CD Reviews

[Pete]

Bought some great CD's yesterday so I thought this would be a good place to review CD's bought. (Not your faves, just recent purchases which would be recent releases)

Beverley Knight: Who I Am
Really good R'n'B with a refreshing air of great musicians in the backing band. Well written songs. A mile away from the overproduced Destiny's Child.

Down to the Bone: Crazy Vibes and Things
British Jazz Funk outfit with great melody lines and tight rhythms. Some would put it into Smooth Jazz category but it is too upbeat for that.

Norah Jones: Come Away With Me
This is the best new name in ages. (anyone see her on "Later With Jools Holland"?) Singer pianist with acoustic band. Jazz orientated, with a mixture of old and new songs. Totally captivating laid back music. Not really UK singles material but destined to be a huge album hit.

What good CD's have you bought?:idea:

[Pete]

Noticed someone viewing this old post.:idea: Was quite surprised it didn't get any replies. What might be termed a lead balloon from the early days of the Off-Topic section.
I was right about Norah Jones. Although the second album was not up to much.:D
Not had the money for CD's lately but a couple of titles still get a good bashing after two years ownership.
"The Soul Sessions" Joss Stone and "Acoustic Soul" India Arie.
Since the death of JazzFM it's replacement SmoothFM (terrible name) took over my source of good new music has waned.
So what new talent is out there?
Have you heard any really good new music recently?:music:

[Linny]

Perhaps in the good old days that you and lane4 harp on about no one actually said that much Pete.

My favourite CD at the moment is The Best of Inspector Morse.

[Linny]

Yeah I know, I know, you used to talk seriously about swimming then. Go back and read some of the old stuff. :rolleyes:

[Katie]

I'm loving Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams" at the moment it's amaaazing. :)

[Chris]

I'm loving Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams" at the moment it's amaaazing. :)

He's very very good. Kaci has a bit of a thing for him too!

[Spidey]

Perhaps in the good old days that you and lane4 harp on about no one actually said that much Pete.
My favourite CD at the moment is The Best of Inspector Morse.
Recently got the Barbra Streisand CD/DVD Guilty 2 (called Guilty Pleasures in the US), absolutely great track 3 and 11. Also Paul Ankas' Rock Swings.
Old ones I have purchased to load up the ipod for Sheffield are Central Line and George Benson. I simply love Georges original "The Greatest Love of all", and Central line cover "Nature Boy" quite well. :rainbow:

[CGorman]

Currently enjoying Bon Jovi's new album, Have a Nice Day. Most of the tracks are typical Bon Jovi rock anthems... some of the tracks are beginning to sound like classics already!

[Pete]

"My Life" by Chanel could get really big once the dispute with MCA over sampling of Street Life backing is sorted out.

[Gina]

'Get Lifted' by John Legend and both of Kanye Wests big albums are fantastic. My favourite CD would be 'The Singles' by No Doubt. All the best in one CD.

[Pete]

Thanks Tara
Was hoping Santa would bring me the new Vivien Green album. If it is anything like her first album my CD player will need servicing for oner-use. She has an amazing voice but is very little known in the UK.

[Katie]

Has anyone heard of Pete Murray? I think he's aussie. Heard one of his songs the other day and decided I'd take advantage of my 10 free CDs on CDwow and order his album. Haven't got it yet, just wondering if anyone has it or thinks he's good or anything... or bad I suppose!! Ahhh it's ok, a free CD, I won't complain! :)

[H2o]

Has anyone heard of Pete Murray? I think he's aussie. Heard one of his songs the other day and decided I'd take advantage of my 10 free CDs on CDwow and order his album. Haven't got it yet, just wondering if anyone has it or thinks he's good or anything... or bad I suppose!! Ahhh it's ok, a free CD, I won't complain! :)


OMG Katie, just read the 1st line and thought "Pete Murray- he;s an Aussie?"
Was having a very senior moment thinking of pete Murray the DJ!!!!

Still listening to Xtina Aguilera although not so much now (Yes I know, old boring and sad)

Love Michael Bublay (?) at the moment, James Blunt too but was a bit shocked the first time I heard it!

