Alternative Rock Compilations music reviews

This album was my introduction to the whole Chill music phenomenon. Since then, I have listened to quite a few Chill albums, ranging from jazz to world beat to the sounds found here, downtempo electronica. I have become quite enthusiastic about Chill...not a style of music so much as a mood that can be exemplified in a number of genres of music. The mood is relaxing, but with a gentle beat. Unlike New Age or ambient smooth relaxing music, most Chill is something you could dance to late at night when you're mellowed out, or early in the evening when you're just kind of warming up; or, you can just sit back in your recliner and drift off to music pleasureland.

Some albums pull off the Chill mood better than others. This is one of my favorites. I especially like tracks #5 through #9...this set of 5 songs is 5-star material and exquisite sequencing--sheer perfection in beautiful electronic sounds and a gentle beat that rocks you like a sensual lullaby.

While #5-#9 are the pinnacle of the album for me, tracks #4-#10 all fit together superbly. I don't like Moby's "In This World"--it just doesn't seem to fit on this album, so that's why I say the good sequence starts at #4. The first song seems to be a bit different too. While most of the album is more like evening music, Delerium's "Love" seems like sunny music to me. It's still smooth and beautiful, but the acoustic guitars and female vocals sound more like summer sun music to me, rather than the other songs' "evening" sounds.

I have three versions of "Tears From The Moon" by Conjure One. While this is my least favorite in itself, the mix on this album fits the album to a tee. After this song, the beautiful, smooth, rich electronics give way to a song with lowkey rapping, so the mood is lost. The lyrics in "North Pole" are offensive and thus do not contribute to the beauty found on the rest of the album. Fischerspooner's and New Order's songs sound like something straight out of 1982 (Depeche Mode or Yazoo of that era, for example); I like that kind of music and these songs have a gentle slow beat, but still, the 1982 sound doesn't mix well with the 2003 sounds. These are the reasons I say songs #4 to #10 are the prime sequence of this album and the other songs, well, just don't fit so well.

I picked up this album because of the artists I knew, Moby and New Order. Ironically, I dislike the song by Moby and think the New Order song doesn't fit. But I have been introduced to a new mode of music, Chill, which I am now quite crazy about, and among Chill albums I've heard, the middle of this album, particularly tracks 5 through 9, is quintessential Chill. So beautiful...

I guess after hearing the fifth volume in the Buddha Bar series, my expectations of chill out compilations have been raised. I have been spoiled by the diversity of the well-knowned chill out series. So when I bought Nettwerk's "Chillout 2003: The Ultimate Chillout", I thought it could have been better and less predictable. As much as I love Moby and his song "In This World" and Sasha's "Wavy Gravy", I thought those two songs could have easily been left off this cd. On the other hand hearing a new song from "Delerium ("Love") and a remix of my favorite Conjure One song "Tears From the Moon" made it well worth buying the cd, which I found a used copy in the used bins at my favorite record store. The Delerium song "Love" was nothing I have ever heard before from my favorite ambient act. Faithless' Zoe Johnston lends her stunning vocals to the beautiful song. I also loved Kirsty Hawkshaw's "Fine Day [Frakker Mix]". I remember hearing samples of that song on an old Orbital song. Of course what is a Nettwerk compilation without a Sarah McLachlan track? To be honest, I actually enjoyed the William Orbit mix of "Black". I am nowhere tired of that song as I am with Delerium's "Silence". I wasn't too wild about the Telepopmusik or Fischerspooner tracks. Both groups I find vastly overrated. I loved Ihb's "Olivia Newton Christ" and FC Kahuna's "North Pole Transmission". Hooligan's "Hear Me Now" and New Order's "Your Silent Face". With all its imperfections, "Chillout 2003" is quite good but it isn't the ultimate chill out as the title say. I leave that title to my favorite chill out compilation "Buddha Bar V".

As the title states - this is the Ultimate Chillout CD. I love the way it starts out with Delerium - they are one of the best Chillout groups ever. Can't wait for a new CD by them. Chillout 2003 also does a nice job of mixing it up. The Conjure One track is perfect and even the older stuff like New Order fit in well.

