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July 2008
Look for "Rick's Pick" 
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| CLASSICAL |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Sonatas Opus V, nos. 7-12 (La Follia) |
| Label: |
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Zig-Zag Territories (dist. Allegro)
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Composer:
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Arcangelo Corelli |
| Performer: |
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Ensemble Fitzwilliam |
| ISBN: |
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9786310142500 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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03760009290914 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDZGZG50903 |
| Cat.#: |
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ZZT050903 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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This particular set of violin sonatas remains one of the most popular and frequently adapted in all of Corelli's catalog -- in the past these pieces have been arranged for viol, cello, harpsichord, and even for orchestra. Here the performances are led by recorder virtuoso Jean-Pierre Nicolas, accompanied by his colleagues in the Ensemble Fitzwilliam. The music is alternately florid and fiery, and the writing in this case leave significant room for ornaments and improvisation, turning these pieces into an unusually fertile showcase for the creative performer. Very nicely played and well recorded -- here's hoping they'll cover the first six sonatas in this opus at some future date. (RA) |
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| $16.97 |
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| Title: |
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Daniel Variations |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Composer:
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Steve Reich |
| ISBN: |
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9786311947500 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075597994940 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE406780 |
| Cat.#: |
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406780-2 |
| Period: |
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Contemporary |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This disc contains two multipart compositions: the title work (a touching juxtaposition of murdered reporter Daniel Pearl with the Daniel of the Old Testament, sung by the Los Angeles Master Choir and accompanied by a chamber ensemble with prominent clarinets), and Variations for Vibes, Piano & Strings (performed by the London Sinfonietta). The latter piece is enjoyable without being a particularly groundbreaking work for Reich; the Daniel Pearl piece is much more arresting. Recommended. (RA) |
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| $8.99 |
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| Title: |
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Celestial Harmonies: Responsories and Antiphons |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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Hildegard of Bingen |
| Performer: |
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Oxford Camerata / Jeremy Summerly |
| ISBN: |
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9786312101178 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00747313298327 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557983 |
| Cat.#: |
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8.557983 |
| Period: |
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Medieval |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The classical world's 25-year-long fascination with the 12th-century abbess, composer, mystic and proto-feminist Hildegard of Bingen continues unabated, with consistently lovely musical results. The latest entry in the Hildegard recordings catalog is this spare but warmly beautiful collection of songs from the Symphoniae Celestium Revelationum, a compilationf of 77 sacred songs that has been tapped regularly for previous albums by a variety of ensembles. For sheer lusciousness of sound, the prize still goes to Gothic Voices' brilliant A Feather on the Breath of God (on Hyperion, BT Key BECDHMD CDA66039), but this one is a very worthy contribution to the field and is highly recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Missa Cuiusvis Toni |
| Label: |
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Aeon
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Composer:
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Johannes Ockeghem |
| Performer: |
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Musica Nova Ensemble / Lucien Kandel |
| ISBN: |
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9786312056522 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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03760058367537 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAEONAECD0753 |
| Cat.#: |
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AECD 0753 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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For a relatively small group, the Lyon-based, eight-voice Ensemble Musica Nova creates a remarkably warm and glowing sound on this, its third release. It finds the group continuing to creep into the Renaissance period following previous recordings of works by Machaut and Dufay; here they tackle one of the most complex and technically impressive accomplishments of Johannes Ockeghem, arguably the towering master in a crowded field of Flemish polyphonic geniuses. This program is a set of four linked versions of a single mass setting that was composed in such a way that it could be performed in any of the accepted church modes -- a masterpiece of music theory that stands alongside Bach's Art of the Fugue as both a virtuosic display of technical prowess and a wonderful listening experience. Essential to any classical collection. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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The World of Variation |
| Label: |
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Archipel
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Composer:
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Ludwig Van Beethoven; Johannes Brahms; Franz Liszt |
| Performer: |
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Gyorgy Cziffra |
| ISBN: |
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9786311952252 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754006006 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDACHP0376 |
| Cat.#: |
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ARPCD 0376 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Performed here are Beethoven's variations on "God save the King", the Wranitzky variations,and C minor variations (WoO 80), both books of Brahms' Paganini variations, and the Liszt variations on a theme from Auber's opera La Muette de Portici. Gyorgy Cziffra, known for his recordings of the flashier works of Liszt, was very popular in Europe in the mid- to late-1950s. The performances on this recording date from 1956-57. Converting recordings from analog to digital, especially older ones, produces in many instances less than clear recordings replete with an abundance of tape hiss and a muffled sound that can be quite hampering to the performance. But this recording sounds as crystal clear as a newly recorded digital performance. The performances themselves are stunning displays of some of the most acrobatic piano music written. Cziffra is quite a treasure who will delight lay audiences as well as the most studied musicians. Recommended for any sound recording collection. (MJB) |