[Tara]

Has anyone heard of Pete Murray? I think he's aussie. Heard one of his songs the other day and decided I'd take advantage of my 10 free CDs on CDwow and order his album. Haven't got it yet, just wondering if anyone has it or thinks he's good or anything... or bad I suppose!! Ahhh it's ok, a free CD, I won't complain! :)
Pete Murray is very good. Yes he's aussie! He has a great voice, his "So beautiful" is a brill song. Another great Aussie is Alex Lloyd.

[Vincent]

...What good CD's have you bought?:idea:

None...am still buying vinyls :)
V.

[Steve]

I had a thought Pete, if you like Norah and Beverley, you should ask for "sound of white" by Missy Higgins from Santa for Christmas!
I'd second that - it's a terrific album, one of my favourites from down under.

[Steve]

Has anyone heard of Pete Murray? I think he's aussie. Heard one of his songs the other day and decided I'd take advantage of my 10 free CDs on CDwow and order his album. Haven't got it yet, just wondering if anyone has it or thinks he's good or anything... or bad I suppose!! Ahhh it's ok, a free CD, I won't complain! :)
Which album did you get Katie? "Feeler" or the new one, whose name espapes me? His new album is a bit rockier than the first one, but still very good. Again I have to agree with Tara that "So Beautiful" is a great song.

[Katie]

I've ordered Feeler... good choice? I might get the other one if it's good. Have to admit I heard one of his songs in Neighbours and thought it was good and so was inspired... HOW COOL AM I? Hahaha! I think it should arrive tomorrow so I'm quite excited about that! Will put it on my Ipod and listen at Stage 3.

[Pete]

Finally got my hands on Vivian Green's new album "Vivian".
She has an amazing voice with some very strong, mostly self penned songs. It will get plenty of plays over the next few weeks. Like Beyonce? Like Maria Carey (I'm not that keen)? Give this a whirl.

[Katie]

Oh forgot to say... Pete Murray gets many thumbs up! Especially Please and So Beautiful. Anyone got anything else to suggest?

Anyone going to see Take That??!! Unfortunately I am not. :)

[Chris]

As anyone who really knows me will tell you, my music of choice is Dance .... well more particularly, Trance. You know, that horrible modern music that the oldies don't like!

But ..... there is one album I've been listening to for the past couple of years that I can't stop listening to. It's a complete departure from what I normally listen to, but it's just about the most "beautiful" album I have ever listened to.

Shut up Chris and tell us what it is ...

... I hear you cry!

It is "Fallen" by Evanescence (http://www.evanescence.com/). Have a listen just for me. It's very very good.

NB: It's a little gothic, and relatively "dark rock" maybe, but the vocals are amazing!!

Anyway, the album went Platinum 6 times over and has sold 12 million copies, so it must be ok!!!!

Chris

[rubber ducky]

Right, i dont know how to create a new thread so I thought I'd add this here. I'm doing a group project at uni on the effects of technology on music consumption and was wondering if people would be able to reply with answers to these sorts of questions, any additional info would be great!

We would like to know:
1) If you grew up with technology such as vinyls, record players etc then do you still use them as your main source of music consumption or have you moved with technology and the times and now listen to your favourite artists on cd?

2) Do you listen to groups, artists that you grew up with or are you open to newer stuff, or things your children are interested in?

3) Younger people, do you listen to the bands that your parents listen to because you grew up with it or are you encouraged to listen to modern hits by friends etc?

4) Do younger people only buy cds, ipods, mp3s or do they buy records and things for the vintage factor?

5) Do you think there is pressure on people to listen to certain types of music so as not to be branded or put into a stereotype?

Hope these make sense!! And a premature thanks to anyone who replies and I'm sorry for semi hijacking the thread!!

[KatieBun]

A fascinating list of questions, rd. A PM won't fit the answers in, however. Want to Pm me your email address? (That is, if you're interested in the responses of a 40+ musician.)

[matt]

I have recently obtained two new CDs. For my Birthday I had Will Young's new album (it's a good thing he didn't fade away, unlike the others) and then I bought Funeral by The Arcade Fire. They are both really really good. The second one surrised me a lot, I thought that it was going to be dreary because it's creation was for the memory of family/friends who had died recently but it's not and therefore I thoroughly recommend it.