The Mid 1990s was an often confusing time in music because their were so many musical trends clashing with each other. Ujnfortunatley that would lead back into the teeny bopper generation just like 1989-1991. The reasons the 1990s has a hard time being remembered is because you cannot sum it up in a short time you have to go year by year. This is a good collection and if you're a 1990s fan you will like this album.

Please make more Billboard Top Hits for Rhino Records.

Billboard Top Hits 1996

1. One Of Us-Joan Osbourne
2. Ironic-Alanis Morissette
3. Be My Lover-La Bouche
4. Give Me One Reason-Tracy Chapman
5. Don't Speak-No Doubt
6. Missing-Everything But The Girl
7. I Love You Always Forever-Donna Lewis
8. Come On Ride It (The Train)-Quad City DJ's
9. I Wanna Be A Hippy-Technohead
10. It's A Beautiful Life-Ace Of Bace

I've collected almost every year of the Billboard Top Hits. As of now, this is the latest year up-to-date. None of these 10 songs from this collection reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Overall, it's a well done tribute to Hiatt with a great roster of artists lending their talents. But, as usual with tribute albums, you quickly realize that nobody does it like the original. Having said that, there are some excellent tracks on this disc:
-Patty Griffin's "Take it Down" is definitely the standout here....it's almost good enough to rival the original.
-Clapton/King's "Riding With the King"
-Emmylou Harris is great on "Icy Blue Heart"

This disc is for the die-hard Hiatt fans who already have all of Hiatt's stuff....new folks should go for "Slow Turning" "Walk On" or "..Gruff Exterior"

While no-one does Hiatt as good as Hiatt, this isn't what this album's about at all. It's about paying homage to one hell of a songwriter, in their own way. Even though this latest tribute is not the strongest of three, I for one am rapt at some interpratations of Hiatt's songs. If you like Hiatt get this!! Also get Rolling into Memphis and Love Gets Strange. Two former tributes. Every tracks a winner!!!

This is a great CD--really highlighting John's writing. Each rendition brings a new level of perspective to his words and surfaces his amazing lyrics, separate from John the singer. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who loves an eclectic blend of music.

This is a budget compilation for Asian Man Records, which for the most part stinks. Some of the ska on this album is pretty good, but a lot of the ska is just too slow for me. The punk on this album does almost nothing for me.

This is a good introduction to Ska, as well as the getting rarer-by-the-day "Skarmageddon Vol I", for about four bucks or so you can delight in songs such as "Jerry is Strong" by the Bruce Lee Band (Mike Park w/ Less than Jake", the Impossibles "Plan B", Johnny Socko's polka-ish "Barborinski Brothers", Mu330's "Christmas Card", and of course, Less than Jake's all time classic "Liquor Store" Buy this! I found mine at Hot Topic. Get yours today.

This is a very good complitation, for a very low cost, which is entirely in keeping with the Asian Man records philosophy. Don't think of this as a CD so much as a musical catalogue. It has fast songs, slow songs, emotional songs (Reunion, by Korea Girl) and fun songs (Hava Nagela, Slow Gerkin) and even a couple of christmas songs. How about that?

As in many reviews of soundtracks, I DO NOT own this paticular album. I do, however, own a lot of the albums the tracks are taken from (12 in this case), and will review those songs, and skip those I haven't heard:
DISC 1:
1.Limp Bizkit-My Generation-3/5-A great song at first, but it gets very annoying after listening to it as many times as I have. If you ask me, they should've put "Counterfeit" or something on here from one of Bizkit's old albums, since they were better then. Money goes to everyone's heads.
2.Puddle Of Mudd-Control-5/5-Puddle Of Mudd's best song, so it has a right to be on thi album. it also launched their sucess in the music industry, and is an overall good song.
3.Deftones-Back To School (Mini Maggit)-5/5-One of Deftones's more rappier songs, this wasn't original on the first million or so copies of "White Pony", but now is on the newer versions. One of their best.
17.Cold-Just Got Wicked-4/5-Cold is a great band, and they deserve WAY more popularity and credit than they're getting. They'll be discovered someday, just like Staind.
19.Spineshank-Synthetic-4/5-Like Cold, this band's pretty much underground, and deserve more of a fanbase. A quieter song from the rest of their stuff, but still good.

