ISBN: |
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9786309520319 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309520318 |
| UPC: |
|
00724355801920 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDEMIC58019B |
| Cat.#: |
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5 58019 2 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Simon Rattle leads the Berlin Philharmonic in a thoroughly winning account of Dvorak's four famous programmatic works: The Noonday Witch, The Wood Dove, The Golden Spinning-Wheel and The Water-Goblin. It's nice that the label is offering this set at a two-for-one price, but given the program's total timing of 83 minutes, a makeweight piece or two would have been even nicer. No complaints about the quality of the performance or sound, though. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Treemonisha |
| Label: |
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Deutsche Grammophon
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Composer:
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Scott Joplin |
| Performer: |
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Original Cast Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists / Schuller |
| ISBN: |
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9786309470508 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309470507 |
| UPC: |
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00028947755906 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000458902 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0004589-02 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical/Ragtime |
| Release type: |
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Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
There's no one better than Gunther Schuller (the pioneer of jazz-classical fusion) to arrange and conduct this wonderful ragtime opera by Scott Joplin. If your library doesn't already own the earlier CD issue of this 1976 performance (which remains the only one commercially available), then snap up this budget-priced reissue. It would have been nice to have more extensive liner notes than the sketchy plot synopsis included here, and the sound is just a bit brittle, but it's still an essential purchase. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Sonatas for Piano & Violin |
| Label: |
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Philips
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Performer: |
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Mark Steinberg; Mitsuko Uchida |
| ISBN: |
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9786309172228 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309172220 |
| UPC: |
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00028947565628 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000411502 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0004115 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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I've always had kind of a hard time warming up to Mozart's rather idiosyncratic sonatas for piano and violin (not violin sonatas), but if anyone was going to help me out with that process, it would be violinist Mark Steinberg and the splendid Mozart pianist Mitsuko Uchida, who make a powerful argument for these works on modern instruments. I'm still not completely convinced that I love these pieces, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't purchase. Note, however, that this is a single disc featuring only four of the nine sonatas. Here's hoping for a second volume not too far down the road... (RA) |
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| $15.99 |
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| Title: |
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Complete String Quartets |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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Bela Bartok |
| Performer: |
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Vermeer Quartet |
| ISBN: |
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9786309346391 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309346393 |
| UPC: |
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00747313254323 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557543 |
| Cat.#: |
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8.557543-44 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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This is a fine, solid performance of Bartok's monumental string quartet cycle by one of America's most respected ensembles. It won't necessarily displace the magisterial recordings of the Tacazs or Vegh quartets, but at the very least it will make a respectable (and nicely priced) complement to them. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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A cappella |
| Label: |
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Telarc
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Robert Shaw Festival Singers; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus / Shaw |
| ISBN: |
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9786309507037 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309507036 |
| UPC: |
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00089408065620 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA80656 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD-80656 |
| Period: |
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Various |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is a nicely selected program of a capella choral works in a wide variety of styles, from the renaissance compositions of Victoria and Tallis through selections from Rachmaninoff's vespers and Arvo Part's Magnificat setting. Shaw's singers sound as rich and fruity as always, which works better with some pieces than others, but everything is really quite nice. Not essential, but recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Lute Concerto; Sonatas & Divertimentos |
| Label: |
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Profil
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Composer:
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Johann Kropfgans |
| Performer: |
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Galanterie |
| ISBN: |
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9786309506375 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309506374 |
| UPC: |