[rubber ducky]

A fascinating list of questions, rd. A PM won't fit the answers in, however. Want to Pm me your email address? (That is, if you're interested in the responses of a 40+ musician.)

KB, that would be perfect if you could!!! Thanks very much!! :) RD

[H2o]

We would like to know:
1) If you grew up with technology such as vinyls, record players etc then do you still use them as your main source of music consumption or have you moved with technology and the times and now listen to your favourite artists on cd?

2) Do you listen to groups, artists that you grew up with or are you open to newer stuff, or things your children are interested in?

3) Younger people, do you listen to the bands that your parents listen to because you grew up with it or are you encouraged to listen to modern hits by friends etc?

4) Do younger people only buy cds, ipods, mp3s or do they buy records and things for the vintage factor?

5) Do you think there is pressure on people to listen to certain types of music so as not to be branded or put into a stereotype?



1. Grew up with records on a radiogram (remember them), still have records but don't play them often. Main source now is CD and CD player.
2.Both- listen to all my old stuff and get no option but to listen?hear whatever daughter is playing.
3.Daughter (soon to be 15) listens to anything and everything. Her Ipod is much sought after by her team mates and contains literally everything from Brahams and Beathoven to Aqua, S & G, Chaka Khan, Coldplay, Monkees, Kaiser Chiefs etc (Loads of stuff I've never heard of)
4. She only buys CD's and Ipod stuff.
5. No pressure here at all, judging form the range of her music she cou;ldn't care less what people think.
:wave:

[KatieBun]

Maybe it will fit in here.
1. Also remember the radiogram and much vinyl but moved on through CDs in the late 80s. Bought a Creative DAP when they first came out and now have a Muvo, as do my husband and the kids.
2. Still listen to Steely Dan and Donald Fagin but have added their new albums, Kamakiriad, Two Against Nature, Everything Must Go. Like Claire Martin, Carol Kidd, still Led Zep. Play Deep Purple songs with my 13 yr old son.Always ready to listen to something new. V. large CD collection, result of 20 years as music teacher.
3.My kids listen to both. My son has his own stuff, lots of which I don't particularly like, but his Muvo also contains Beautiful South, Paul Simon and various musicals soundtracks, since he's theatrical. Have little idea what my daughter (17)listens to. She never comes out of her bedroom.:rolleyes:
4. Kids only buy CDs and rip them onto their Muvos.
5. There's such an enormous range of styles now, there's more of a live and let live attitude. (Since everybody wears headphones nowadays, one rarely hears what they're listening to anyway.)

[GettingFaster]

(Since everybody wears headphones nowadays, one rarely hears what they're listening to anyway.)

Except if you're within 15 feet of someone with headphones, then you still can't figure out what's being listened to, just that really irritating "chicka-chicka-chicka" of whatever bits of sound leak out of the headphones.

Recently bought and listened to Led Zep IV (on CD), first time in centuries. Used to have it and loads of other stuff on vinyl but it all got chucked out in one or other house move and don't even have a record player any more. Led Zep IV was thought of as really, really 'heavy' stuff when I was in my infancy. I thought it was very good but rather tame compared to some of the stuff my teenagers come out with. Continuing the return to the past also listened to a tape of Dark Side - still absolutely fantastic, I'd forgotten how good it was.

[KatieBun]

Continuing the return to the past also listened to a tape of Dark Side - still absolutely fantastic, I'd forgotten how good it was.
I agree. I still annoy everybody by singing it at top volume! I remember the shocked expression on my daughter's face a couple of years ago when I was listening to "Money" and sang the word bull****. I think she thought it was out of character....(she knows better now!):)

[Tara]

I had "start wearing purple" by Gogol Bordello in my head all night. Round and round it went....

Anyway. I got the Kooks album for my birthday and its excellent. I would definitely recommend it!

[Katie]

I've just been introduced to Jason Mraz (not literally), and I really like a lot of his stuff! Has anyone else heard of him? I've got his album "Waiting For My Rocket To Come" which is most excellent, particularly The Remedy (I Won't Worry) and You And I Both. I highly recommend it!! :)