DISC 2:
1.Linkin Park-One Step Closer-4/5-We've all heard it.
3.Marilyn Manson-The Beautiful People-4/5-This is from Marilyn Manson's "Antichrist Superstar" (I think), and is pretty good, despite what a f@ggot Manson is.
4.Kid Rock-Bawitdabaw-5/5-...See #1 on disc 2.
9.Papa Roach-Last Resort-4/5-Papa Roach's first single, and launched major sucess for the band. Suicidal and sometime vulgar lyrics, but, hey, it makes a good song in rock.
15.Godsmack-Awake-5/5-The album title track from Godsmack's sophmore effort, "Awake" is a very powerful song, both musically and lyrically.
17.Mudvayne-Dig-4/5-This has the most vulgar lyrics than any other Mudvayne song, and is one of heaviest, but does get quite old after a while. They should've put "Death Blooms".
18.Orgy-Blue Monday-5/5-The best Orgy song, which was originally some [poor] 80's new wave song, and Orgy did a fine job changing that.

this is a album to get if you want to sample Nu- metal/metal at it's best. Limp Bizkit, Rage against the machine, Machine head and the non- forgetable Marylyn Manson all feature on this cd along with a video for Limp Bizkit's My generation [ enchanced ] Bascially if you like Nu- metal/metal but don't know which band or solo artist to choose then buy this cd, you won't be disappointed!!

this is just a purley brillinat album, for new comers to this music and for those that are well into it. For new comers you have bands like Linkin park, deftones, limp bizkit, puddle of mudd, papa roach, feeder and mudvayne. then there are the less known but even better my vitriol, machine head, soulfly, queens of the stone age, taproot, marilyn manson, incubus, raging speedhorn and white zombie. This was put together y people who work with musci everyday and they did a bloody good job, this album is the best. u just cant hate it!!!!!!

I bought this CD just to hear some of Bob Murphy's great calls over the years. (After all, isn't that why most Mets fans might want this CD? Or is it that you're just dying to hear "Bad to the Bone" for the umpteenth time?)

Anyway, the disc features a lot of the more famous calls, including the '86 ones (although you almost have to admit that Vin Scully's TV call of the game-ending Buckner error in Game 6 was better...), but the rest of the CD contains too much (bad) music.

But until they put out a CD of just Murphy himself, this'll have to do.

I enjoyed this CD -- purchased as a Mets fan! I have listened to it throughout the summer while travelling. I also plan to use it in my classroom for background noise while students are working on projects. The music is upbeat and fun!

This CD is wonderful and it gets me pumped for the upcoming season. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Bad to the Bone" are songs you hear a lot at Shea. The audio is excellent, and even if you don't listen to it every day, they are memorable moments we should get just to have. Great CD!

This is a good CD it usually takes me a few listens to appreciate a CD so this one is getting better. I really am more into Gao trance and rarely buy CDs like these but I loved a Gatecrasher (Disco Tech) CD I bought a while a go and though I would direct my CD buying power that way again. I would have preferred the tracks to be a little longer on this set but they are slightly more so than those on the Disco Tech set. over all a good disk for this style but pricey, it seems that most good sets of this style are expensive though.

I must agree with some of the previous reviewers that MoS has been pumping out some of the same [stuff] for about 2 years now. However, they did change the pace a little with this new album. The first cd has some pretty good tracks, although some of them are kind of old and played out. Most of the tracks aren't even deep trance either, but I kind of expected MoS would do something like that. The second cd makes up for the first as it is good, deep trance, especially songs I haven't really heard before. Whoever mixed it definitely picked some great tracks for cd 2.

