Urban Folk music reviews

I disagree completely with the first review. I've seen Harding live many times and, if anything, I've always complained that his studio releases fall far short of his live shows. This CD gives you insight into Harding's on-stage humor as well as the energy of his live appearances. The songs may be a bit faster than on his studio albums, but they also have a lot more spontaneity and vitality. Very good CD. I'd recommend it over almost any of his studio releases.

This was the second album of Wes' I bought back in college and I was more than pleasantly surprised. Because it's a live album, it captures the spontaneity and energy of his shows, as well as the intimacy of his music. I now own all of his albums and this is still one of my favorites.

This is one of the best rock concert ever recorded.
Good-quality recording and an incredible line-up.
Everyone is interested in brit-rock should listen this record.

This CD is a major disappointment for a huge fan. One often hears the phrase "for fans only"; in this case, I would say, "fans stay away". "Takes" contains the original CD, which Michelle much lamented and which seems to have started the rift between her and Mercury Records, and the so-called "real McCoy", apparently taken from the actual tapes but with more material.

The problem with the second CD is the sound quality. I have heard many bootlegs that sound pristine compared to this. I literally had to turn my (100-watt) car CD player all the way up to even barely hear most of it. Many of the lyrics and the between-song dialog are practically unintelligible. This is extremely frustrating, especially knowing all the technology that's available now to fix these sorts of problems. This is 2003. Even if she couldn't get a decent copy of the tapes, they could have been cleaned up much better.

This is a very weak first release for Mighty Sound. Hope the rest are better.

this album is really some of the folkiest, piniest music you can find outside of folkways. i highly recommend it, but i will warn that the recording levels on this album are so low, that even with stereo at full blast, some guitar-strumming is hard to hear. if you want really down-home at its best, though, you're gonna have to deal with the drawback.

Alt-folkie Michelle Shocked was right there when the current "Americana" boom was just getting underway, and I've always thought of her as having a strong, positive influence on its growth. This is an interesting set of informal, live performances by this intelligent, unassuming alt-folkie, made at the start of her career, when she was making the rounds of various "women's music" gatherings. Shocked was particularly cool, though, for opting to emulate Woody Guthrie rather than lesbian folk icons such as Tret Fure or Holly Near, who often tended to be a bit dreary and un-fun. These solo acoustic recording aren't completely electrifying, but they are a nice, unpretentious look at her early work. It's especially charming when you hear some truck whiz by on the freeway while she's crooning out a tune... now, that's authenticity!! The new 2-CD edition expands greatly on the original, single-disc set, and has been re-released on Shocked's own Mighty Sound label.

Search out the above 2 CD set. This looks like just the first CD of that set.

I've been listening to Bruce since he was on the cover of Newsweek, etc. And . . . this cd has creative, innovative covers that make the listener even more-aware of the original seminal lyrics. I love these reinterpretations, and I think, if you are any kind of a Bruce fan, you shouldn't let this cd escape you! Buy it! An easy five-stars! Great driving music--makes the miles fly by.

Well, another cover album of the boss. this one doesn't miss a thing.

billy bragg's 'bugeye jim' is a keeper. billy's voice and the spare acoustic guitar sound makes this track a partner to 'eisler on the go' from the lp. unless you're really into this album, a billy bragg fan, or think that 'eisler on the go' was the best song on the album, you should save up for something else.

"Bugeye Jim" is another sad, resonator guitar track sonically similar to "Black Wind Blowing" or "Eisler on the Go" -- spooky, poetic.

"My 30,000" is a full-band romp blasting the KKK. Also fun.

I would suggest, though, that you buy the "She Came Along to Me" ep instead because it contains BOTH of the afforementioned songs, PLUS two other tracks:

If you loved both of the "Marmaid Avenue" CDs, then you should get the "She Came Along to Me" ep -- if only for the beautiful accoustic version of "At My Window Sad and Lonely." I wish this version had been on the album instead!

The live version of "California Stars" is alright too, with a different spin taken on the song later on -- more rock instead of folk.

Buy it before it goes out of print.

With any compilation album, you are taking some risks. Much like the editor reviewed, the Grammy Nominees series is a bit classier than some other compilation albums.

You tend to get a slightly higher quality grouping of songs than those found on the NOW or Totally Hits series. This one is no exception. There's some good music here to appeal to a wide variety of people.

The only downside to this album, much like any compilation, is that you have to accept what someone else considers a "hit", deserving to be on the CD.

In my honest opinion, there are a couple of things that would really help compilation albums come out with a bit better quality.

1. Don't use radio edit or edited for content versions of songs. I realise this isn't exactly something considered "family friendly" with some artists, particularly someone like Eminem. Yet, to me, it shows a serious lack of respect for an artist to only releases edited versions of their music. You don't see people selling statues of David wearing pants, why do the same to music?

2. To be considered a true "hit", a song should make it to #1 on the Billboard charts at least once. It should also stay there for more than one week. I've seen a number of compilation albums of so-called "hits", that include songs that never broke the top 20 on Billboard. Just because a song gets a lot of airtime, doesn't necessarily mean it's a good song. Radio tends to seriously overplay a lot of music. That should never be used as a basis in judgeing a song to be a "hit" or a flop.

