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| CLASSICAL |
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| $16.99 |
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| Title: |
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Concertos & Sonatas |
| Label: |
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CPO
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Composer:
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Johann David Heinichen |
| Performer: |
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Epoca Barocca |
| ISBN: |
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9786309627063 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309627066 |
| UPC: |
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00761203711529 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO777115 |
| Cat.#: |
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777 115-2 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
People who complain that all baroque music sounds the same really aren't wrong (though, of course, the same can be said of almost any specific type of music). But Heinichen is one of those rare baroque composers whose melodic inventiveness and charm always makes you sit up and take notice. This is a lovely collection of chamber concertos and sonatas performed by an outstanding period-instrument ensemble I've never heard before, but hope to hear again soon. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Symphonies |
| Label: |
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CPO
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Composer:
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Georg Gerson; Friedrich Ludwig Aemilius Kunzen |
| Performer: |
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Concerto Copenhagen / Mortensen |
| ISBN: |
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9786309964359 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309964356 |
| UPC: |
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00761203708529 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCPO 777085 |
| Cat.#: |
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777 085-2 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is a wonderful recording of early romantic symphonies by two generally overlooked Danish composers, both of whom, on the evidence of this music, deserve much more attention. Concerto Copenhagen manage the difficult trick of rendering the large-scale and sometimes emotionally intense music of this era convincingly on period instruments, and in fact do so with great power. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Mass In C Minor; Berenice, Che Fai?; Ah! Perfido |
| Label: |
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Archiv
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Joseph Haydn; Ludwig Van Beethoven |
| Performer: |
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Gabrieli Consort & Players / McCreesh |
| ISBN: |
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9786309908995 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309908995 |
| UPC: |
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00028947757443 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000576202 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0005762-02 |
| Period: |
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Classical/Early Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Grumble all you want about Mozart Madness in 2006, but you'll do better to just sit back and enjoy it. Paul McCreesh makes it easy with this lovely new recording of the Great Mass in C Minor, which features some of the loveliest and most delicately tender solo singing I've heard in this repertoire in a long time. The two makeweight pieces chosen to fill out the program are unusual but insightfully selected dramatic cantatas by Haydn and Beethoven. A lovely program. (RA) |
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| $24.99 |
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| Title: |
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The Creation |
| Label: |
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LPO
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Composer:
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Franz Joseph Haydn |
| Performer: |
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London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir; Various Soloists / Tennstedt |
| ISBN: |
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9786310011141 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310011146 |
| UPC: |
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00854990001086 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO0008 |
| Cat.#: |
|
0008 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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There is an emerging trend right now of major orchestras and chamber ensembles forming their own record labels -- and here's hoping it catches on. The London Philharmonic made this recording of Haydn's choral masterwork in 1984, and reissues it here at midprice on its own LPO imprint; for those who haven't heard this version before, it will be a revelation. Note in particular the contributions of soloists Lucia Popp and Anthony Rolfe Johnson (who, unfortunately, could have been miked a bit better). Very nice. (RA) |
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| $17.99 |
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| Title: |
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Six Concertos, Op. 3; Eight Concertos, Op. 4 |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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Charles Avison |
| Performer: |
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Avison Ensemble / Beznosiuk |
| ISBN: |
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9786310032078 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310032070 |
| UPC: |
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00747313290529 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557905 |
| Cat.#: |
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8.557905-06 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The Grove Dictionary says that Charles Avison was "the most important English concerto composer of the 18th century." So how come you've never heard of him? (OK, smarty-pants, fine -- how come I've never heard of him?) Remedy the problem with this handy two-disc set of his concerti grossi, performed nicely (and recorded stunningly) on period instruments by the very fine Avison Ensemble under violinist Pavlo Beznosiuk. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Cello Concerto No. 1; Cello Sonata in D Minor, Op. 40 |
| Label: |
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EMI Classics
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Composer:
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Dmitri Shostakovich |
| Performer: |
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Han-Na Chang; Antonio Pappano; London Symphony Orchestra / Pappano |
| ISBN: |
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9786309926722 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309926721 |
| UPC: |
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00094633242227 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDEMIC32422 |
| Cat.#: |