**Bottom Line** 1st CD: Decent / 2nd CD: NICE!
** Experienced listeners with MoS and all different kinds of techno in general will find this cd ok and that it has some pretty nice tracks. Newer listeners will morethan likely find it to be a very good album. **

this is one of the most relaxing and calm induced trance albums i have found out there should be put next to any of oakenfeld best albums. must have if ur a fan of trance

I bought this CD at the HORDE fest in 1996. The Edwin McCain, and Shannon Worrell (Dave Matthews sings backup) songs are wonderful, as is the rest of the CD. My only conplaint is that it gets a little bland, but it's definetely a CD worth checking out.

The CD is a fine compilation of up and coming artists. The stronger musicians include Shannon Worrell, noteworthy for her previous performances with Dave Matthews, and Hootie and the Blowfish.

This aware compilation has fresh, progressive rock groups such as better than ezra, vertical horizon, jackopierce, and wootie and the blowfish. Most bands on this compilation have tasted fame, and many are about to break through. For a great mix tape, already made, this is the CD to get.

"Ultimate Smash Hits" is one perplexing album; it's cobbled together out of parts of "Totally Hits 2002, 2002:More Platinum Hits and 2003", and a few other songs. It feels like a "TH" album (it's also from the same labels), yet it seems very unnessesaary and not that satisfying. A number of the artists appear twice on it, so it seems like an odd compilation. The Arista label had alot of success in 2001 and 2002; but this is not the best sampling of it.
(1) Santana feat. Michelle Branch "The Game Of Love" A-. No one expected this to equal "Smooth"; and it doesn't, but it is able to stand by itself. Carlos and Michelle have created a relaxing, breezy, enjoyable light rock song. Not a great song, but a very likeable one.
(2) P!NK "Family Portrait" B. Much grittier than P!NK's usual work; but that's kinda good because we get to see a different side of her. It isn't as enjoyable as "Get The Party Started" or "Most Girls", yet it makes no intentions to be. Pretty good, but not my top choice.
(3) Avril Lavigne "I'm With You" A. As usual, Avril hit with another powerful and deep pop song, very well done. By keeping a more toned down beat, Avril allows the emotions to slowly wind out and consume the listener. The song is both joyus and sad at the same time.
(4) Pink "Just Like A Pill" B+. Not as deep as "Don't Let Me Get Me", but just as stormin' as "Get The Party Started". The song wisely stays at a short length; thus it doesn't get boring. Breaks no new ground, yet it is a small fun dance song.
(5) Baby feat. Clipse "What Happened To That Boy" C+. Baby was always one of the weaker artists on the Cash Money label, and hasn't gotten much better. Despite a clever beat and style (especially the "Birdman" part), the track never becomes anything memorable. It's a fun listen once, then not much more.
(6) Clipse "Grindin'" C+. Catchy standard material that became a fairly big hit. Atleast the skill of the artists keep it from being a total waste and offer some talent. Clipse just doesn't have what it takes to stand on their own.
(7) Clipse "When The Last Time" C. Even the Neptunes can't make Clipse sound any better than average. In a time where rap can offer deep, cutting edge content; this comes off as tired and dated. Clipse are OK in small doses, like on Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You",but are derivetive by themselves.
(8) Bone Crusher feat. Jadakiss and Busta Rhymes "Neva Scared" D+. Busta and Jadakiss are very talented but this song gives them nothing to work with. It is annoying and degrating to the ears. Poorly made; as it shows all the shortcomings of "southern crunk".
(9) P.Diddy feat. Usher & Loon "I Need A Girl Part I". A-. For a change from most music, Parts I & II are actually different! Part II may be the more involving one, but this part still has a whole lot of charisma and likability to it. Another entry in for the era of positive hip-hop (almost R&B).
(10) P. Diddy feat. Ginuwine, Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggieri "I Need A Girl Part II" A-. A terrific R&B/rap track with a positive tone to it. Five artists may seem like too many, but everyone is giving a good amount of time to create this blissful track off one of the few remix albums that doesn't suck.
(11) Usher "U Don't Have To Call" C+. The 3rd single off "8701", and also the weakest one. A good effort that lacks the impact and fun of Usher's other singles. You also expect a bit more from a song Pharrell was attached to. Not nessecary, but still listenable.
(12) Toni Braxton feat. Loon "Hit The Freeway" B-. An OK song, although it's a little dissapointing to hear Toni doing hip-hop. Her music always kept a classic R&B feel; and it feels as if she's changing for popularity. Loon does no damage, but is not very compelling as a singer.
(13) Whitney Houston "One Of Those Days" C-. The "Just Whitney" LP showed how Whitney is slipping as an artist, and this song is why. It has no depth and feels written by the numbers; the exact opposite of what her earlier work had. More to the point: the album and it's singles flopped, why is this on here?
(14) TLC "Damaged" B+. Not the best work from TLC, but still a very good one and a decent final track for "Left Eye". It enters some of the same territory as "Waterfalls", and carries some depth in it's tone. If nothing else it shows how TLC shaped modern R&B.
(15) Faith Evans "I Love You" C. She is just an average singer, and this song was standard on the R&B front back in the 60s. Apparently she didn't pick up much from her husband; the late, great Notorious B.I.G.. You would expect more considering the people who wrote and produced it.
(16) Faith Evans feat. Loon "Burnin' Up" C. Has the same exact problems as track #12 and #15. Faith Evans and Loon are both just too plain and boring for the music industry.
(17) Blu Cantrel feat Sean Paul "Breathe" B. Pretty good, but not the best song out there. It lacks the "jucie" of "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!), but Sean Paul adds his dancehall talents to create a nice blend with Blu Cantrel.
(18) OutKast feat. Killer Mike & Joi "The Whole World" A-. The new record from thier Greatest Hits album, serves as a nice reminder of why OutKast is one of the greatest groups in rap history. This captures all the funk and fun that is expected when Big Boi and Andre 3000 spit thier biting lyrics.
Bottom Line: **. The album is too much of a mixed bag to be called a success. For every good song, there is a bad one; the album is particularly weighed down because of the good chunk given to Faith Evans and Clipse. Maybe Arista should have included some other artists, such as The Calling, P.O.D., Alicia Keys, Michelle Branch and Sean Paul. As it is the album is a mess that just isn't worth the time.
NOTE: The "Bonus Edition" includes a DVD with six videos. The videos for "I'm With You" and "Just Like A Pill" are very good. The ones for "Family Portrait", "Hit The Freeway", "Grindin'" and "The Last Time" are not as memorable.

