Best Compilations
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wonderfully arranged CD, capturing the spirit of Christmas."
"Old world Christmas tunes played with old world instruments and some wonderful harmonies as in "What Child is This", this is a wonderful addition to any Christmas music collection."
"It has a lot of good tracks with nice acoustic guitar playing."
"Buy this!"
"Dan Fogelberg has one of the voices that is made for Christmas music."
"Beautiful, joyful, haunting, reverent -- everything true Christmas music should be: a classic of Christian spiritual music for today."
"Had no idea he had done a Christmas album or that he personally enjoyed Celtic music."
"It's old (1999) but excellent!"
2 Bookends
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Vietnam War, the assassination of public figures, and seeing part of my city burn the previous summer during riots-- it was a lot to handle. The original first side of the record ends with the sad longing and fears of Old Friends, who sit on a park bench and reminisce together. The fears and sadness of 1968 are long past, but a final memory remains: As I lay in bed early that Christmas Eve, the colored glow of tree lights seeps into my room. Off in the distance are disembodied television voices of Apollo astronauts circling the moon-- they quote passages from the book of Genesis, and wish well the "people of the good Earth.""
"The Vietnam War, the assassinations of public figures, and seeing part of my city burn the previous summer during riots-- it was a lot to handle. The first side of the record ends with the sad longing and fears of Old Friends, who sit on a park bench and reminisce together. The fears and sadness of 1968 are long past, but a final memory remains: As I lay in bed early that Christmas Eve, the colored glow of tree lights seeped into my room. Off in the distance were disembodied television voices of Apollo astronauts circling the moon-- they read passages from the book of Genesis, and wished well the "people of the good Earth.""
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"great."
"Nine of the 13 songs directly address this: --"leave the dream of hearth and home". --"in a better home soon I will reside." --"follow heart, follow home...one round heart, one round home." --"now the coldest day of winter has made a home of my heart." I was, however, struck by the particular poignancy of Nicky's songs ("Begin"--listen to the way she stretches her deliver of "let go," "Starlight"--the affecting mantra of "take me home...take me home," and "Avila"--a sweet and simple a capella number of exquisite harmony) and the exhilaration of Annabelle's ("The Devil's Paintbrush Road," "Swallow," "Apocalypse Lullaby," and the great title tune, "Firecracker")."
"I heard a tune called "Avila" on Youtube when I was looking for another song, and was taken by the soul touching harmonies, melodies, inflections, and the phrase: "Oh, sweet peace..." I opened up an Amazon tab to preview other songs by Wailin' Jennys and without another pause, purchased the "Firecracker" collection."
"Bought 2 CD's by these lovely ladies."
"this is a beautiful CD of must have folk music."
Best Compilations
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Yes, Morton was known to stretch facts to suit him, but his ability to cite other musicians, songs and even discuss his approach to music is the true value of these recordings - dare I call them the pearls? One of the interesting things that my pianist who listened to this set with me pointed out was when Morton was talking he was invariably playing or vamping on his piano during the narrative. He did not do everything claimed in these recordings, but he certainly knew many of the folks whom he mentions, and also has some incredible insights into personalities, events and music that are well worth listening and considering."
"But putting that aside, I think you'll be enraptured by the intimacy of the piano playing and the stories Morton tells about the development of music, Storyville, race riots, parade jobs, and so on."
"Originally issued by Rudi Blesh on his Circle label in 1948 or so as 12-inch 78s, then as 12 LPs, now in a critical edition with fine historical context."
"Don't listen to this if you are easily offended."
"What a voice."
"And this is the rediscovery of Jelly Roll by Alan Lomax at the Library of Congress."
"A must have for jazz music lovers."
"If you play Ragtime piano or just love to listen REAL piano masters."
Best Compilations
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Band recorded a lot of music, but when they were "on" they presented a sound like no other."
"A classic that is a great addition to our collection."
"Just what I was looking for."
"Excellent CD, could be "The Band" 's best CD."
Best Christian Alternative
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The album is filed with several songs such as; Wealthy place, Our God Reigns and Wonderful, which are great songs to listen to when you're in a good mood, the weather is nice and you just got off of work."
"My friend told me this was her favorite CD and she's an awesome musician and singer, so I checked them out."
