Best Folk
They're drawn by songs like "Ho Hey" and "Stubborn Love," Americana-inflected barn burners in the vein of the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm not very good at writing about music but if you like stuff like the Avett Brothers or Low Anthem or The Head & the Heart I'm pretty sure you will like this."
"If I had to characterize The Lumineers, I'd say they're similar to Bright Eyes, except 10 times better and a tenth as annoyingly self-infatuated."
"Submarines is what really caught my attention as well as Ho, Hey. If you, like me, sometimes want to find a new band/artist to stimulate your musical taste, I would not hesitate to recommend The Lumineers."
"Fame found them, but when you watch them or listen to their music, you appreciate how deeply they care about their music."
"I may never have bought it if wasn't that low. Yes, the stand out song is 'Ho Hey', but as much as I listen to that song, I find myself equally drawn to 'Submarines' with its upbeat warm feeling. Kind of gives me that warm feeling of being wrapped up in a blanket on a cold morning. Another song worth mentioning is 'Stubborn Love' with its haunting cello. While I do think it's somewhat of a sad sounding song, it somehow keeps drawing me in. In my opinion, if I had just bought one song, namely 'Ho Hey', I would have cheated myself out of an entire listening experience."
"They all have a catchy pure sound and make me smile; Flower in Your Hair is my 2nd favorite so far! I'm looking forward to playing this CD over and over during short trips to work, home, etc."
"Amazing album, amazing band!"
"Great CD!!!"
The classic original Beatles studio albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love 180g vinyl."
"It has Bungalow Bill, Back in the USSR, Rocky Racoon, and Blackbird plus a lot more."
"A 2 CD "mini-box" with a picture book, and a small version of a collage poster that may have been part of the original album all those years ago."
"I was so dissapointed I left it in a corner for several months then one day I said to myself I would give it a chance so I sat down and listened to it carefully at that point I realized I was not the Beatles I was listening to but a combination of John,George,Paul & ringo showing what was to come on their solo work or first albums next thing I know it was becoming one of my favorite Beatle albums today I have it on cd,cassette and vinyl and on my way to buy a sealed one to leave for my daughter this lp is not meant for any other type of format but vinyl and on a good system so if you have a choice don't get the cd or the excessive hissing cassette."
"Album cover was slightly warped, but other than that it was sure nice to hear these old songs again."
"I could go in depth about this album in my review, but don't need to: This mono issue has different versions of many tracks that cannot be heard anywhere else, including the Anthology series."
"As any Beatles fan already knows this album (CD)may be the groups best ever compilation of original music, in my opinion the Beatles changed the face of music and created sounds that no one before them ever thought of as music, alarm clocks, crowing roosters,sustained notes the list goes on and on."
The album also topped many critics' "albums of the year" lists and gathered major music awards in the process, including eight Grammy Awards.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I like to play her music at home, while having a glass of wine and cooking and it's a good end to the day or to start a weekend."
"Her voice sounds even better than ever in this format. The combination of her voice and this music, along with the spaciousness of the sound, make for a great SACD."
"Rear channels are almost totally missing, and in fact, had to check a few times to see if there was any sound coming out at all."
"I highly recommend this CD if you love female vocalists - jazz, pop, country western - and to be introduced to a singer who will certainly make her mark on the music scene for years to come."
"Very talented, great voice and great songwriting as well."
"If I feel crappy, I put her on, and she can make me smile just about every time."
"This record is perfect for laying on the floor on a warm afternoon with the sun shing through the window."
"A must have SACD for every Jazz collection!"
Best British & Celtic Folk
Though critically well received at the time, commercial success did not arrive till nearly 30 years later, when 30 seconds of 'Pink Moon' was used in a Volkswagen commercial.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Songs cut deep, The album has an almost trans meditation effect and can cause deep introspection at times....So much talent so much potential and so much loss... but I guess that is part of what makes Nick Drake so special....If he was living the high life, living in a mansion raking in the bucks; Vacationing in the Bahamas and just living a really good life......You might think hummm does this guy really know what he's talking about ?"
"for whatever reason i didnt really listen to nick himself. until 2007 when i was working at night by myself. listening to a playlist of hundreds of songs made by other coworkers, and this record came on the speakers."
"Nick Drake's soothing guitar and simple lyrics make life in a hectic world seem a little bit more clear."
"Modern folk singers aspire to this..."
"Woah baby, take it easy."
"Pink Moon, Road and Parasite are terrific songs, but I really enjoyed the whole album."
"I find it very interesting, a lot of details that would bug me about another artist's work (the insubstantial voice, the inconsistency of the lyrics, the limited dynamic range), absolutely don't cross my mind when I listen to this album."
Best Contemporary Folk
The album also topped many critics' "albums of the year" lists and gathered major music awards in the process, including eight Grammy Awards.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I like to play her music at home, while having a glass of wine and cooking and it's a good end to the day or to start a weekend."
"Her voice sounds even better than ever in this format. The combination of her voice and this music, along with the spaciousness of the sound, make for a great SACD."