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| Title: |
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Hindemith/Cassado/Crumb/Stevens |
| Label: |
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Centaur
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Composer:
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Paul Hindemith; Gaspar Cassado; George Crumb; Halsey Stevens |
| Performer: |
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Karen Buranskas |
| ISBN: |
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9786311952474 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00044747288420 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCENT2884 |
| Cat.#: |
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CRC 2884 |
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20th century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Karen Buranskas displays formidable talent and stormy musicianship in this album of solo cello music. All four pieces are lengthy, somewhat abstract and require a sustained level of intense concentration to perform well and Buranskas delivers in spades. The most surprising piece is the Cassado suite which is the most tonal. The work has lengthy cantabile sections in the extreme upper register which lends a very haunting yet romantic mood to the entire piece. The Crumb sonata dates from 1955 before his experiments with unconventional instrumental techniques in the 1970s. The Hindemith sonata (op. 25, no. 3) is a technical nightmare and Buranskas handles it with ease, relaxation, and total control. A wonderful collection of solo cello music played by a master. Highly recommended especially for collections that support applied cello programs. (MJB) |
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| $33.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Creation |
| Label: |
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Archiv
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Composer:
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Franz Joseph Haydn |
| Performer: |
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Gabrieli Consort & Players; Chetham's Chamber Choir / Paul McCreesh |
| ISBN: |
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9786311789292 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00028947773610 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B001086502 |
| Cat.#: |
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477 7361 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Haydn's oratorio on the Genesis account of the creation has been recorded many times on both period and modern instruments, but this period-instrument performance by the Gabrieli Ensemble is unusual in that it restores the large-scale choral and orchestral arrangement that was employed in the work's premier performance in 1799. The resulting sound is huge and impressive, and both the singing and playing are top-notch. Warning: keep the volume on your stereo low until you've hit the first fortissimo passage in the opening movement. Then set your levels accordingly. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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La Boheme |
| Label: |
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Telarc
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Composer:
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Giacomo Puccini |
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Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Gwinnett Young Singers / Norman Mackenzie, Robert Spano |
| ISBN: |
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9786312131281 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00089408069727 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA80697 |
| Cat.#: |
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80697 |
| 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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My tolerance threshold for Italian opera (of the romantic period, anyway) is very, very low in general, and I'm a particularly hard sell on the idea that the world needs one more recording of La Bohème in particular. So the fact that I'm raving about this recording may tell you something. The quality of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's playing makes you mourn the fact that this opera has no overture; the soloists (especially tenor Marcus Haddock, singing Rodolfo) are spectacular, and the whole performance has a lightness and freshness to it that is almost enough (almost) to make me go back and reconsider my feelings about Puccini's output generally. Very highly recommended. (RA) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| Title: |
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Art of Field Recording, Volume 1 |
| Label: |
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Dust To Digital (dist. Forced Exposure)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786311659427 |
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| UPC: |
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00880226000820 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDDTD 8 |
| Cat.#: |
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8 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (4-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Collected from field recordings made by Art Rosenbaum over a period of 50 years, this set is divided into 4 discs that represent various genres of folk music of the U.S. including religious music, blues, and instrumental and dance. Excellent liner notes discuss the circumstances of the individual recording sessions, provide biographical details about the performers, and feature many of Rosenbaum’s drawings and paintings of the musicians. For listeners accustomed to older field recordings, these recordings made with more modern technology will be a welcome treat. Having a large collection of recordings to choose from, the selections on this set are all inspired and truly show the wide-range of folk music still being performed in living rooms and at parking lot jam sessions all across the United States. (CLHD) |
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| Title: |
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Punch |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Punch Brothers |
| ISBN: |
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9786311874677 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075597998283 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE181732 |
| Cat.#: |
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181732 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Progressive acoustic music is what many have come to expect from mandolin prodigy Chris Thile, and this recording certainly lives up to that expectation. Having surrounded himself with some of the hottest young acoustic musicians who are equally dedicated to expanding the boundaries folk/bluegrass music, Thile and the rest of the Punch Brothers have created an album that many will find a beautiful link between classical music, jazz, and folk/bluegrass. Other listeners, however, will undoubtedly find little they can relate to in this challenging and atmospheric work. The playing is of the highest order, Thile’s singing is pretty as well as a bit melancholy, and the group plays together very well. In fact, perhaps one of the biggest compliments to this group is the fact that even though Chris Thile is the best known of these musicians, this record highlights all of their talents.