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3 32422 2 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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These pieces are burdened by a truly unfair weight of history and politics, and carry the additional laden with the status of touchstone works in the cello repertoire. But cellist Han-Na Chang shoulders the burden admirably, bringing a sense of powerful urgency and fiery passion to the concerto and a darkly lyrical touch on the sonata. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Missa Surge Propera; Motets |
| Label: |
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Gimell (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
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Composer:
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Francisco Guerrero |
| Performer: |
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Tallis Scholars / Phillips |
| ISBN: |
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9786309990563 |
| ISBN-10: |
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630999056X |
| UPC: |
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00755138104020 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD CDGIM040 |
| Cat.#: |
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CDGIM 040 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Any new recording by the Tallis Scholars will be a Rick's Pick almost by default; despite the emergence of some strong challengers in recent years, this group remains the most consistently reliable and rewarding ensemble for Renaissance polyphony. Their latest release brings together one mass setting and seven Marian motets by the Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero, a significant transitional figure in the period between Morales and Victoria. The singing is as sumptuously lovely as always, and the recorded sound is excellent. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Symphonies |
| Label: |
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Chandos (dist. Koch)
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Composer:
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Franz Anton Hoffmeister |
| Performer: |
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London Mozart Players |
| ISBN: |
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9786309902054 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309902059 |
| UPC: |
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00095115135129 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCNDS10351 |
| Cat.#: |
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CHAN 10351 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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New recordings of orchestral works by Franz Anton Hoffmeister are always welcome, and all the more so when they're world-premiere recordings of previously neglected pieces. The London Mozart Players (using modern instruments) imbue these delightful symphonies with plenty of vitality and energy, but I wish the recorded sound were defined a bit more sharply around the edges. Still, this disc will be an essential purchase for any comprehensive classical collection. (RA) |
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| $82.98 |
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| Title: |
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Complete Mozart Edition 3: Divertimenti & Serenades |
| Label: |
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Philips
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Composer:
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Holliger Wind Ensemble; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Netherlands Wind Ensemble |
| ISBN: |
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9786309909046 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309909045 |
| UPC: |
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00028946479025 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000568802 |
| Cat.#: |
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464 790-2 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set |
| Comments: |
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Music librarians of a certain age (ahem) will remember the suitcase-sized Complete Mozart Edition boxed set released by Philips in 1991, to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's death. For his birthday, the company is releasing a much more humanely-packaged reissue of the same recordings. The third volume in the series -- a budget-priced 11-disc set containing all of the divertimentos and serenades for winds -- comes in a box about the same size as a two-disc jewel case (thanks to the cardboard sleeves and single accompanying booklet). If your library didn't bring in the block and tackle back in 1991, this is your chance to get the same excellent content in a much more back-friendly format. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Da pacem Domine; Masses & Motets |
| Label: |
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Harmonia Mundi
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Composer:
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Jacobus de Kerle |
| Performer: |
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Huelgas Ensemble / Van Nevel |
| ISBN: |
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9786309990211 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309990217 |
| UPC: |
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00794881785827 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD HMC901866 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMC 901866 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Never heard of Jacobus de Kerle? Neither had almost anyone else until Paul Van Nevel lovingly compiled this collection of the composer's mature works, including two mass settings and several motets. They reveal a startlingly original musical vision -- not as idiosyncratic as Gesualdo's, but more adventurous than Palestrina's -- and a master of contrapuntal invention. As always, the Huelgas Ensemble sings with warmth and brilliant precision. An essential purchase for any classical collection. (RA) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| Title: |
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A Little Girl... A Big Four-Lane |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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Alecia Nugent |
| ISBN: |
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9786310030708 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310030701 |
| UPC: |
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00011661056626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6105662 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-0566-2 |
| Genre: |
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Country & Western |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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If you heard her self-titled 2004 debut album, then chances are very good you've been anxiously awaiting this, Alecia Nugent's sophomore effort. And you won't be disappointed: she hasn't messed with the formula (straight-ahead country music with bluegrass instrumentation) and her voice is as clear and rich as ever. Great songs, great singer, and that's really all there is to great country music. (RA) |
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| $79.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Life & Music Of Richard Thompson |
| Label: |