"I highly recommend this CD if you love female vocalists - jazz, pop, country western - and to be introduced to a singer who will certainly make her mark on the music scene for years to come."
"Very talented, great voice and great songwriting as well."
"If I feel crappy, I put her on, and she can make me smile just about every time."
"This record is perfect for laying on the floor on a warm afternoon with the sun shing through the window."
"A must have SACD for every Jazz collection!"
"Listened to this CD 50 times minimum."
Best Jewish & Yiddish
The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel . Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens ( Once on This Island ) mix marches, cakewalks, and of course ragtime to create a rich, compelling score, including Sarah's song to her baby, "Your Daddy's Son," her soaring duet with Coalhouse, "Wheels of a Dream," Mother's self-revealing "Back to Before," and numerous set pieces, all performed by a perfect cast.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This was supposed to be the later full cast recording, when I went to download the MP3 it was the earlier version that eliminated much of the dialog, e.g., the opening number is only 3 minutes rather than the 5 to 8 minutes it should be for a full version."
"Marin Mazzie sings the remarkable "Back To Before" and Audra MacDonald "Your Daddy's Hands" making them songs that will stand as monuments to theatre the way that "People" does for Streisand, "Rose's Turn" For Merman, "Hello Dolly" for Carol Channing. The songs themselves are spectacular; each piece develops and we do hear character development themes; each repeated motif in a song has thickened and developed along with the character, so we never ever feel as though the score was written hastily."
"This great work would have made it on the music alone, but when you factor in some of the best voices in the business, it's incredible. The musical focuses more strongly on the black-and-white race relationships than the original novel, and this works to the advantage. The juxtaposition of cultures makes for not only great storytelling, but variety in musical numbers, keeping the boredom factor at bay. An example of this occurs when the Irish Fireman--after a blatant display or racism--claims, "They'll get used to it the way we had to," pointing out the fact that at one time the Irish were not treated so well in this country. The cons: This is not a short musical."
"An excellent cast performs an excellent musical."
"I forgot how good the show was and how great the voices of the cast are on the recording."
"THIS 2 DISC CD BRINGS IT TO LIFE...."
"This music is incredible."
"great Broadway musical play sound track about the immigration from europe to US at the turn of the 1900 century----. they made a dramatic movie starring James Cagney in his later years .....BUT THE MOVIE MUSICAL DOES NOT EXIST....ITS STRICTLY. BROADWAY STAGE PROPERTY......"
Best Traditional Folk
The trio's passionate commitment to peace and social justice made them the conscience of an era as they soulfully communicated political concerns through music in an unprecedented way.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I prefer the newer version of "The best of..." But I'm sure there are many who prefer this older version of the songs."
"To that end, this must be a part of your classic collection of songs by Peter, Paul & Mary."
"I am so used to hearing Peter, Paul and Mary as older performers on their Christmas and 25th Anniversary DVDs that are regularly broadcast on PBS that I had forgotten how haunting their music was when they were at their best."
"I have their vinyl records, going back many years, but I now play CD's, so it was time to update."
"Love listening to the best of any group, but Peter, Paul and Mary transport me back to the sixties."
"This is the music that my generation (born late 60s) grew up with - listening to the songs that our parents loved as well."
"My favorite find on this album was the last song "Don't Laugh at Me"."
"So disappointed in the sound quality."
Best Alternative Rock
Blurryface is the much anticipated second studio album from twenty one pilots.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One of the bigger breakout sensations of the past few years from the indie band circuit, Twenty One Pilots (or TOP, as I will frequently refer to them from here on) are also an increasingly polarizing band, as a perusal of the early reviews for their second studio album Blurryface will verify. While some see Blurryface as a continuance of growth and maturity from Vessel, others see it as a step back, a disappointment compared to what they showed they were capable of in their previous albums (they have two very popular self-released albums that preceed Vessel: a self titled album, and the now unavailable Regional at Best.). Once the lyrical depth really hit me, which actually happened while listening to a song from their self-titled album titled "Addict With a Pen", I fell hard and fast for TOP, and have been trying to "share the love" with as many family and friends as I can ever since! Stressed Out, Lane Boy, and Ride all were released in advance of the album, in three consecutive weeks leading up to today, the album's official release date (though it actually ended up coming out yesterday.). Whether you fall into the camp of this being a great album, or just an okay or good album, will probably hinge somewhat on how you feel about artists mixing it up, and deviating from their signature sound. For instance, Imagine Dragons created a similar rift of opinion with their release of Smoke + Mirrors earlier this year, which featured almost as many different kinds of songs as it had tracks, and most of them weren't like what made them popular in their first studio album Night Visions. I'm going to do a brief track by track overview, so if you already feel your patience with this review wearing thin, just skip down to the final paragraph to get my final verdict on this album! Heavydirtysoul - TOP is known for bringing it on their album opening tracks, and this one is certainly no exception! I wasn't crazy about this track upon first listen, but after many repeated listens, it has moved up my favor almost as fast as the beat moves the song along! Stressed Out - If any song on this album can be described as a "typical" twenty one pilots