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00881488501223 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPFILPH05012 |
| Cat.#: |
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PH05012 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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These are obscure works by an obscure composer, but Johann Kropfgans had a famous teacher -- the renowned lutenist Silvius Leopold Weiss, whose influence is felt throughout these charming chamber works for lute and with string accompaniment. John Schneiderman is a very fine player, and is fortunate in his acompanists (cellist William Skeen and, believe it or not, violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock) as well. If your library collects in this general repertoire, then you should probably consider this disc a must-purchase. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Ariadne |
| Label: |
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CPO
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Composer:
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Johann Georg Conradi |
| Performer: |
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Orchestra and Chorus of the Boston Early Music Festival / O'Dette, Stubbs |
| ISBN: |
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9786309502490 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309502492 |
| UPC: |
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00761203707324 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCPO 777073 |
| Cat.#: |
|
777 073-2 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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As best as I can tell, this is the first time Johann Georg Conradi's opera Ariadne has been recorded commercially -- it is certainly the only full version currently available on CD. It also offers a much-needed opportunity to reassess the value of German baroque opera, which has traditionally been ignored (if not actively maligned). Conradi may not be any Lully, but then, Lully was no Conradi -- this impressive work deserves to be judged on its own terms, and should be a part of any opera collection. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Les Grandes Eaux Musicales de Versailles |
| Label: |
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AliaVox (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Le Concert Des Nations |
| ISBN: |
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9786309557636 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309557637 |
| UPC: |
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07619986098425 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD AV9842 |
| Cat.#: |
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AV 9842 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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This budget-priced compilation was put together in honor of Jordi Savall's annointing as the musical director for this year's fountain displays at the palace of Versailles; it includes ceremonial baroque music from the time of Louis the 13th and Louis the 14th, all performed with that unique combination of energy and elegance that has long characterized everything the Concert des Nations does. An excellent introduction to the work of this world-class ensemble. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Piano Sonata no 3; Metopes; Masques |
| Label: |
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Virgin Classics
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Composer:
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Karol Szymanowski |
| Performer: |
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Piotr Anderszewski |
| ISBN: |
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9786309520340 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309520342 |
| UPC: |
|
00724354573026 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDVIRG45730B |
| Cat.#: |
|
5 45730 2 |
| Period: |
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Romantic/20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Piotr Anderszewski is a very hot young talent at the moment, and if you haven't yet discovered why, then his brilliant program of Szymanowski piano works will make the reasons clear. Equally capable of fiery intensity and gentle introspection, he's the perfect match for the music of this particular composer. (RA) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Octuor; Variations Concertantes; Romance sans Paroles; Albumblatt |
| Label: |
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Harmonia Mundi
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Composer:
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Felix Mendelssohn |
| ISBN: |
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9786309557407 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309557408 |
| UPC: |
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00794881767823 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD HMC901868 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMC 901868 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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In his Octet, opus 20, the sixteen-year-old Felix Mendelssohn began exploring the fairytale themes that would become such a recognizable part of his later work. This recording of the Octet, along with two other chamber works and a piano and cello piece, are performed beautifully by the Ensemble Explorations using an 1874 Steinway piano. Recommended to all classical collections. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Requiem |
| Label: |
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Telarc
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Performer: |
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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Chorus / Runnicles |
| ISBN: |
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9786309540621 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309540629 |
| UPC: |
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00089408063626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA80636 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD-80636 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Every library with a classical collection will want a copy of this recording, not only because it documents a fine and muscular performance of Mozart's most popular choral work, but also because the version performed is a new one that features Robert D. Levin's new take on the traditional Sussmayr edition. Levin has pared down the vocal parts and added an "Amen" section to follow the "Lacrimosa" setting, thus offering the perfect fodder for grad students' late-night musicological arguments. (RA) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Front Parlour Ballads |