There is just so much within the rankings of Rap & R&B today. It seems as if Hip Hop and Rap are really everywhere, while Contemporary R&B is slowly making a comeback. Still, it just is going to take some time to get both sides to get even all over again. Still, Arista has been known for their R&B vibe for the past few years, while Rap's vibe becomes a little too much within airplay. For any fan anyway, it can be both, if you know what you're enjoying it.

The 2003 Ultimate Smash Hits, is a sampler record of the past couple of years Arista has made it in the industry with Rap & Hip Hop, with mostly acts of Hip Hop dominating the collection like Pink, with Family Portrait and Just Like A Pill, P. Diddy with I Need A Girl Parts 1&2, add Clipse and Bone Crusher to the mix and you're satisified. For the R&B fanataic, there is just a little bit missing. Still, you do get a little bit of joy in the compilation, with TLC, sadly Damaged without Lisa still around, Whitney Houston's tribute to The Isley Brothers with One Of Those Days, and Toni Baxton's only single issued from her unfortunate dissapointment More Than A Woman, Hit The Freeway. There is also a liitle bit of room for Pop fans too, but not as heavily as R&B and Hip Hop. There are some great Pop songs on there such as Santana and Michelle Branch with their massive collaboration, The Game Of Love, and Avril Lavigne with I'm With You.

Still, there is just a little something for everybody on Ultimate Smash Hits. Sadly, there could've been a liitle bit less of Rap & Hip Hop on this record, and a few different artists rather than too many having more than one song on a collection. Hopefully, the next one will live with those standards.

Hi! I will rate the first five songs on this cd by F by being the worst and A being the best.They will be rated by how big of a hit it was and how good it sounds.

