New Wave music reviews

Featuring the amazing guitar talents of Joe Stump and Mike Vescera's vocal virtuosity,the new opus by Reign of Terror(formerly known as Joe Stump's Reign of Terror)reaches a musical higher ground.Mike Vescera,of Loudness,Yngwie Malmsteen,Obsession,MVP,etc.,sounds fantastic adding power to the already beautifully crafted neo-classical metal that manages to avoid sounding like an imitation of Yngwie all the way.

This CD is excellent. Most songs are very good. Initially, I did not like the singers voice, but I got used to it and I appreciate the quality shown. The guitarist is very good, he doubles a few of the solos early on, and his style is classically orientated. He definely is a huge fan of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. Highlights include "Save me", "sacred ground" & "Still holding on" where the guitarist lets his hair down re the solo.

I bought this album because i have heard michael vescera before with yngwie and i really like his voice. this is an awesome euro metal sounding album but with an aggressive guitar sound. JUST BUY IT....download save me or sacred ground, to c if u liek it they r great songs. one of the best recent metal releases.

It could be easy to pass Real Life off as a one-hit wonder (Send Me An Angel,) but it just wouldn't be right. Sure, that song's the highlight of the band's career, but they also whipped out some other excellent tracks, many of which are available on this compilation.

As another reviewer stated, the versions of these songs available in this compilation are mostly remixes and edits. If you want the original versions of Send Me An Angel and/or Catch Me I'm Falling, you should get Heartland, the band's 1983 debut album. Of course, the former was radically popular, so it can be found on some eighties compilations (I believe New Wave Hits of the Eighties Volume Eleven has it.)

This is an excellent compilation overall, but even it has its shortcomings. What's the compilation called? Send Me An Angel. You get two versions of the track (the 1989 remix version and an extended dance mix version (the highlight of the disc,)) but the original version is missing in action. Also, it is VERY short for a CD compilation. The total time is only about 45:00, and you can fit 80:00 onto a single CD. Surely the band had other excellent songs that could have been used to fill the extra space. Also, the insert contains very little information - just a tracklist and not much more. It doesn't say what songs are remixes and what ones are originals. Why couldn't the booklet have the band's history or something like that? Another interesting note - This compilation is available with two different covers - A black gothic-looking one, and one that has a guy in a toga and a dog with fairy wings on a park bench. Not sure why there are two covers.

Final verdict? If you're into good new wave rock, this is the compilation for you. Sure, the original version of Send Me An Angel isn't here, but two versions present are as good, if not better than the original. If you're desperate for the original version, get Heartland or New Wave Hits of the Eighties Volume Eleven. This compilation is an excellent example of why eighties music was pure excellent, and modern music is junk.

First time I listened them in primary school and it was perfect. Nothing changed until now. I love music they play and keep their cds in my special shelf for treasures.

Hard to find since it is out of print. But well worth the $ if you can find it. All tracks are great.

I know that "All Mod Cons" will always be regarded as their masterpiece, but the follow up, "Setting Sons" is also very good and underrated in my opinion. Originally intended to be a concept album, only half the songs follow the story. Paul Weller continues in his storytelling mode throughout, and his narrative on "Private Hell" is powerful and a bit disturbing. Perhaps the slightly overpolished feel of the album production-wise is why Weller doesn't regard it as his favourite Jam album, but the quality of the songs can't be argued with.

"Setting Sons" is about the best The Jam ever did as far as consistency goes. Though each album has great tracks, especially my other favorite, "In the City," this one is more listenable because the songs sound more like they are part of a bigger composition (incidentally, this was intended to be a concept album, but the design fell through). I recommend the other version of the CD with more tracks. My first experience with the album came with what I believe is the U.S. version in which the first half of the album is the second half in the U.K., so I prefer it that way. "Burning Sky" is a beautiful song, and I think it makes a better opening than "Girl on the Phone," as well as "Smithers-Jones" which is a perfect follow-up to the opening track. The other way seems odd to me. This version also included "Strange Town," which would make any album a classic. This album has some incredible moments, and it's a shame that it does not get more recognition as a pivotal pop record, at least here in the U.S. where it gets no air play.