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Free Reed
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Artist:
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Richard Thompson |
| ISBN: |
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9786309980168 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309980165 |
| UPC: |
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00020286201427 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDMRIR55 |
| Cat.#: |
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FROCD-55 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (5-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Richard Thompson is a brilliant songwriter as well as a great guitar player, and this boxset, comprising mostly unreleased recordings, is a godsend for his fanatical fans. The 3-CD set Watching the Dark is still a much better introduction to his work, and it's certainly the place for any library to start building a Thompson collection. But this box contains an excellent 168-page book about its subject, and the five CDs, though perhaps de-emphasizing the electric side of Thompson's music too much, still offer an incredible catalog of material that cannot be found anywhere else. (SA) |
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| $12.98 |
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| Title: |
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Beatle Country |
| Label: |
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Collector's Choice
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Artist:
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Charles River Valley Boys |
| ISBN: |
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9786309956651 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309956655 |
| UPC: |
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00617742061826 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCLLC6182 |
| Cat.#: |
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CCM-618 |
| Genre: |
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Bluegrass |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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At first, you expect that the pleasure to be had from this album is going to be mainly a matter of kitsch amusement -- bluegrass arrangements of Beatles songs are just begging for ridicule, right? But they work better than you'd think (except for "Yellow Submarine," or as they render it, "Yeller Submarine"). And yes, that's the late great Joe Val singing the piercing high-tenor harmonies. Any disc that preserves more of his performances for the ages is worth its weight in gold. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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The Old Simplicity |
| Label: |
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Green Linnet
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Artist:
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Niamh Parsons |
| ISBN: |
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9786309983411 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309983415 |
| UPC: |
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00048248123228 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDGREN481232 |
| Cat.#: |
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GLCD 1232 |
| Genre: |
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Celtic |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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That noise you heard a couple of weeks ago was me whooping and dancing around the room because there's a new Niamh Parsons album. Along with June Tabor (and maybe Kate Rusby, depending on your tastes), she's probably the finest living exponent of traditional British and Irish song, and the sweetly spare arrangements on this album showcase her voice beautifully. Highly recommended to all folk collections. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Reckoning |
| Label: |
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Topic
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Artist:
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John Tams |
| ISBN: |
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9786309541840 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309541846 |
| UPC: |
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00714822055123 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTOPI551 |
| Cat.#: |
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TSCD551 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Former Albion Band member Tams delivers an excellent set on The Reckoning, his third solo outing. Weaving multiple instruments around his elegiac vocals, he delves into originals and traditional fare with arrangements that ring with an Albion/Fairport sound, as well as a stark, haunting acoustic flavor. This album just won Tams a hat trick at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, where it won Album of the Year, the beautiful “Bitter Withy” from this set captured Best Traditional Track honors, and Tams took Singer of the Year – each justly deserved. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Your Daughters And Your Sons |
| Label: |
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Sugar Hill
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Artist:
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The Duhks |
| ISBN: |
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9786309853561 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309853562 |
| UPC: |
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00015891399126 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSUGA3991 |
| Cat.#: |
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SUG-CD-3991 |
| Genre: |
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Folk/Old-Time |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This Canadian quartet cultivates a hipster image, but they approach their various musical traditions with joyful respect: here you'll hear everything from crooked French Canadian reels to traditional Appalachian songs, and from trad-sounding interpretations of modern singer-songwriter fare (notably Gillian Welch's "Rock of Ages") to modern interpretations of traditional Irish fare. Very nicely done. (RA) |
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| $15.99 |
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| Title: |
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The Road Hammers |
| Label: |
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Airstrip Music
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Artist:
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Road Hammers |
| ISBN: |
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9786309740649 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309740644 |
| UPC: |
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00097037721626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSOHDASM7216 |
| Cat.#: |
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ASM7216 |
| Genre: |
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Country & Western |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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If your patron base includes militant truck drivers, then you should seriously consider picking this one up. If not, then you could probably get away with holding off until you have surplus funds to spend. Hank Snow did the themes more elegantly and Motorhead did (and still does) the visual schtick more frighteningly. (RA) |