| Label: |
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Cooking Vinyl (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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Richard Thompson |
| ISBN: |
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9786309490506 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309490508 |
| UPC: |
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00711297472523 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDKHI CKV4725 |
| Cat.#: |
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CKV-CD-4725 |
| Genre: |
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Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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What do you do if you’re arguably England’s greatest living songwriter AND guitarist, and have been for a few decades? If you’re Richard Thompson, you’ve been putting out mostly concept albums recently, but the only concept on Front Parlour Ballads is Thompson himself, accompanying his songs mostly solo and acoustically (with occasional low-key percussion). The usual great batch of songs, phenomenal playing, downbeat sense of humor, and a voice that … takes some getting used to. (SA) |
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| $11.98 |
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| Title: |
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Abdel Wright |
| Label: |
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Interscope
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Artist:
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Abdel Wright |
| ISBN: |
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9786309563880 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309563882 |
| UPC: |
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00602498616826 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000193102 |
| Cat.#: |
|
0001931 |
| Period: |
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Modern |
| Genre: |
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Folk/Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Jamaican Abdel Wright is slated for stardom if he can continue to match the quality of this, his debut CD. Make no mistake: this is not another tired, boring reggae clone, but a true "roots record" that mixes many musical styles with a Jamacian lilt and flavor. Musically pleasent and melodic, Wright has a genlte, yet profound effect on the listener that is relaxed but not somnambulistic while the lyrics tackle topical issues both current and historical. No library will make a mistake in buying Wright's CD. (JM) |
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| Title: |
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Rough Music |
| Label: |
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Topic Records
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Artist:
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Eliza Carthy |
| Performer: |
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Eliza Carthy & the Ratcatchers |
| ISBN: |
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9786309453969 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309453963 |
| UPC: |
|
00714822055420 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTOPI554 |
| Cat.#: |
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TSCD554 |
| Genre: |
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British Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Anyone who dares think that traditional English and Celtic music is stale and anachronistic needs but one listen to fiddler extraordinaire Carthy’s latest to dispel that silly notion. Carthy and her band, the Ratcatchers, not only dish out rollicking renditions of time-tested dance fare and ballads, they also give a fine spin to a tune by Billy Bragg. Folk music is an ongoing process, where tunes are subject to change and reinterpretation. In the hands of masters, the true timeless nature of folk material is brought to life through creative interpretation. Few do this better than Eliza Carthy. (GH) |
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| $10.98 |
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| Title: |
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Louisiana Blues And Zydeco |
| Label: |
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Arhoolie (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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Clifton Chenier |
| Performer: |
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Clifton Chenier and band |
| ISBN: |
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9786309103963 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309103962 |
| UPC: |
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00096297905326 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDKHI ARH9053 |
| Cat.#: |
|
CD 9053 |
| Genre: |
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Blues/Zydeco |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Zydeco music is an intense, uniquely American blend of Louisiana Cajun and Afro-American musical styles. The late Clifton Chenier was the undisputed master of the genre. These earliest recordings of Chenier have a raw,earthy barrelhouse quality that has been lost as modern zydeco has become more mainstream. This is a pure, unadorned zydeco that makes one unable to stay seated and listen. Chenier's older recordings are now almost impossible to find(I've tried) so this reissue is probably the only way many of us will ever hear this this incredible, early sound by a living musical legend. This is the real stuff! (JM) |
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| Title: |
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Always |
| Label: |
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Topic
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Artist:
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June Tabor |
| ISBN: |
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9786309375148 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309375148 |
| UPC: |
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00714822400329 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTOPI4003 |