This collection of songs from 1979 hit me during my junior year in college, and I was hard pressed to decide what to put on my turntable -- Setting Sons, or London Calling. Lyrically and musically, these two albums represent the artistic height of the Punk/New Wave music that started around 1975-76, and ended with the music-biz backlash of the 80's. Setting Sons is a rich collection of beautiful words and melodic harmonies, interlaced with some heart-thumping rock chords. What a band! What an album!

I know that "All Mod Cons" will always be regarded as their masterpiece, but the follow up, "Setting Sons" is also very good and underrated in my opinion. Originally intended to be a concept album, only half the songs follow the story. Paul Weller continues in his storytelling mode throughout, and his narrative on "Private Hell" is powerful and a bit disturbing. Perhaps the slightly overpolished feel of the album production-wise is why Weller doesn't regard it as his favourite Jam album, but the quality of the songs can't be argued with.

"Setting Sons" is about the best The Jam ever did as far as consistency goes. Though each album has great tracks, especially my other favorite, "In the City," this one is more listenable because the songs sound more like they are part of a bigger composition (incidentally, this was intended to be a concept album, but the design fell through). I recommend the other version of the CD with more tracks. My first experience with the album came with what I believe is the U.S. version in which the first half of the album is the second half in the U.K., so I prefer it that way. "Burning Sky" is a beautiful song, and I think it makes a better opening than "Girl on the Phone," as well as "Smithers-Jones" which is a perfect follow-up to the opening track. The other way seems odd to me. This version also included "Strange Town," which would make any album a classic. This album has some incredible moments, and it's a shame that it does not get more recognition as a pivotal pop record, at least here in the U.S. where it gets no air play.

This collection of songs from 1979 hit me during my junior year in college, and I was hard pressed to decide what to put on my turntable -- Setting Sons, or London Calling. Lyrically and musically, these two albums represent the artistic height of the Punk/New Wave music that started around 1975-76, and ended with the music-biz backlash of the 80's. Setting Sons is a rich collection of beautiful words and melodic harmonies, interlaced with some heart-thumping rock chords. What a band! What an album!

Nice package ! Great sound quality ! I love the extended version of War Child and the spanish version of Call Me. For the rest I own everything from Blondie already on their remastered original albums and their Greatest Hits albums. What I really do miss here are the US singles : The Hardest Part and One Way Or Another and their dutch hitsingle: I'm Gonna Love You Too !! Otherwise I would have rated it with 5 stars!!! Because of the great original single package and the magnificent sound quality... If you're a Blondie fan : BUY IT

One of the most ultimate Blondie collections to own.
Sound- 5 out of 5
Picth perfect sounds! You can here everything!!!
ORIGINAL ARTWORK

DISK 1: "Rip Her To Shreds" (From the album "Blondie")
"In The Flesh" (From the album "Blondie")
"X Offender" (From the album "Blondie")
Three great songs from the debut album. This is when Blondie had first started out-not a bad start!

DISK 2: "Denis" (From the album "Plastic Letters")
"Contact In Red Square (From "Plastic Letters")
"Kung Fu Girls" (From the album "Blondie")
"Denis has its great French, "Contact In Red Square" has a James Bond mood to it, and "Kung Fu Girls" is a kick-butt song!!!

DISK 3: "(I'm Always Touched By) Your Presence Dear"
(From the album "Plastic Letters")
"Poets Problem" (Bonus Track from "Plastic Letters")
"Detroit 442" (From the album "Plastic Letters")
"Detroit 442 is a great rockin' song, "Poets Problem" and "(I,m Always Touched By) Your Presence Dear" are beautifully done.

DISK 4: "Picture This" (From "Parallel Lines")
"Fade Away And Radiate" (From "Parallel Lines")
Both are well done songs and will always be!

DISK 5: "Hanging On The Telephone" (From "Parallel Lines")
"Will Anything Happen" (From "Parallel Lines")
Blondie can't do a bad song!!! There all great!