(CLHD)
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| Title: |
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Legends Of American Music: The Original Outlaw |
| Label: |
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Time Life Music
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Artist:
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Merle Haggard |
| ISBN: |
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9786311610398 |
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| UPC: |
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00610583216820 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTLIFM19506 |
| Cat.#: |
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19506 |
| Genre: |
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Country & Western |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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This 3 disc set offers a good introduction to most (1963-2005) of the career of country music legend, Merle Haggard, but does face the inevitable complaint that some of Haggard’s greatest hits and lesser-known diamonds have been left out. This collection does a fine job though of highlighting many of the greatest hits, selecting excellent lesser-known tracks, and hinting at the future of Haggard’s career by showcasing some of his more-recent releases. Haggard doesn’t stray too far from the country music formula he’s always used, but the arrangements of his songs are always interesting. The liner notes offer a nice overview of Haggard’s life and influences and the transfers from the original recordings are well done. Until a more inclusive set is offered, The Original Outlaw will serve as an adequate, but not perfect introduction to the career of this most influential country musician. (CLHD) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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With Roots & Wings |
| Label: |
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Appleseed
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Artist:
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Angel Band |
| ISBN: |
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9786312102748 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00611587110824 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAPPL1108 |
| Cat.#: |
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APR CD 1108 |
| Genre: |
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Folk Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Angel Band (not to be confused with Emmylou Harris’ former backup band) is a vocal trio led by songwriter Nancy Josephson, and accompanied by a band that includes guitarist extraordinaire David Bromberg. The harmonies are stunning, the songs stylistically varied, and the arrangements well-crafted. Recommended. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Still Crooked |
| Label: |
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Signature Sounds
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Artist:
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Crooked Still |
| ISBN: |
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9786312134329 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00701237201320 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSIGS2013 |
| Cat.#: |
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SIG 2013 |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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On their third CD Crooked Still adds fiddle to their distinctive bass/cello/banjo instrumental mix. The ever-so-facile bass and cello plucking adds a depth unheard in new folk music, while Gregory Liszt’s four-fingered banjo playing and Aoife O’Donovan’s gripping vocals add another entire layer of originality to their sound, with the fiddle adding even more texture. They cover material by Olla Belle Reed, Mississippi John Hurt, 19th century American ballads, as well as a few originals, and each tune is a gem. Highly recommended. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Imaginational Anthem Vols. 1-3 |
| Label: |
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Tompkins Square (dist. Fontana)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786311963241 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00856075001899 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTPKS1899 |
| Cat.#: |
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TSQ1899 |
| Genre: |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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If you love the sound of the acoustic guitar, and if you're in the market for a refreshingly broad and inclusive overview of what outside-the-box thinkers have been doing with that instrument over the past four decades, then this set is a great place to start. It brings together three albums previously issued singly in 2005, 2006 and 2008 that feature old and new recordings by both well-known masters (John Fahey, Sandy Bull, Robbie Basho) and many lesser-known players, all of whom bring something strange and unique to the acoustic guitar repertoire -- you'll hear blues, Arabic scales, weird pseudo-minimalism, and much more. Very nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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From Now On |
| Label: |
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Smithsonian Folkways
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Artist:
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Michael Doucet |
| ISBN: |
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9786312013495 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00093074017722 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFOLK740177 |
| Cat.#: |
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SFW 40177 |
| Genre: |
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Cajun |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Usually associated with Beausoleil, the group he founded, this masterful Cajun fiddler decided for this release to go solo, or almost. Recorded in three unrehearsed sessions with no overdubs, Doucet plays fiddle, octave violin, accordion, or guitar, the first session solo, the second with fiddler Mitchell Reed, and the third with guitarist Todd Duke. They played Cajun tunes, funk, blues, and anything else that comes to mind, and the results are amazing. Casual and intense simultaneously, one marvels at the raw beauty of Doucet’s playing. It’s almost like being at a Louisiana house party. (JW) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Mockingbird |
| Label: |
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New Line Records (dist. ADA)
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Artist:
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Allison Moorer |
| ISBN: |