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| JAZZ |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Copperopolis |
| Label: |
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Ropeadope
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Artist:
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Charlie Hunter Trio |
| ISBN: |
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9786309980083 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309980084 |
| UPC: |
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00020286206026 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRPAD060 |
| Cat.#: |
|
60 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Recorded in New Orleans only a few months following Hurricane Katrina, the latest from eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter and his trio sounds like it was dredged in swamp water and sweat. Hunter's usual lithe funk is replaced with something darker, though no less limber and, ultimately, no less joyful -- note in particular the lovely, almost sentimental "Blue Sock." Something of a departure, but an enjoyable one. (RA) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Brown Street |
| Label: |
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Heads Up
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Artist:
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Joe Zawinul |
| ISBN: |
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9786310932279 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00053361312121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHEAD3121 |
| Cat.#: |
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HUCD 3121 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
Even those who (like myself, I confess) usually turn up the nose at jazz fusion as so much easy-listening twaddle generally concede the complex brilliance of keyobardist and composer Joe Zawinul, and of much of the music he made with his band Weather Report. Since that group's demise Zawinul has moved on in other directions, but on this double-live set he revisits some of that older material, and the result really is magical. The WDR Big Band of Cologne backs him up, and featured guests include Victor Bailey and Alex Acuna. Very, very nice. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Genuine Chestnut |
| Label: |
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Telarc Jazz
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Artist:
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Cyrus Chestnut |
| ISBN: |
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9786310042466 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310042467 |
| UPC: |
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00089408363429 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA83634 |
| Cat.#: |
|
83634 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Here's another warm and winning set of jazz standards and originals from one of the music's most consistently tasteful pianists. Backed by his usual rhythm section plus guitarist Russell Malone and percussionist Steve Kroon, he delivers everything from smooth bebop to shambling Latin jazz to big, fruity gospel arrangements, and if none of it is exactly revelatory, all of it makes for very fine listening. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 [Box] |
| Label: |
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CBS/Epic
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Artist:
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Miles Davis |
| Performer: |
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Miles Davis / John McLaughlin / Keith Jarrett / Jack DeJohnette / Airto Moreira / Gary Bartz / Michael Henderson |
| ISBN: |
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9786309602015 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309602012 |
| UPC: |
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00827969361429 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCOLM93614 |
| Cat.#: |
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C6K93614 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (6-discs) |
| Comments: |
|
When Miles Davis went “electric” in 1969-70, he quickly moved away from the studio and honed his new-but-rapidly-evolving sound in a series of live performances. One of the landmark recordings in this era of Miles’ career was Live-Evil, which included music from a series of live dates at a small club called The Cellar Door. This new box includes six sets of material from those Cellar Door gigs, greatly expanding and enhancing the material originally heard on Live-Evil. This is sizzling, highly energetic music that inflamed passionate responses in the jazz community. It was (and still is) considered by many to be a revolutionary expansion of the jazz idiom, while many derided it as a wildly heretical rejection of the jazz tradition - and recent reviews of this box show that this debate still rages. This is an important addition to the Miles Davis canon. (GH) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Garden Of Eden |
| Label: |
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ECM
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Artist:
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Paul Motian Band |
| ISBN: |
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9786309944498 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309944495 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498760277 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000606502 |
| Cat.#: |
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ECM 1917 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Drummer Paul Motion continues his mastery of intriguing instrumental voices on Garden of Eden, this time working with a frontline of two saxes and three guitars. Opening with two Charles Mingus cuts and closing with tunes from Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, the middle is filled with originals from Motian and his band. The sax/guitar work is gorgeous, marked by a slippery richness that provides a finely textured landscape for Motian’s extraordinary, beautifully understated drumming. Recommended. (GH) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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It's In The Twilight |
| Label: |
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Tzadik (dist. Koch)
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Artist:
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Paul Shapiro |
| ISBN: |
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9786309941008 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309941003 |
| UPC: |
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00702397810728 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTZDK8107 |
| Cat.#: |
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TZ 8107 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
|
If you're expecting hellacious noise of a skronky neo-Klezmer variety (which is often the Tzadik label's stock in trade), then you'll want to look elsewhere. But if you're in the mood for straight-ahead, generally midtempo small-ensemble jazz with a three-horn front line and the occasional hint of Hebrew melody, you've come to the right place. Very nice. (RA) |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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At the Prelude |