DISK 6: "Heart Of Glass (7" Version)
"Rifle Range" (From the album "Blondie")
"Heart Of Glass (12" Version) (From "Parallel Lines")
"Heart Of Glass (Instumental)
The 7" version of "Heart Of Glass" is only (4:11 sec) while the 12" is the original from "Parallel Lines" and is (5:50). "Rifle Range" is another classic! "Heart Of Glass" (Instrumental) is o.k., but I usually stay away from the instumental versions.

DISK 7: "Sunday Girl" (English Version) (From "Parallel Lines")
"I Know But I Don't Know" (From "Parallel Lines")
"Sunday Girl" (French Version) (From "Parallel Lines")
Both "Sunday Girl" (English) and "Sunday Girl" (French) are great. I prefer the French version! It sort of puts a little more class into it.

Disk 8: "Dreaming" (From the album "Eat To The Beat")
"Sound Asleep" (From the album "Eat To The Beat")
"Eat To The Beat" is the album with a little more "POP" music to it then the others. In my opinion.

DISK 9: "Union City Blue" (From "Eat To The Beat")
"Living In The Real World" (From "Eat To The Beat")
"Union City Blue" is a classic!

DISK 10: "Atomic" (From the album "Eat To The Beat")
"Die Young Stay Pretty" (From "Eat To The Beat")
"Heroes" (LIVE)
"Atomic" is one of those "New Wave" songs!

Disk 11: "Call Me" (3:32 sec version)
"Call Me" (Instumental)
"Call Me" (12" Version)
"Call Me (Spanish Version)
"Call Me (12" Instrumental)
"Call Me" is the theme from "American Gigolo" a great movie I might add! "Call Me" the 12" version is even better!!!

DISK 12: "The Tide Is High" (From the album "Autoamerican")
"Suzie and Jeffrey
Two Great Classics!!!

DISK 13: "Rapture" (From the album "Autoamerican")
"Walk Like Me" (From the album "Autoamerican")
"Rapture" (Disco Mix)
"Live It Up" (Disco Mix)
Blondie does "Rap"! One of the finest CDS in the collection!!!

Disk 14: "Island Of Lost Souls" (From the album "The Hunter")
"Dragonfly" (From the album "The Hunter")
1982 was when "The Hunter" was released. Blondie was struggling, but still managed to release some great songs!!!

Disk 15: "War Child" (From the album "The Hunter")
"Little Caesar" (From the album "The Hunter")
"War Child (Extended Version)
"War Child" is one of the greatest songs from "The Hunter"!!! The extended version is even better!

There you have it!!! A Blondie fan's dream!!! Enjoy!!!

This is the latest in a line of record labels releasing singles box sets -like The Beatles,The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. Now comes the box set of singles from America's best band Blondie. This is a 15 cd set that includes every UK 45 and 12" release from the Chrysalis label. I have every single one of these 45 and 12"s on vinyl so it was great to own them on cd for the first time. The covers are the selling point for me. What can you say about seeing Debbie Harry on the cover of a single or album cover that brings back great fond memories. The set up for the single label is not the UK Chrysalis label but the 45 Chrysalis label from the German releases- the blue and black labels. I have collected over 100 Blondie singles from different countries: Japan's labels were green, the UK and US were the sky blue with the butterfly logo- so it is great to see the label go into a lot of detail. The greatest label though is set for the "Heart Of Glass" cd single. It is the label for the US 12" release from 1979 with Debbie on the label in the white dress that was on the over of Parallel Lines. To be nine years old again- this was the first 12" record I ever bought and it was a classic to start with. The rarest release on the entire set is the "Call Me" release- it features for the first time anywhere on cd the full 6 minute 12" and instrumental mixes. The US Spanish release was put out on the disco label Salsoul and in the UK the cover of the single was pink- US was white. "Call Me" in Spanish is very very rare and that makes this worth the entire price of the set. Also on the "Rapture" single the Full 8 minute (it says 4 but really is over 8 minutes long) 12" mix for the b-side of the 12" for "Live It Up". "Live It Up" was featured on the out of print 1994 UK cd pressing of Autoamerican and was not put on the reissue in 2001. Very very rare indeed- most don't even know it is even out to begin with. Listen to the break down in the middle of the song---the street sounds and whistles added are great.
What more can I say about this box set that hasn't been said before- just one more thing: if you are a Blondie freak like me then this is a must own because most of the songs are on the double cd set The Platinum Collection or Blonde and Beyond but it is the covers that make this a collectors item. Buy and listen and look at one of the best bands ever in rock and roll. A+(...)