| Cat.#: |
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TSFCD4003 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (4-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Universally praised for her stunning vocal talents, June Tabor ranks among Britain’s finest singers. It’s no accident that this 4-CD career retrospective begins with a song collected by Cecil Sharp, for Tabor’s genius has always been the ability to interpret ballads with emotion and clarity. She’s taken this skill and run with it, equally at home interpreting traditional ballads, jazz standards, and songs by such contemporary songwriters as Lou Reed and Richard Thompson. Along with tunes her fans would expect (such as “Silly Sisters” duets with Maddy Prior and selections from most of her albums), there are also several dozen previously unreleased songs. A richly illustrated booklet includes an interview with Tabor, song-by-song annotations, and complete discographical information. Highly recommended. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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She Waits For Night |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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Uncle Earl |
| ISBN: |
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9786309499028 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309499025 |
| UPC: |
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00011661056527 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6105652 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-0565-2 |
| Genre: |
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Old-time Country |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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An all-girl string band has to deal with challenges that an all-boy string band doesn't -- chief among them the fact that people are going to make a point of their gender and wonder whether they're just a gimmick. No such worries here. Uncle Earl rocks hard like Gid Tanner's Skillet Lickers did, they sing both hard and pretty like Laurie Lewis, and they're not afraid to bring in the odd modern element. Their second album should send you scurrying to find a copy of their self-released debut. Very highly recommended to all libraries. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Circles In The Stream (Deluxe Edition) |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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Bruce Cockburn |
| ISBN: |
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9786309433336 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309433334 |
| UPC: |
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00011661320727 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6132072 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-3207-2 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Pop |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
Circles in the Stream was Bruce Cockburn’s eighth album, a live outing from 1977 that serves as an excellent summary of the Canadian singer-songwriter’s early folk-influenced recordings. Cockburn’s guitar and voice are backed by subtle-but-effective bass, keyboards & marimba on such early Cockburn fare as “Lord of the Starfields” and “All the Diamonds in the World,” two fine examples of his ongoing poetic exploration of spiritual themes. Recommended. (GH) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Songs Of Misfortune |
| Label: |
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Appleseed (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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Love Hall Tryst |
| ISBN: |
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9786309413161 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309413163 |
| UPC: |
|
00611587108920 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDKHI APR1089 |
| Cat.#: |
|
APR CD 1089 |
| Genre: |
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Folk/Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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| Comments: |
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Love Hall Tryst is a quartet featuring John Wesley Harding, Kelly Hogan, Brian Lohmann, and Nora O’Connor, who specialize in spirited, mostly a cappella material based on songs featured in Wesley Stace’s novel Misfortune. Drawing on Child ballads, a tune collected by Ozark folklorist John Quincy Wolf, Jr., a song by Leonard Cohen, and some original material by Harding, this fine quartet delivers an engaging set of material. (GH) |
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| JAZZ |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Beyond The Sound Barrier |
| Label: |
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Verve
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Artist:
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Wayne Shorter |
| ISBN: |
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9786309410009 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309410008 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498812815 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000451802 |
| Cat.#: |
|
B0004518-02 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Beyond the Sound Barrier is an extension of Shorter’s 2002 release Footprints Live!, in that both are live recordings featuring the same acoustic quartet of Shorter (tenor and soprano saxes), Danilo Perez (piano), John Patitucci (bass) and Brian Blade (drums). With this release, Shorter focuses primarily on new material, and continues to work closely with his rhythm section to create elegant, beautifully crafted essays in group interaction and expressive improvisation. Both Footprints Live! And Beyond the Sound Barrier demonstrate why Shorter is one of jazz’s premier saxophonists and composers – together, this material evokes the heady brilliance of Shorter’s tenure with Miles Davis’ 1965-68 quintet. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Live at Bla |
| Label: |
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Small Town SuperJazz
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Artist:
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The Thing |
| ISBN: |
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600116839923 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
|
| Cat.#: |
|
STSJ099CD |
| Genre: |