1.The Game Of Love-Michelle Branch ft.Santana- A it was a huge hit on the adult contemparary chart. It charted on for over 40 weeks.

2.Family Protrait-Pink- B it is kind of an earlier hit but it did score on the top 10 on billboard hot 100.

3.I'm With You-Avril Lavigne (see number 2)

4.Just Like A Pill-(once again see number 2)

5.What Happened To That Boy-Baby ft.Clipse- D Ugh! This is a terrible song + it didn't chart above 50 on billboard hot 100 so it wasn't an ultimate hit.

First 5 Songs-Various Artists B there were some hits,some of them are old but most of the songs are good.

The Full CD-Various Artists B (four stars) (see first 5 songs)

Well,what are you waiting for?
Buy it today!

The Only Reason Avril Lavigne is on This Cd, and her Single was used as the lead, and the song advertising it was because at the time she was over-rated, and everybody claimed to like her before they could see through her, her cover of Knockin On Heavens Door is unbearable, IT Makes Chantal Kreviazuks song enjoyable, as much as i can't stand her either

The new version of "Peace Train" is worth the price of admission alone. Yusuf Islam's first English-language recording in years is a recorded acknowledgement of his career as pop-rock star Cat Stevens. Re-set with a chorus of children from around the world, plus other beautiful new touches, it's heartening to hear him sounding so good. And for a very good cause.

The beneficiary, War Child Canada, is an independent charitable organization working across North America and around the world to assist children affected by war and to raise awareness for children's rights everywhere. They work to help thousands whose lives have been torn apart by war, and to engage North American youth to take an active role in creating a more just future. All proceeds from the sale of "Peace Songs" will help children affected by war through War Child Canada's international humanitarian projects, including emergency relief in Iraq. Please visit www.warchild.ca to find out more.

It's not all that surprising to see Bruce Cockburn here, but who expected to see Bryan Adams with a song called "Don't Drop That Bomb on Me"? Cockburn is also represented here by Barenaked Ladies' take on his "Lovers in a Dangerous Time".

Elvis Costello & Paul McCartney appear -- not another collaboration, mind you, but with fine performances. Other pre-1980 artists include The Eurhythmics, Leonard Cohen & David Bowie. Billy Bragg's song "The Wolf Covers Its Tracks" is one of several songs currently only available on albums benefitting War Child. Versions of "One", "Imagine", "Redemption Song" and "Change Is Gonna Come" mean that minimally there's great songwriting here. A new-to-me song, "War" (not the Edwin Starr-sung song) by Liam Titcomb is as impressive as the hits I've come to love.

If new versions of 60s and 70s hit "peace songs" by the likes of Avril Levigne, Beth Orton, Our Lady Peace and Basement Jaxx don't make your day, at least give the artists their due for contributing, and for bringing their fans along.

A factor in any artist being a part of this kind of project is Name Recognition: they bring their fans' attention to the cause. I can understand having a sour spot for Lavigne (as some have posted, or for any artist for that matter). But the album is not about your taste in musicians: It'a about raising money and awareness.

With so much music, 30 tracks, any 15 -- any half -- of your choice you're almost sure to enjoy, "Peace Songs" deserves some attention and respect from United States citizens. It raises money and awareness for a very worthy organization most haven't a clue exists -- sadly, many Americans don't seem to think there's a need for it.

Additionally, the single cd called "War Child: Hope" benefits the War Child UK organization. [Amazon carries it, also as an import.] It drops over half of "Peace Songs" and adds tracks by George Michael & New Order.

ITS INTERESTING , I HAVE STACKS OF CDS , LPS , 8 TRACKS , OLD EQUIPMENT , AND EVENN HELPED BUY A SOUND SYSTEM FOR A CHURCH .

THANK YOU TO ALL WHOM SANG ON THE CDS ! :)

WOULD A NEW SET OF SONGS BE A GOOD THING ???

ASK WWW.WARCHILD.COM OR WARCHILD.CA TO ASK FOR SUBMISSIONS OF SONGS ! :) ( ITS A NONPROFIT , THEY HAVE TO MAKE MONEY SOMEHOW ! )