Robert tells his history in the most unique way. He carries on his people's tradition and brings the past to life.

Dear: Robert I watched your show about , music from painted cave today on wgbu and it made me cry , do to striving to keep the fire alive for my children. I'm watching my family going down hill. Know one in our family knows how to speak the native tonge do to our elders passing away. I can't find a book on it any where. I'm a three fire native. If your could help me out , there would be no words of how to say thank you! My family has given up on keeping the native history in our family. I wan't my kids to know where there sead came from in life and that they are Native American Indian. They should of been raised the old fashioned way.

Vernita Bixler-Hall 2100 135th ave lot #15 Hopkins,Michigan, 49328

close your eyes, and let the spirit of the SONG CARRIER take you away. As a collector of Native American Music, I would rate this right at the top of the list. From the clear soothing sound of the flute, to the beautiful sounds of nature, it doesn't get much better. A MUST BUY!!!

Naaz Hosseini's SoundPath recording is a deep, beautiful, and important work of art. At this time it is the day before Thanksgiving and I am now listening to SoundPath for the fourth or fifth time in the last couple of weeks. It grows with each listen, starting out as quite interesting and unfolding to reveal itself as a work of art that is groundbreaking and nearly amazing. It is nothing less than a wordless sounding and testament to the range of human spirit, the product of a unique artist at a peak. It is both grounded and inspiring, an appropriate "soundtrack" for relaxation, focusing, or a genuine act of courage. The sound itself is hard to categorize, since like all original and great art it transcends boundaries. While it might be most easily labeled as either Middle Eastern or New Age, this doesn't do justice to the work. In its soulfullness, potency, and passion, it reaches into the territory of such an artist as Van Morrison, while in its fluidity and exquisite tenderness it is able to point towards the heartbreaking truths vocalized by Billie Holiday. SoundPath is a bold and sensitive recording of the human spirit. It is no exaggeration to say that Naaz Hosseini's SoundPath is a true Thanksgiving gift, a real and affirming reflection of life itself.

I teach self defense to members of the military and police. They need something to keep them balanced during these extremely powerful and agressive courses. Guided meditation is the method of choice. During the most recent meditations I have have used the Soundpath CD as my musical support. It has been highly effective. If you can get the marines to meditate and enjoy it you're doing something right. Soundpath gives you a direct path to tranquility. I can't recommend it enough.

When I listen to SoundPath, I feel transported out of this world and into a world of peace, joy, and hope. Naaz's voice is clear and strong and very powerful. It all comes across perfectly. The blend is amazing. Everything seems just right with the instrumentation and the voice coming together in a most magical way.

Eventhough Vince Clark sucks at writing some songs on this album, it is still one of my faves. If you're a die hard Depeche Mode fan, this album is a must have.

I've had the American release of Speak & Spell forever now, and I've always thought it was an incredible album. What bugged me, though, was that it only had the junk "Schizo Mix" of "Just Can't Get Enough," and not even the original mix, which, IMHO, is much more fun and upbeat.

Then I found this import "+5" version, and I was stunned -- not only are both versions of JCGE on here, but there are also 4 other tracks which don't appear on the American release. And they're all really good -- no filler here! The import "+5" release also has better sound quality across the board.

A warning, though: some of the tracks common to both releases are ever so slightly different between the two, e.g. "New Life." So, die-hard DM collectors would have to buy both releases, I guess. For anyone else, however, I'd say buy the import "+5" and forget about the American release!

This is the version of Speak and Spell to own. It has great bonus tracks ( mostly b-sides of singles taken from the album ) plus the inclusion of Sometimes I Wish I Was Dead ( which Sire/Warner Brothers in the felt the need to delete from the US pressing of this album.) Great synth-pop. Silly lyrics. Total ear candy.