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9786311812563 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00794043910623 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNLR 39106 |
| Cat.#: |
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NLA39106 |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Moorer’s latest release consists of a set of a dozen songs written by women (including one of her own). She covers a wide variety of writers and styles, from Ma Rainey to Joni Mitchell, but puts her own spin on every one. Slow burners, blues shouts, and flat-out rockers all mix in this wonderful stew, held together by her voice, and the gentle production of Buddy Miller. This is a fine CD for both country and Americana fans. (JW) |
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| $14.98 |
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| Title: |
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Remember The Sun |
| Label: |
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One Little Indian
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Artist:
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Pieta Brown |
| ISBN: |
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9786311525272 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00827954078226 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDOLI 40782 |
| Cat.#: |
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OLI782 |
| Genre: |
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Rock, Alternative Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Country soul might be the best way to describe Brown’s music. With her fourth release she finds some of her best material and most personal voice. Her unique sound is country-tinged, with a big dose of old R&B, and when she rocks you hear a trace of Bob Dylan. The songs are memorable, impressionistic, often a bit dark, but with hope at the end, as in the title track. She plays with words, and does a great job pulling the listener into her world. (JW) |
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| Title: |
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The Infamous Stringdusters |
| Label: |
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Sugar Hill
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Artist:
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The Infamous Stringdusters |
| ISBN: |
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9786312083870 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00015891404325 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSUGA4043 |
| Cat.#: |
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SUG-CD-4043 |
| Genre: |
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Bluegrass |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This young band has already won several awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, and one listen will tell you why. They’re remarkable instrumentalists, they understand and embrace the bluegrass tradition, they’re all impressive vocalists, and they write fine original material. If you want to see the contemporary face of traditional bluegrass, give these guys a listen. Highly recommended. (GH) |
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| JAZZ |
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| $15.00 |
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| Title: |
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The Song Is You |
| Label: |
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Blue Shorts
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Artist:
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Ed Reed |
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Ed Reed with the Pack Almond Sextet |
| Cat.#: |
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ER-002 |
| Genre: |
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Vocal Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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After four decades of heroin addiction and four stints in prison, Ed Reed released his first recording last year at age 78. The Song Is You is the follow-up for this extraordinary jazz singer. Recalling Johnny Hartman in tone and delivery, Reed tackles standards from the jazz canon and delivers them with a voice that bespeaks hard times and survival. He’s backed by a fine sextet that provides an intimate sound for Reed’s vocals, highlighted by some fine guitar, violin, and sax solos. Very nice. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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1929-1933 |
| Label: |
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Jazz Oracle (dist. City Hall)
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Artist:
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Joe Robichaux |
| ISBN: |
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9786311764206 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00620588805721 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDJZZO8057 |
| Cat.#: |
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BDW8057 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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Several hot August days in New York in 1933 resulted in 22 of the supremely hot jazz tracks found here. Robichaux, a seasoned pianist and member of a prominent New Orleans Creole musical family, played and recorded from the 1910s through the mid-1960s. Except for two tracks from 1929 where he backs vocalist Christina Gray, we have a snapshot of his early 1930s band with a great, hard-driving rhythm section, and particularly good solos by clarinetist Gene Porter. The notes are excellent, but this isn’t just some historical document -- it’s also great fun. (JW) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Door |
| Label: |
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Origin
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Artist:
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Kelly Brand Nextet |
| ISBN: |
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9786311695555 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00805558249624 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDORGN82496 |
| Cat.#: |
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82496 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Door opens into a set of fine original compositions and arrangements by Chicago pianist Brand. To some extent this is a family affair, with her husband, Kelly Sill, on bass, and her daughter Naomi guesting on cello, but she gets much of her help from other folks on sax, flute, trumpet, drums, and occasional vocals. Her fourth CD, this is squarely contemporary, with excellent arrangements, tasteful solos, and beautiful melodies throughout. This one is for fans of jazz piano. (JW) |
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| Title: |