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Avante-Garde, Free Form Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
For a decidedly American idiom like jazz, it never ceases to amaze me how European musicians create some truly inspired jazz performances that find the proper support and appreciation they deserve. Why doesn't this happen in the U.S. more? Where is the following past the "downtown" scene? No matter, because this Swedish-Norwegian trio parlays their talent into an ocean-spanning oeuvre for all of us to enjoy. Led by Mats Gustafsson, possibly Sweden's best ambassador of the free-form sax, The Thing performs from the repertory of Don Cherry, Joe McPhee and even the White Stripes. A must for every library's jazz collection, if only to inspire U.S. patrons to pick up the support that seems limited to Europe. (DC) |
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| Title: |
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Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill) |
| Label: |
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Winter & Winter
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Artist:
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|
|
| Performer: |
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Tim Berne |
| ISBN: |
|
9786308828157 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6308828157 |
| UPC: |
|
00025091906024 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDAGROWTRJMT919060 |
| Cat.#: |
|
919 060-2 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music, Free Form Jazz |
| Release type: |
|
Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
Most reviews of this CD tend to focus on David Sanborn's presence. While this could be seen as an odd thing, Berne and Sandborn have collaborated before and their apreciation of Julius Hemphill's music is well documented. Sanborn's playing doesn't take away from the importance of this recording. Berne and his colleagues capture an effective essence of Hemphill's compositions, making this reissue a revelatory experience. Highly recommended. (DC) |
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| Title: |
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Masada Anniversary Edition Vol. 5: Masada Rock |
| Label: |
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Tzadik/Koch
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Artist:
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John Zorn |
| Performer: |
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Rashanim |
| ISBN: |
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9786309425928 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309425927 |
| UPC: |
|
00702397810322 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDTZDK8103 |
| Cat.#: |
|
TZ8103 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music, Downtown Music, Jewish Music |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
Every time I think I've heard enough of John Zorn, there's always something new to pull me back in. Rashanim, one of the great new Jewish music groups, takes what are referred to as "unknown songs" from Zorn's Masada Songbook. The resulting arrangements are jazz, klezmer, kick-ass rock and self-discovery rolled into one. This Masada tribute (a good two years after the ten year anniversary mark) shines a new light on Zorn's work, giving it a fresh, funky and farshvitzt (sweaty) take. Recommended for jazz collections, Jewish collections or yes, even the Zorn collector. (DC) |
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 |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Song X: Twentieth Anniversary [Remaster] |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Pat Metheny; Ornette Coleman |
| ISBN: |
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9786309530943 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309530941 |
| UPC: |
|
00075597991826 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDNONE79918 |
| Cat.#: |
|
79918 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
|
Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
This expanded reissue marks not only the 20th anniversary of the album’s original release but also Ornette Coleman’s 75th birthday. Perhaps we've just caught up to the musicians now, but in 1985 this collaboration seemed a bit unfocused and contradictory – more like some of Ornette’s harsher work with his Prime Time band than Metheny’s smoother brand of jazz-rock. The excellent re-mastering and the extra tracks here give a broader view of the sessions, with additional helpings of swing courtesy of the rhythm section of Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette as well as extended outside blowing, both acoustic and electric. Recommended for all libraries. (SA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Apparitions |
| Label: |
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Criss Cross
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Artist:
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Adam Rogers |
| ISBN: |
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9786309288806 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309288806 |
| UPC: |
|
08712474126323 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCCRO1263 |
| Cat.#: |
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CRISS 1263 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
On this album, guitarist Adam Rogers leads a quintet through a program of original compositions that generally tend to be a bit on the intellectual side. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- "Continuance" and the aptly titled "Labyrinth" are especially exciting, and jazz composition students will benefit greatly from parsing the harmonic progressions in some of these charts. Recommended. (RA) |
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| $11.98 |
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| Title: |
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Jeru |
| Label: |
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Columbia / Legacy
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Artist:
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Gerry Mulligan |
| ISBN: |
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9786309492890 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309492896 |
| UPC: |
|
00074646549827 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCOLM65498 |
| Cat.#: |
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CK 65498 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