song, this would be it. The "character" of Blurryface is introduced in this song, and will make a few more appearances throughout the rest of the album, as he is what Joseph refers to (in various interviews discussing the album) as the personification of his insecurities, doubts, and fears. Tear in My Heart - When TOP fans were online prior to this track's release, speculating about what it would be about, some people specifically said that "They said they'd never do a love song", so it can't be that. My favorite song on the album, and bonus points for being the song that finally convinced my wife to like twenty one pilots! This song deals with the record industry, and takes not so subtle digs at the way it's run, and the expectations that get put on artists to put out certain types of "common" songs, which Joseph admits there are a couple of on this album. Not one of my favorites from the album, but still a very good track. The Judge - One of the things that TOP did that was very popular on Vessel, is having a couple of songs that featured the ukulele, and that is back here on Blurryface, first on this upbeat track. It's a solid track, no doubt, but it's meaning is more ambiguous than normal (that's saying something for a TOP song! ), as some insist it's a song about Tyler singing towards his band-mate and drummer Josh, while others, like myself, feel it makes more sense if it's another "love song" to Jenna. Message Man - I have a feeling this is going to be my "Migraine track" on Blurryface - a song that most of the TOP fans love, and list amongst their favorites, and I am only so-so about, and list it towards the bottom for that album. Hometown - After what has been (for me) a string of solid but unspectacular tracks, things take a sharp turn, and my second favorite song on the album drops in! Hometown is another one of the divisive tracks on this album that some people love, but a lot of TOP fans list towards the bottom of their favorites, due to its radical departure from "typical" twenty one pilots sound. Being a fan of all of those artists, I am naturally a big fan of this track, and while it does stray from the style TOP typically deal in, it works here, and I wouldn't mind seeing another track or two like this in future albums - provided there aren't many more than that. Not Today - This is another peppy, upbeat track, in the vein of The Judge (minus ukulele), with bouncing piano and drums driving it along as Joseph sings about a subject he describes in the song as being "down", thus making the music a contradiction. Goner - Tyler Joseph has written a plethora of emotional songs over the years for twenty one pilots, and even refers to him and his fans the Skeleton Clique as "the few, the proud, and the emotional" on Fairly Local. I hope it was of help to you (even if you skipped the track by track portion), and that it offers a solid basis for my belief that this is one of the best releases of the year so far, in a year that has been PACKED with excellent new albums by great artists! So while it's definitely a 5 star album in my book, I'll give it a 9 out of 10 and a 1-10 rating scale, as it drags a little bit in my opinion towards the end, through tracks 9-11, and there is too much reliance on "yeahs" and "nos" throughout the album, which I think only "hit" about 50% of the time, and seem like needless filler the remainder of the time."
"I highly recommend buying that CD if you like the hit songs as well as music with a hint of Linkin Park and a hint of 311."
"I thought it would be difficult to follow up an album like Vessel but Twenty One Pilots nailed with authority."
"My Kids are in love with Twenty One Pilots!"
"Each song is unique and doesn't sound like the next."
"I love Twenty One Pilots."
"I honestly feel a little frenzied sometimes because I want to listen to every song at once."
"Had Amazon send a replacement and it did it also."
Best Ukranian Music
Ukrainian Christmas Carols And New Year Songs by Authentic Ethnic Music Recordings.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It reminds me of the recordings Bartok did in the early 20th century, and I suspect these are from a similar period, though the commentary doesn't give any date."
Best Rock Singer-Songwriters
Cat STEVENS Tea For The Tillerman CD.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I spent many an hour listening to this album and Teaser and the Firecat and would be hard-pressed to decide which is better."
"I feel in love with the Tea for the Tillerman when it first came out and still enjoy every song."
"My favorite from Cat Steven, Planning on getting all of his albums."
"one of my favorites by the "cat"."
"My wife loves Cat Stevens."
"This album was my first introduction to Cat Stevens in the very early 1970's."
"Great sound and album."
"It brings me back to my college days."
Best Alt-Country & Americana
Twisting strains of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, and Gram Parsons into a stripped-down sound wholly his own, Yoakam is one of music's true mavericks, and his body of work is one of the most innovative in all of country. Rooted in the purest country traditions, and wrapped in raw rock 'n' roll attitude, Yoakam's art rivets fans of both genres and remains as utterly original today as when it started burning up the charts in the '80s.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"What can you say beyond Dwight Yoakam."
"Very good excellent music thank you."
"Great collection of his hits!"
"if you are his fans...thus is a good cd to have."
"Had adj if the find I enjoy listening to."
Best Children's Sing-A-Longs
The Singable Songs Collection reissues the classic Singable Songs for the Very Young and its superlative successors, More Singable Songs and Corner Grocery Store , as a set.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love Raffi."
"I remember most of these songs from when my kids were little and now I get to share them with my daycare kids."
"Changes words in classic nursery rhymes.Music very good, clear, and very silly which children love."
"Great variety of songs."
"I have been using the music from this collection for years in language therapy groups before having my own children and singing the songs with them."
"I bout for my grandsons preschool."
"If you are not familar with Raffi and have small children you really need to invest in at least one of his CDs."