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History, Mystery |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Bill Frisell |
| ISBN: |
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9786312054023 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075597994377 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE435964 |
| Cat.#: |
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435964-2 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Bill Frisell's latest is a two-disc document of live performances by his current octet, a group that includes cornetist Ron Miles, violinist Jenny Scheinman, and cellist Hank Roberts, among others. There are some rollicking moments, and some jazzy ones (such as a joyful romp through Thelonious Monk's "Jackie-ing"), but for the most part the music is contemplative and gentle, and has very little to do with jazz -- instead, you hear evocations of pop, country and folk music, all held together in a matrix of distinctly Frisell-ish melodies and arrangements. Very, very lovely. (RA) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Azucar de Amor |
| Label: |
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Patois
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Artist:
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Kat Parra |
| ISBN: |
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9786311905845 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00837101441025 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRNLG4102 |
| Cat.#: |
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PRCD005 |
| Genre: |
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Latin Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Here's a complex and delightful album from Bay Area jazz singer Kat Parra, who is equally comfortable singing Spanish and English lyrics in stylistic settings as varied as salsa, mambo, samba, and charanga, and can draw on Sephardic and Afro-Peruvian melodic sources without dropping a beat (or sounding self-conscious or didactic). It's hard to know whether her supple and sparkling voice or her band's equally flexible and joyous playing deserve the most credit for this album's success, but ultimately it doesn't matter -- whether you want to sit back and listen or get up and dance, Azucar de Amor will give you just what you need. (RA) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Hard Way |
| Label: |
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Hear Music
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Artist:
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James Hunter |
| ISBN: |
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9786312096085 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00888072306691 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHRMS30669 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMCD-30669 |
| Genre: |
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Rock/R&B |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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There's no irony and no edge to British singer-songwriter James Hunter's R&B revivalism; he simply loves the sound of vintage soul and bluebeat and recreates it again with loving fidelity on his second solo album. Guitar, bass, drums, two saxophones and a slightly grainy tenor voice (much more consistently in tune this time out) are all he needs, though he brings in a string section on several tracks as well, to lovely effect. He could release an album like this every six months and I'm not sure I'd ever get tired of it. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Directions to See a Ghost |
| Label: |
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Light in the Attic
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Artist:
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Black Angels |
| ISBN: |
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9786312090458 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00826853003322 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDLITA033 |
| Cat.#: |
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33 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Slow, relentless, brutally hard-driving, drone rock that smolders with incendiary, tortured, irresistibly intense energy -- from visceral tribal drumming, exploding vintage-sounding guitars and drone machine/organ to searingly intense echoing vocals that sound like beatific howls of lamentation. Whether protesting the waste of war or mourning the marginalized individual, the Black Angels' sound is brooding, but also maniacal with an almost sinister, violent Birthday Party energy coursing through it all. If the protagonists of these songs are bleak they are also “raging against the dying of the light.” Highly recommended. (TB) |
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| Title: |
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Afterhours in The Afterlife |
| Label: |
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Loveless
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Artist:
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Voyager One |
| ISBN: |
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9786311849033 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00688610002272 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDLOVE027 |
| Cat.#: |
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27 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Their previous albums were hugely popular with NW shoegaze fans. This one, partially composed with the Japanese band, Guitar, takes it further. The sound is no longer imitative of Ride or other dream pop bands of yore. The Seattle band emerges on this one with a sound that is all their own. They maintain the swirling guitars and post-rock instruments, including drum loops, samples, keyboards, and sequences, but here there are more intricately woven compositions. The music noise-rocks in atmospheric, druggy, electro-pop, space lounge grooves. Grade: “A,” for addictive. Recommended. (TB) |
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| Title: |
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Longplay 2 |
| Label: |
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Warm Electronic Recordings
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Artist:
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Pacific Uv |
| ISBN: |
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9786311815588 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00689593011824 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWRM 30118 |
| Cat.#: |