This 1962 reissue from baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan features a quintet highlighted by pianist Tommy Flanagan and conga player Alec Dorsey. The piano’s the new thing here – Mulligan was best known at the time for leading a piano-less quartet – but he and Flanagan are an excellent match. Mulligan plays a solid set of ballads, bossa, and gently swinging tunes, but the real star is his gorgeous tone and deft playing on the big baritone sax. (GH) |
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| $11.98 |
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| Title: |
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No One Knows |
| Label: |
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Harbinger
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Artist:
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Eric Comstock |
| ISBN: |
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9786309291813 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309291815 |
| UPC: |
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00324332201226 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHARB2201 |
| Cat.#: |
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HCD-2201 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Eric Comstock is a jazz singer and pianist of gentle and subtle charms. He seems to be most comfortable with love ballads, and those are where he spends the most time on his very fine third album (even "Old Devil Moon" is taken at a lugubrious tempo). His voice is soft-textured and dark, and he caresses the words he sings as if they're all treasured possessions that he's reluctant to let go of. His band is equally tasteful and proficient. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Eye to Ear 2 |
| Label: |
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Tzadik/Koch
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Artist:
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Fred Frith |
| ISBN: |
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9786308242311 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6308242314 |
| UPC: |
|
00702397751724 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTZDK7517 |
| Cat.#: |
|
TZ7517 |
| Genre: |
|
Film music, Soundtrack, Downtown Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Fred Frith doesn't really belong to any one category of music, and this latest collection of his work for films is no exception. A plethora of samples, improvisations, toys and ideas, Frith continues to delight. Kudos to Tzadik for their never-ending ability to provide new music to the masses. (DC) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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| Title: |
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Music For Fragments From The Inside |
| Label: |
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Sub Rosa (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Eraldo Bernocchi and Harold Budd |
| ISBN: |
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9786309436603 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309436600 |
| UPC: |
|
05411867112396 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDCDISSRS239 |
| Cat.#: |
|
SR 239 |
| Genre: |
|
Electronica, sort of |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
As gorgeous as they usually are, Harold Budd's piano constructs sometimes lack a certain... muscle. Teaming up with Brian Eno during his "ambient" period didn't help much, but teaming up with electronic beatmaster Eraldo Bernocchi does. Not that this stuff is danceable, exactly, but Bernocchi gives Budd's meandering melodies just the right amount of temporal structure and textural interest. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Killing Joke [Remaster/Bonus Tracks] |
| Label: |
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Virgin
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Artist:
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Killing Joke |
| ISBN: |
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9786309486004 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309486004 |
| UPC: |
|
00094631221620 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDMSIM445292 |
| Cat.#: |
|
312216 |
| Genre: |
|
Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
|
Reissue |
| Comments: |
|
Virgin is reissuing -- and not a moment too soon -- four classic albums from the early catalog of Killing Joke, a band that managed simultaneously to change the face of both metal and punk in the early 1980s. Their sound was harsh and claustrophobic on the surface, but surprisingly melodic underneath, and it has held up remarkably well over the past two decades. The self-titled debut and What's THIS For? are the two essential purchases; Revelations and the live Ha! are both good, but not quite up to the same standard. Here's hopingo for a reissue of the Fire Dances EP before too long... (RA) |
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| $12.97 |
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| Title: |
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My Previous Life |
| Label: |
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Available through CDBABY
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Artist:
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Your New Best Friend |
| UPC: |
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616892647928 |
| Cat.#: |
|
|
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
Your New Best Friend is one of those New York bands that seems to rise from the ashes of countless previous incarnations and meet-ups. What sets this group apart from the rest is the quality of the music. Vocalist Todd Satterfield lists this CD from being "good" to "great." This is a good example of just how a band should sound without the endless tales of compromise of corporate hooey. Highly recommended for libraries looking to jump start a more modern rock collection. (DC)
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| $24.98 |
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| Title: |
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Made In Sheffield: The Birth of Electronic Pop (DVD) |
| Label: |
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Plexifilm (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309388032 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309388037 |
| UPC: |
|
00082354002121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BEDDPLX 17 |