"I "ran across" this CD via "browsing" the Praise and Worship section on Amazon, I heard the first two tracks and was "instantly" hooked."
"It takes me back to the old LA Mass Choir days."
"love this CD it has been in my CD player from day one i received it."
"If you are thirsty for more of God's presence and you love to praise and worship, this is the perfect CD to do just that."
"Great live CD."
Best Celtic New Age
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Enya is the queen of her genre."
"Along with "And Winter came...", I purchased two other holiday music CD's - those of Sarah Brightman ("A Winter Symphony") and Loreena McKennitt ("A midwinter's night dream"), and I must say Enya's is my favorite one. "And Winter came..." introduces this musical experience with a piece without lyrics, just tranquil "white" music. Songs that I find outstanding are the self-created "White is in the winter night", an up-tempo song that simply invites singing along its tune."
"Cd sounds incredible!"
"All Enya albums are great."
"Gorgeous seasonal sounds."
"Great CD."
Best Contemporary Folk
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Figuring the name of the song was "Shiver Me Timbers" I searched Amazon's music and found that the song is on a 1974 album by Tom Waits called The Heart of Saturday Night, and it is titled "Shiver Me Timbers.""
"Just sit back and absorb all of the sounds of this album,the next thing you know your very relaxed and wanting more."
"when I read the discription, on this posting, that said "The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic" I thought this had some fantastic new sound but nowhere on this cd or the jacket(inside or outside) does it say anything about this SHM-CD."
"The sonics on this particular CD certainly reveal much that is available to the discerning (and demanding) audiophile."
"This was a gift that was much appreciated from a Tom Waits' fan."
"As good as Nighthawks at the Diner."
Best Traditional Folk
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"At the present moment I'm not sure what to say about this album other than that it is absolutely the Music of the Elves, and that if you're at all interested in the properties of Elf-power you'd do well to buy this recording and listen to it in whichever format fills you with the most peace and joy."
"I have been a fan of the ISB since this album came out over 40 years ago."
"Always loved this album."
"When I listen to this album, I know that even the parts of my life that haven't been a success really don't matter."
"Some other listener wrote that hearing the songs was a meditation experience, or something to that effect."
"This is a strange and beautiful classic folk music album from the '60s."
"These guys are great, and difficult to explain."
"I absolutely love this album."
Best Live Recordings
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Vietnam War, the assassinations of public figures, and seeing part of my city burn the previous summer during riots-- it was a lot to handle. The first side of the record ends with the sad longing and fears of Old Friends, who sit on a park bench and reminisce together. The fears and sadness of 1968 are long past, but a final memory remains: As I lay in bed early that Christmas Eve, the colored glow of tree lights seeped into my room. Off in the distance were disembodied television voices of Apollo astronauts circling the moon-- they read passages from the book of Genesis, and wished well the "people of the good Earth.""
"The Vietnam War, the assassinations of public figures, and seeing part of my city burn the previous summer during riots-- it was a lot to handle. The original first side of the record ends with the sad longing and fears of Old Friends, who sit on a park bench and reminisce together. The fears and sadness of 1968 are long past, but a final memory remains: As I lay in bed early that Christmas Eve, the colored glow of tree lights seeped into my room. Off in the distance were disembodied television voices of Apollo astronauts circling the moon-- they read passages from the book of Genesis, and wished well the "people of the good Earth.""
Best Traditional British & Celtic Folk
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Wonderful, relaxing holiday music."
"Gorgeous music!"
"CD had a great collection of songs!"
"Great collection."
"I gave this as a Christmas gift and the receipient was charmed by the sounds of the Middle Ages."
"A Feast of Songs is a gorgeous journey through a millennia of different cultural takes on the Christmas theme."
Best Jewish & Yiddish Music
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very clear vocals, so easy to learn the songs."
"Love this CD!"
"The liner notes provide English transliteration of the Hebrew lyrics which is also really useful for those unfamiliar with the songs."
"I needed an album just to help me renember some words to holiday songs."
"I bought it for assisted living residents and they sing a lot with it and love it."
"Here is a collection, basically Hebrew - there are some English and Yiddish songs too - for a year of Sabbaths and Holidays."
"He is a wonderful Jewish performer and singer."
"They lack the holiday spirit!"