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30118 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The latest from this Portland-by-way-of-Athens group, may sound more like a collection than album at first, but that doesn’t make it any less sublime a ride. And who says you have to sound the same on every track anyway? The whole thing is an elegant, understated affair, even when the chiming guitars build to swerve driving frenzy (think: Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky). They hover between ambient post-rock minimalism and textures and swooning, reverby dream pop guitars with Mazzy Star-style lilting vocals. The result is lush, haunting beauty infused with melancholic longing. Recommended. (TB) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Anywhere I Lay My Head |
| Label: |
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Atco
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Artist:
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Scarlett Johansson |
| ISBN: |
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9786312054061 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00081227993498 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHIN454524 |
| Cat.#: |
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454524 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Well, really, why not? I mean, if the legendarily sultry actress Scarlett Johansson is going to release a pop album, wouldn't you prefer that it be a collection of Tom Waits covers rather than, say, David Soul covers -- or original songs? What makes things even more interesting is that with its lush sonic layers and heavy reverb, Anywhere I Lay My Head sounds like a vintage 4AD production; also, her singing voice is somewhere in the male high-baritone-to-low-tenor range, which is not only interesting but sometimes actually disturbing (so is her tendency to go noticeably flat every once in a while). Critics will call the arrangements pretentious, but I find them charmingly idiosyncratic and frequently quite beautiful. Expect demand. (RA) |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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Diary Of An Afro Warrior |
| Label: |
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Tempa (dist. Forced Exposure)
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Artist:
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Benga |
| ISBN: |
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9786311902851 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00666017180229 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTMPA010 |
| Cat.#: |
|
010 |
| Genre: |
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Dance, DJ |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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If you're interested in tracking the progress of dubstep (yet another fun British variation on techno incorporating elements of reggae, house, and a whole melting-pot of other electro-dance sources), then up-and-comer Benga is a good reference point. His second album offers all the squiggly basslines, faintly menacing synthesizer tones, and joyfully aggressive stutter-step beats that fans of the genre have come to expect, along with some interesting digressions and variations. Mojo says that Benga is "Massive Attack to Burial's Portishead." If you don't know what that means, trust me -- a bunch of your patrons do. (RA) |
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| $9.99 |
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| Title: |
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Sleep More, Take More Drugs, Do What We Want |
| Label: |
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Self-released
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Artist:
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Half Light |
| Performer: |
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Half Light |
| UPC: |
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634479731303 |
| Cat.#: |
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| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This is ambient dream pop from a Seattle sextet that creates intriguing, smoldering shoegaze that draws one in from the onset. Effects laden electric and Americana-flavored pedal steel guitars, cello, catchy inner rhythms on drums and two female vocalists combine to make sublime, melody driven gems in the vein of Slowdive and Mazzy Star. Moody but uncannily affirming, produced by Tim Powels of Australian legends, The Church. Somehow relaxed and soothing, but teeming with energy and longing and joy beneath the surface. From eerie cello undercurrents to understated, slow, swirling guitars breaching the edges of dissonance at all the right times, to sexy-wispy vocals worthy of Tanya Donnelly. One of the best indie records of the year. Highly recommended. (TB) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Lay It Down |
| Label: |
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Blue Note
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Artist:
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Al Green |
| ISBN: |
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9786312086680 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00094634844925 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBNOT48449 |
| Cat.#: |
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48449 |
| Genre: |
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Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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Al Green’s last three albums for Blue Note chart the refinement of his craft to an incredible synergy of soul and simplicity. Where 2003’s I Can’t Stop recalled the funky ensemble of his mid-1970s work and 2005’s Everything’s OK developed a “modern” soul sound, Lay It Down smoothes the texture and lets Green explore the capabilities of his voice against a slew of guests, ably supported by producers Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and James Poyser. (AJ) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Attack & Release |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Black Keys |
| ISBN: |
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9786311947494 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075597996920 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE292476 |
| Cat.#: |
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292476 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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It’s easy to peg The Black Keys as just another blues-rock duo, another flavor of The White Stripes. Fortunately, they don’t seem content to submit to such reductionism, and on Attack & Release actively manipulate their style to create fresh, intriguing hooks and textures. Of course, the presence of Danger Mouse as producer almost guarantees a more focused end-product, but in the end it’s The Keys who seize and unleash an inescapable new milieu. (AJ) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Narrow Stairs |
| Label: |
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Atlantic/Q Records
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Artist:
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Death Cab For Cutie |
| ISBN: |
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9786312053811 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075678994654 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDATL 452796 |
| Cat.#: |
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452796 |
| Genre: |
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Popular Music |
| Release type: |
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| Comments: |
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Death Cab for Cutie’s early EPs and albums helped form the landscape for Y2K-era indie acts like Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, and Bright Eyes to achieve mainstream success, in turn allowing 2003’s Transatlanticism and 2005’s Plans to propel them to “the big time”. Unfortunately, while those albums developed a characteristic sound against upbeat lyrics which invites repeated listening, Narrow Stairs seems to lean toward distortion rather than musical arrangements, oddly reflecting Ben Gibbard’s navel-gazing texts. (AJ) |
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| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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| Title: |
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Joe Gibbs: Scorchers from The Mighty Two |
| Label: |
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17 North Parade
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786312073284 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00054645413022 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDVP 4130 |
| Cat.#: |
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VP 4130 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The 17 North Parade label (a subsidiary imprint of the normally dancehall-minded VP Records) continues its impressive series of roots reggae reissues and compilations with this brilliant and generously-packed 2-disc collection of classics from producers Joe Gibbs and Errol Thompson. Including spectacular material from the likes of Junior Byles, Junior Murvin, Prince Far I, Barrington Levy, and Eek-a-Mouse (and featuring detailed liner notes and track-by-track commentary), this set is like a textbook in classic roots and early dancehall reggae, and should be considered an essential purchase for any collection that covers the genre. (RA) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Made In Dakar |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Orchestra Baobab |
| ISBN: |
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9786311917725 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00075597994407 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE433788 |
| Cat.#: |
|
433788 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Orchestra Baobab, a Senegalese group who were popular in the 70s and early 80s, reformed several years ago when the re-release of their album Pirate’s Choice sparked renewed interest in their take on the Cuban styles once so popular in west Africa. Like the best musicians in this genre, the band is both relaxed and upbeat, and they are still mixing influences and exploring new combinations. This well-recorded album highlights a band at the height of their powers, and we should be grateful that circumstances have allowed them to experience this revival. (SA) |
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| $21.98 |
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| Title: |
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Bel Canto |
| Label: |
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Sterns Music USA
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Artist:
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Mbilia Bel |
| ISBN: |
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9786311971550 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00740042303720 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSTEN3037-38 |
| Cat.#: |
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STCD3037-38 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Mbilia Bel was discovered by the great Congolese bandleader Tabu Ley Rochereau, and she became the featured vocalist in his group Afrisa International. This two-CD collection features her recordings from the early to mid- 80s, when rumba was turning into the slightly more modern soukous style and Bel was at the peak of her popularity. Sterns does its usual great job of compiling the best tracks, with excellent sound and informative liner notes. (SA) |
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| $14.99 |
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| Title: |
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Brazil Classics 7: What's Happening in Pernambuco |
| Label: |
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Luaka Bop (dist. Redeye)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310874357 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00680899006521 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDLKBP65 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD-LBOP-0065 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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A lot of great music has come out of northeastern Brazil, especially the state of Bahia and its capital Salvador. Who knew that there was also great music brewing in Recife, the capital of Pernambuco? Leave it to Luaka Bop to shine a light on the emerging scene there and give welcome exposure to a baker’s dozen artists who were heretofore unknown to the world at large. With sounds ranging from traditional (fado, samba) to modern (drum ‘n’ bass, hip hop) and every hybrid in between, there’s never a dull moment on this latest volume in the Brazil Classics series. (SA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Desert Crossroads |
| Label: |
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Riverboat (dist. World Music Network)
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Artist:
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Etran Finatawa |
| ISBN: |
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9786312013587 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00605633004823 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRVB R330048 |
| Cat.#: |
|
TUG1048 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Etran Finatawa, the new kids on the block in the broad category of ‘desert blues,’ have released their second album. They’re from Niger, and they’re unique in that their goal is to combine the traditions of two different, and sometimes contentious, ethnic groups, the Tuareg and the Wodaabe. But you don’t have to know or care anything about that to enjoy the hypnotic grooves they create with guitars, percussion, and vocals. (SA) |
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© CD HotList 2004 |