Stimulator offers a perfect update of 80s sound that doesn't pander to the audience or insert tongue-in-cheek humor to a retro sound. The band is straight-up serious about their debt to new wave, funk, and disco and pays homage to those genres instead of joking about it. It's a good thing I don't have room-mates or they would hate me for how often I play this CD. I really hope Stimulator isn't a one-shot band. I'd love to see a follow-up effort--and soon.

I saw them on Friday night opening for the GoGo's. They were way better than the headlining band. They were so good I immediately bought their cd downa the concession and had them all sign it. The Clearwater Ruth Eckerd Hall had absolutely perfect acoustics. The band was awesome. The bassist was even trying out his new martin guitar. For me the song how far would you go has an absolutely infectious bass line. It can be currently heard throughout my neighborhood cranked to the threshold of pain from my living room. Go buy at least 10 copies and send them to all your friends.

Finally a band that is innovative and can stay true to their own image! Stimulator is a breath of fresh air in music...their look, their feel, their sound has been long awaited! From the seductive "My Beautiful Muse" to the retro feel of "Magic" --everything just flows!
I too saw them the first time opening for Duran Duran and was captivated by them. It is now time to see them on the big stage alone!

It's always interesting to learn how U K bands fared in the States and how they were represented,And it would seem the Skids meant very little over there.This compilation was their Greatest Hits the THIRD time round here in the U K.
For me the finest Skids album was JOY,an album slammed by every critic in the land and yet it's the one which shows the sound of the future Big Country and reflects Jobson's interests in Scottish history.2 tracks only from this one "Fields" and "Iona".
Here in the U K JOY is as rare as Hell but when you realiuse that everything Virginia Astley had a hand in ended up as a rareity its not that surprising. That's Virginia's flute on "Fields" and the sessions took place before her own career as a singer songwriter began to flower.
So JOY was the Skids swansong and for a couple of years Jobson was doing poetry readings accompanied by Virginia Astley on piano while Stuart Adamson was launching Big Country.
JOY can be seen as a concept album with a theme of War:both Jobson and Virginia shared an interest in World War 1 poetry and the short lived Armoury Show was named from one of the poems Jobson recited on "From Brussells With Love".
Here we have an area which is totally unknown of in the States and about the same here.The "Ballad Of Etiquette" from 1981 has become one of the rarest albums in the World.
The last Skid,Russell Webb,who now edits audio magazines,came from the Zones and hung on through the Armoury Show.He also co produced the Ist Virginia Astley album which is now on sale in the States over 15 years after it was made.
Jobson is now living in semi retirement in a Bedfordshire village and appears as a jock on Skye.

The Skids were one of the classiest punk bands to come out of the U.K. during the seventies, and this masterful compilation shines just as much now as it did when the Skids were causing ripples throughout the Highlands. Classics like "Into the Valley", "Charade" And "Of One Skin" Will always be a reminder of when Punk music and The Skids ruled the land.

In the early 80's, the Skids awoke me from my musical slumber with the kind of jolt that occurs only sporadically over a lifetime. Never had I heard something so powerful, so musically affirming. As an American, I had the added bonus of keeping the band all to myself, since no one in the States ever heard of them. Playing with a tightness and deftness uncommon in the punk tradition, the Skids' songwriters were vocalist Richard Jobson and guitarist Stuart Adamson. In the span of a few short years, the Skids pumped out four brilliant albums before dissolving. All four find representation on this collection, but, as is always the case with any anthology, there exists the problem of what to include or omit. Left off this disc are two vital songs: "Scale", from their debut, and the anthemic "Arena", from the third album. It is good to see the inclusion of "Fields" and "Iona" from the final release, Joy. Unfortunately, these last tracks fail to convey the overall aura of that album -- a folk album in the truest sense of the word. By the time Joy was released in 1982, Jobson had moved far away from the aesthetic that had informed the Skids and break-up was inevitable. Adamson moved on and formed the commercially accessible Big Country, while Jobson created the short-lived but brilliant Armoury Show. Despite the passage of time, the music of the Skids remain as compelling today as when it was first released. In a testament to their iconoclasm, consider the following stanza from the rousing "Fields" and ask yourself where in music today can you find such sentiment:

"O shift thy feet, O peasant one -- pull and tug your burden

Even here the sweat will gain -- the firm belief so Christian!"