| Cat.#: |
|
017 |
| Genre: |
|
Documentary |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Sheffield has never gotten the credit it deserves -- while Mondon, Manchester and Birmingham have all been recognized as the cradles of various important pop music movements of the 1970s and 1980s, Sheffield (home of the Human League, ABC, Haircut 100, Cabaret Voltaire and other influential electro-pop groups) has remained unjustly uncelebrated. This documentary, a labor of love made on a shoestring budget, seeks to redress that wrong and does a pretty good job. Interviews focus a bit too heavily on a handful of players, but the concert footage is wonderful. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Ball Of Design |
| Label: |
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ROIR
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Artist:
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Dufus |
| ISBN: |
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9786308991721 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6308991724 |
| UPC: |
|
00053436828922 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDROIR8289 |
| Cat.#: |
|
RUSCD 8289 |
| Genre: |
|
Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
Looking for a strange and strangely wonderful blend of They Might Be Giants, Violent Femmes, Pere Ubu and Eugene Chadbourne, all lightly seasoned with (believe it or not) a touch of Dead Kennedys? Of course you are. So are your patrons, whether they know it or not. Buy this, and then put it immediately in the "Staff Picks" rack by your check-out desk. Watch as the hipster kids begin to regard you with new respect, or maybe with a new wariness. It's all good. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Down Santic Way: Santic Jamaican Productions |
| Label: |
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Pressure Sounds
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309251527 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
630925152X |
| UPC: |
|
00689492032227 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDK7 PRS46 |
| Cat.#: |
|
46 |
| Genre: |
|
Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
Producer Leonard Chin may not have the name recognition of Coxsone Dodd or Lee "Scratch" Perry, but his work with such A-list singers and instrumentalists as I Roy, Horace Andy and Augustus Pablo helped to shape the sound of roots reggae during the 1970s. No reggae collection should be without this overview of his work; an earlier compilation of Santic label releases titled An Even Harder Shade of Black (also on the Pressure Sounds label) is equally essential. (RA) |
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| $168.98 |
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| Title: |
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Atomic Platters: Cold War Music From The Golden Age Of Homeland Security |
| Label: |
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Bear Family
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309549129 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
630954912X |
| UPC: |
|
04000127160652 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDMSIM469256 |
| Cat.#: |
|
BCD 16065 FM |
| Genre: |
|
Popular Music |
| Release type: |
|
Boxed Set (5-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
This is a fascinating (if ultimately rather condescending) look back at the pop culture of 1940s and 1950s America, a time when bomb shelters were sold out of catalogs and pop songs by such artists as Slim Gaillard and Hank Williams addressed issues of Stalinism, atomic energy and The Bomb. If $170 seems like a lot to ask for a 6-disc (5 CDs plus one DVD) compilation of old recordings, bear in mind the lavishly illustrated and hardbound 300-page book that comes with the package. Much of this music is otherwise commercially unavailable, and some of it is spectacular. Recommended. (RA) |
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| $19.99 |
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| Title: |
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Jerry Garcia Band: Live at Shoreline (DVD) |
| Label: |
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Rhino Home Video
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Artist:
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|
Jerry Garcia Band |
| ISBN: |
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9786309532022 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309532022 |
| UPC: |
|
00603497043323 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BEDDRV 970433 |
| Cat.#: |
|
R2 970433 |
| Genre: |
|
Pop/Rock |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
Sometimes, when “the show must go on” in the face of adversity, the results are highly memorable. Such was the case when the Jerry Garcia Band stepped in to play a gig in 1990, filling in for the Grateful Dead, who had cancelled the show due to the untimely death of their keyboard player, Brent Mydland. Garcia is on fire, sizzling through two sets filled with impassioned numbers like “I Shall Be Released,” “I Second That Emotion,” and “Deal.” The cinematography and sound quality are excellent – guitar fans will love the close-ups of Garcia’s fretwork. An excellent document of the late guitarist’s work outside the Dead. (GH) |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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Power to the People and the Beats: Public Enemy's Greatest Hits |
| Label: |
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Def Jam/Chronicles
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Artist:
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Public Enemy |
| ISBN: |
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9786309455659 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309455656 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498616611 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000192302 |
| Cat.#: |
|
B0001923-02 |
| Genre: |
|
Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Release type: |
|
Best of |
| Comments: |
|
Expect demand for this well programmed and nicely packaged hits collection, which covers the career of America's most artistically accomplished and socially influential rap outfit from its earliest hits ("You're Gonne Net Yours," "Public Enemy No. 1") to the best of its later, less consistently fine work. This won't replace the group's first three albums in your collection, but it gives you most of what you need from the last few. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Say Yes! |