| Label: |
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Prestige
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Artist:
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Red Garland Trio |
| ISBN: |
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9786309995162 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309995162 |
| UPC: |
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00025218529525 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPSGR24295 |
| Cat.#: |
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2PRCD-24295-2 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Is there anything more magical than the sound of a world-class piano trio with the occasional clink of glasses and whispers of loving couples in the background? How about three consecutives sets of such magic, spread out over two CDs and reissued at a two-for-one price? The sound isn't perfect (even for 1959), but it's pretty good, and the performances are classic. (RA) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Revisited By... |
| Label: |
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Recall Records (dist. Ryko)
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Artist:
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DJ Cam |
| ISBN: |
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9786309943835 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309943839 |
| UPC: |
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00859179001529 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRCLL790015 |
| Cat.#: |
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5 |
| Genre: |
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Hip Hop/Electronica |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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DJ Cam has provided remix services to countless soul and hip hop artists over the course of his career, and here some of his colleagues return the favor. The results vary wildly, from the mystically New Agey "Meera (Extra Lucid Remix)" to the block-rocking hip hop of "Voodoo Child" and the flamenco funk mix of "Espionage". Maybe not essential for all libraries, but definitely worth considering for pop collections. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Minimum - Maximum |
| Label: |
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Astralwerks
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Artist:
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Kraftwerk |
| ISBN: |
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9786309401991 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309401998 |
| UPC: |
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00724356061125 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDASW 60611 |
| Cat.#: |
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ASW 60611 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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There was a time when Kraftwerk (four German guys standing stock still behind four keyboards, spinning out chilly but curiously funky and popsmart electronic music) came across as kind of avant-garde. Now they're a revival act, and a very good one. You'll want both this two-disc CD box and the two-DVD set of performance footage, both of which are drawn from the group's 2004 world tour. (And how, you ask, do four essentially immobile Germans maintain visual interest over the course of two DVDs? Multimedia, baby. Multimedia.) (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Mu |
| Label: |
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Trojan/Sanctuary
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Artist:
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Jah Wobble |
| ISBN: |
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9786309943897 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309943898 |
| UPC: |
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00021823411125 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSTRY234111 |
| Cat.#: |
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TJZCD290 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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For several decades now, bassist Jah Wobble (born John Wardle, and most famously an alumnus of Public Image Ltd)) has been proudly carrying the postpunk-reggae fusion, while also exploring all kinds of multiethnic roots musics. This may be his most musically rich and satisfying record to date, a dark and delicious stew of rubbery reggae basslines, Asian percussion and vocals, and beats both electronic and organic. Skip over the icky mystical sex talk on "Softwear," and you've got one of the year's best albums. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Colour The Small One |
| Label: |
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Astralwerks
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Artist:
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Sia |
| ISBN: |
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9786309925329 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309925326 |
| UPC: |
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00094634810326 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDASW 48103 |
| Cat.#: |
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ASW 48103 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Sia Furler sings in a breathy voice that is very closely miked, and her songs tend to be quietly intense and arranged for acoustic instruments with occasional incursions of electronica. Having made a significant impact with the song "Breathe Me" in 2005, she made a bit less of a splash with this full-length album, but it's not bad. Expect some demand. (RA) |
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| $15.99 |
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| Title: |
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Body Of Song |
| Label: |
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Yep Roc (dist. Redeye)
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Artist:
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Bob Mould |
| ISBN: |
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9786309501301 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309501305 |
| UPC: |
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00634457209121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDREDEYEP2091 |
| Cat.#: |
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2091 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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For those who were disappointed by Mould’s last release, Modulate, this album should restore their faith. This is Husker Du-Sugar-Punk-Postpunk Bob in his traditional element. Lessons learned from the electronic experimentation of Modulate give an interesting flavor to several tracks, but overall, this is the wall-of-guitar sound we all have come to expect and enjoy from the veteran rocker. (GM) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Celluloid Years |
| Label: |
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Collision (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310051727 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310051725 |
| UPC: |
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00673795000724 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCLSN3007 |
| Cat.#: |
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CCT 3007-2 |
| Genre: |
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Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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To modern ears, early hip hop sounds pretty rudimentary -- the blocky electronic beats, the awkward scratching, the inelegant lyrical flow. But if your collection can use a good overview of the new York sound circa 1982-1986, then this two-disc compilation is a great resource. And there are some real gems here, such as Fab Five Freddy's "Change the Beat" (in both French and English versions) and a bizarre collaboration between Afrika Bambaataa and John Lydon (a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, of Sex Pistols fame). (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Born To Run (30th Anniversary Edition) |
| Label: |
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Columbia
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Artist:
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Bruce Springsteen |
| ISBN: |
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9786309755971 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309755978 |
| UPC: |
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00827969417522 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCOLM94175 |
| Cat.#: |
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94175 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Given the huge impact this expanded reissue has had already, it hardly seems necessary to bring it to the attention of CDHL's readership, but just in case you've been living in a cave: Columbia has given Bruce Springsteen's masterwork the full-on reissue bonanza treatment, complete with remastered sound and two DVDs: a documentary on the making of the album and a (previously bootleg-only) live set filmed at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1975. It's essential, but you already knew that. (RA) |
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| $20.98 |
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| Title: |
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Are You Really Lost |
| Label: |
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Kompakt (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Matias Aguayo |
| ISBN: |
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9786309807557 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309807552 |
| UPC: |
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00880319020629 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDKPKT20044 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD 44 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Cologne label Kompakt specializes in a kind of abstract minimalist techno that works both on the dancefloor and in the living room (or especially in the earbuds). Aguayo (formerly one half of Closer Musik) seems to be going for something a bit more personal on this rather strange album, but he succeeds on his own terms. For a more typically austere example of the Kompakt sound, choose something by label head Michael Mayer. (SA) |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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For Screening Purposes Only |
| Label: |
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Domino
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Artist:
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Test-icicles |
| ISBN: |
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9786309962126 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309962124 |
| UPC: |
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00801390007828 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDDOMN00078 |
| Cat.#: |
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DNO 078 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The band's name is strictly for Beavis & Butthead fans, but its music is for anyone who wonders what a collaboration between Gang of Four, the Fall and PiL would have sounded like. Yes, you're right: it would have been a snotty, splattery, funky mess, and it would have made you dance like you had ice down the back of your shirt. It still can. (RA) |
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| $24.99 |
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| Title: |
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That Striped Sunlight Sound [CD & DVD] |
| Label: |
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Yep Roc (dist. Redeye)
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Artist:
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The Go-Betweens |
| ISBN: |
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9786309930033 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309930036 |
| UPC: |
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00634457208124 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDREDEYEP2081 |
| Cat.#: |
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YEP 2081 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The Go-Betweens have been making charming and intelligent pop music off and on for more than twenty years. Following a protracted layoff during the 1990s, the group got back together in 2000 and have been sporadically active ever since. This nice package includes a two-part DVD consisting of live concert footage and an interview with Go-Betweens founders Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, as well as a full-length live CD. Expect clamorous demand from the members of this group's devoted cult. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Crosby, Stills & Nash |
| Label: |
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Atlantic/Q Records
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Artist:
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Crosby, Stills & Nash |
| ISBN: |
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9786309945112 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309945114 |
| UPC: |
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00081227329020 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDATL 73290 |
| Cat.#: |
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R2 73290 |
| Genre: |
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Rock |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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CSN’s first record stands as one of the finest albums of the late 1960’s, a masterpiece of fine harmonies, elegant songwriting, and pure zeitgeist. It’s one of those rare records where artistry appealed to the masses, where a genuine supergroup transcended hype to create a timeless recording that helped defined the Woodstock era. Combining Steven Still’s musicianship (“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”), Graham Nash’s pop sensibilities (“Marrakesh Express”), and David Crosby’s 60’s anger (“Long Time Gone”), CSN rocketed up the charts, propelled by harmonies that other bands simply couldn’t touch. Essential for any rock collection. (GH) |
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| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Congotronics 2: Buzz 'n' Rumble in the Urb 'n' Jungle |
| Label: |
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Crammed (dist. Rykodisc)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309984869 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309984861 |
| UPC: |
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00876623001027 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRD 230010 |