| Label: |
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Arhoolie (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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Lee Brothers |
| ISBN: |
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9786309130518 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
630913051X |
| UPC: |
|
00096297051627 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDKHI ARH516 |
| Cat.#: |
|
516 |
| Genre: |
|
Gospel |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
The "sacred steel" tradition of gospel slide guitar is the foundation of the Lee Boys' sound, but Emanuel Roosevelt Collier's virtuosic slide playing is only one element of a full package that also includes rock-hard grooves and wonderful sung harmonies. If you collect in gospel music at all, this album is an essential purchase. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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12 |
| Label: |
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K7 Studio
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Artist:
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|
Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
|
9786309464170 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309464175 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498297629 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDK7 9762 |
| Cat.#: |
|
|
| Period: |
|
1980s |
| Genre: |
|
Pop/Rock |
| Release type: |
|
Boxed Set (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
The 12" single (bigger than a 7" single so as to accommodate an extended mix of the song) came of age in the 1980s with synth-pop bands like the Pet Shop Boys, the Thompson Twins and Talk Talk. But punkier outfits used the format as well -- this excellent three-disc set includes tracks by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Echo and the Bunnymen and That Petrol Emotion as well as the usual electro suspects. Buy this set and your 30-something patrons will rise up and call your name blessed. (And don't forget the first volume in the series, titled 12"/80s, which is also still available.) Recommended to all pop collections. (RA) |
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|
| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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| Title: |
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Moksha |
| Label: |
|
Real World
|
|
Artist:
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|
Amjad Ali Khan |
| ISBN: |
|
9786309402073 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309402072 |
| UPC: |
|
00724387532229 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDREA 75322 |
| Cat.#: |
|
75322 |
| Genre: |
|
Indian |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
Amjad Ali Khan is one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- living exponents of the sarod, a plucked instrument with a beautiful, singing tone that is central to the Hindustani tradition of Indian music. Here he performs eight original ragas accompanied by tabla player Rashid Mustafa; on two tracks he is replaced by one of his two sons, Ayaan (on "Himaalaya") and Amaan (on "Calcutta"). Both are accomplished, but neither yet approaches the exquisite expressiveness of the father. Very highly recommended. (RA) |
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 |
| |
| $16.98 |
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|
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| |
|
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| Title: |
|
Best of Femi Kuti |
| Label: |
|
Wrasse (dist. Caroline)
|
|
Artist:
|
|
Femi Kuti |
| ISBN: |
|
9786309382696 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309382691 |
| UPC: |
|
05060001271590 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDWRSR136 |
| Cat.#: |
|
WRASS 136 |
| Genre: |
|
World Music |
| Release type: |
|
Best of |
| Comments: |
|
Femi Kuti comes by both his politics and his rhythm honestly: he's the eldest son of the notoriously outspoken and notoriously funky Nigerian firebrand Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who put Afrobeat music on the map and got himself put repeatedly into prison. The son's sound is more tightly disciplined than the father's, but it's no less horn-heavy and exciting; this best-of brings together consistently excellent tracks from the period 1998 to 2001. Recommended to all world-music collections. (RA) |
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| |
| $16.98 |
| |
|
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| |
|
|
| Title: |
|
Tekitoi: Who Are You? |
| Label: |
|
Wrasse (dist. Caroline)
|
|
Artist:
|
|
Rachid Taha |
| ISBN: |
|
9786309322845 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6309322842 |
| UPC: |
|
05060001271583 |
| Prod.#: |
|
BECDWRSR148 |
| Cat.#: |
|
WRASS 148 |
| Genre: |
|
World Music |
| Release type: |
|
New |
| Comments: |
|
Rachid Taha has always gone his own way in ‘rai,’ the style of music that he helped originate in Algeria but which is now mostly produced in exile in Europe. On Tekitoi he continues to be produced by British prog-rocker Steve Hillage, and he also continues push the limits of the style to suit his vision. Of special note is his reclamation of the Clash’s “Rock the Casbah.” (SA) |
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| |
| $21.00 |
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| |
|
| Title: |
|
Soul Jazz Records Presents Studio One Lovers |
| Label: |
|
Soul Jazz Records
|
|
Artist:
|
|
Various |
| UPC: |
|
5026328101163 |
| Cat.#: |
|
SJR CD116 |
| Genre: |
|
Reggae, Rocksteady, Lovers Rock |
| Release type: |
|
Compilation |
| Comments: |
|
The sheer output of Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One defies description. Each new compilation that Soul Jazz Recordings releases makes one wonder when, if at all, they may one day be scraping the bottom of Studio One's barrel for good music. That time has not yet come. "Studio One Lovers" is chock full of both well known performers (Bob Marley, Alton Ellis, Horace Andy) and rarities. And while the theme of this CD is "Lovers Rock", it stands as a testament to just plain old great Jamaican music. There are also some true surprise gems, such as Doreen Schaeffer covering a Boz Scaggs MOR tune! Highly recommended, as are all the CDs from this series. (DC) |
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