| Cat.#: |
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230010 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The second volume in the Congotronics series in a multi-artist compilation, unlike the first which was dedicated to Konono No. 1, who are also featured here. Although some of these groups use the same distorted amplified thumb piano as heard on the first volume, there is a greater variety of Congolese styles here, and the overall result is just as much fun. A DVD with footage of the recording sessions is also included. (SA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Full Up: More Hits From Studio One |
| Label: |
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Heartbeat
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309944894 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309944894 |
| UPC: |
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00011661780224 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6178022 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-7802-2 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Libraries with a collecting interest in reggae music will want to pay special attention to this series of remastered and expanded compilations from the Heartbeat label. Best of Studio One and Full Up: More Hits from Studio One were both originally issued in the mid-1980s, and each offered a good overview of producer Coxsone Dodd's stellar work from the early days of rock steady into the roots reggae era; both discs are now available with significant additional material and noticeably improved sound. Recommended. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Los De Abajo vs The Lunatics |
| Label: |
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Real World
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Artist:
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Los De Abajo |
| ISBN: |
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9786309980106 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309980106 |
| UPC: |
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00094633546929 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDREA 35469 |
| Cat.#: |
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35469 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The third-wave ska revival fizzled and died in North America almost ten years ago, but apparently no one told our neighbors south of the border. Mexico City's Los De Abajo have carried on happily with their mutant strain of hip hop, ska, salsa, mariachi and Rock en Espanol, to great acclaim in their home country. To hear what alll the fuss is about, pick up this busy and exhausting (but in a good way) album, play it in the library and watch your patrons dislocate their hips trying to figure out how they're supposed to dance to it. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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King David's Melody |
| Label: |
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Shanachie
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Artist:
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Augustus Pablo |
| ISBN: |
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9786309865779 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309865773 |
| UPC: |
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00016351456427 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSHAN45064 |
| Cat.#: |
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SH 45064 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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The late Augustus Pablo was known not only as a master of dub, but also as the populariser of the melodica. This album (previously unreleased in the U.S., and reissued here with four bonus tracks) showcases the melodica prominently while downplaying somewhat Pablo's dubbier tendencies. Established fans will rejoice to have this fine album available on CD, but newcomers may want to start with the even better King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown (SH 45059). (RA) |
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| $14.98 |
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| Title: |
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Rough Guide To Bhangra Dance |
| Label: |
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World Music Network
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786309985903 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309985906 |
| UPC: |
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00605633115420 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWMN 331154 |
| Cat.#: |
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RGNET1154CD |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Rough Guide collections are almost always lots of good, educational fun, and this one is no exception. In fact, it manages to be almost as much fun as it is educational, providing a good overview of bhangra, the traditional Punjabi dance music that has gradually become a worldwide sensation over the past couple of decades. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Embalasasa |
| Label: |
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Triloka
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Artist:
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Samite |
| ISBN: |
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9786309954657 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309954652 |
| UPC: |
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00801298207122 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTLKA820712 |
| Cat.#: |
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TRI-CD-82071 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is a softly gorgeous album by Ugandan singer and kalimba player Samite Mulondo, who performs both traditional and original songs with a shifting array of backing musicians. Some tunes are given a spare acoustic setting, others a full electric band arrangement, but all are stunningly lovely. Highly recommended to all world-music collections. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Bombay Dub Orchestra |
| Label: |
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Six Degrees
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Artist:
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Bombay Dub Orchestra |
| ISBN: |
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9786310004464 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310004468 |
| UPC: |
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00657036112025 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSXDR361120 |
| Cat.#: |
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11202 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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British musicians/producers Andrew Mackay and Garry Hughes traveled to Bombay to create this fascinating fusion of modern beats and classical (and semi-classical) Indian sounds. Rather than the usual sitars-plus-breakbeats dance record, the result is an impressively detailed and texturally complex program that heavily features orchestral strings along with bamboo flute, vocals, sitar and other instruments. You can dance to much of it, but mostly this music can best be enjoyed by sitting and listening intently. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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