3. Don't try to appeal to every possible audience at once. Find one demographic and stick with it. True, some people like myself, enjoy a wide variety of music. However, your typical rap fan isn't going to be into teen pop. Just like your typical metal head isn't going to be into soft rock. Trying to include something for everyone tends to water down a compilation album. One general style or type of music should be the focus of any good compilation, and it should stay as true to that one type as possible throughout. Most compilation albums come far from that.

That being said, this is a good CD and one worth picking up. I lost interest in the NOW series after the 7th or 8th one released. I lost interest in the Totally Hits series after the 3rd or 4th one released. The Grammy Nominees series is one that I still see a lot of potential for. It's not perfect, but no compilation album ever will be.

I like "Say My Name," "Music," "Bye Bye Bye," "Beautiful Day," "Sexx Laws," "The Real Slim Shady," "What A Girl Wants," and I sort of like "Oops!...I Did It Again." Be warned-a LOT of this is rock and pop, so if you're not a big fan of either, you will not like this CD. I have to agree with the fact that some of the songs on here were not hits-and some of them aren't good, either. ^^; By the way....I think people should stop being so friggin concerned about foul language and be more concerned about lyrical content in songs. I'd prefer they leave both alone, but I find it comical that they allow Eminem to talk about Tom Green humping a moose and 'jerking because this whole bag of Viagra isn't working' and *ahem* what Christina Aguilera 'did to him' backstage and yet heaven forbid we hear him say the word s***. Kinda ironic.

"Grammy Nominees 2001" was the first Grammy compilation to really break out into diversity (even "1995" was kinda safe). Within seventeen(17) songs; we range from current popular music (Destiny's Child, Eminem), old favorites (Paul Simon, Madonna) and more "aquired tastes" (Beck, Radiohead). The album has a number of weak tracks; but it flows so well that we don't mind them that much. The album covers nominees for Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
(1) Destiny's Child "Say My Name" A. An especially tight R&B track with some inventive and intelligent content. Darkchild's production is very slick and the girls' have very mesmerizing voices. Every second of the song is flowing with a certain pulsating urgent ness, and it represents a huge comeback after the not-so-great "Bug-A-Boo". It's good to hear R&B from a more questioning side verses tragic side.
(2) Macy Gray "I Try" B-. This is a beautifully written song with heartfelt lyrics, made unsucessful by one factor: Macy's voice. Her voice is very weak and not very appealing, thus she detracts from the impact of her work. This song would be much better if someone else sung it.
(3) Madonna "Music" A. Collaborating with Will Orbit was THE best choice Madonna ever made. The beats provide an original and inventive flow for this compelling dance tune about dancing. In an age where dance has become somewhat generic, this is an inventive one with alot of techno influences.
(4) 'N Sync "Bye Bye Bye" A. It's easy to dismiss this as a meaningless pop song; but hey, those songs are often very fun. By keeping a short time length, this manages to be a catchy, refreshing and highly entertaining piece of work. It may not be too much; yet it is total sucess at what it wants to be.
(5) U2 "Beautiful Day" A. This marked U2's comeback after the less than brilliant "Pop" LP. Light, relaxed, touching, almost philosophical song that ranks up there with U2's best (and that's saying something). There's been alot of failed rock music in recent years; U2 come back and shows how it SHOULD be done.
(6) Beck "Sexx Laws" B+. I have no idea what this song is about and, in a way, don't care. As usual Beck has made a catchy, original and highly energized track. The horn arrangments alone are so inventive that they grab the ears' attention. So good to see an artist who does things his way.
(7) Eminem "The Real Slim Shady" A+. Here's an artist who always does his own thing and stands out from the crowd. This is a hands-down brilliant rap song with umapologetic, biting, hilarious lyrics that carry a bold message. There will never be another Eminem, and that's a relief. "The Real Slim Shady" is THE best song of 2000, and the still young millenium.
(8) Radiohead "Optimistic" B. Stands out from over half the music out there in originality, yet seems a little standard for Radiohead. It may feel as if the group is falling behind on their own formula. Not great Radiohead, but still captivating alernative rock with true heart.
(9) Paul Simon "You're The One" B+. Sometimes it's pathetic when old artists try to make new music, but this is a very good pop ballad. Paul Simon sounds just as good as ever and his lyrics are light and very heartfelt. A small little gem.
(10) Steely Dan "Cousin Dupree" C-. No matter how much craft has been put in this song, it still fails because of the content. The very thought of someone trying to make out with his cousin is just unappealing and wrong. Listener's don't want to hear this colassal miscalculation.
(11) Christina Aguilera "What A Girl Wants" B. A light, catchy pop tune that just isn't anything new. It may a little too soft, yet you can't really complain too much when the song so willing to please. An enjoyable listen, even if it's unnessacary.
(12) Aimee Mann "Save Me" A. This is a song for anyone who complains pop music has grown meaningless. A beautiful, deep and powerful song that pierces both the mind and heart. A great pop song, from a great movie ("Magnolia").
(13) Joni Mitchell "Both Sides Now" D. This may quite possibly be the weakest female voice I've ever heard. Her voice has no strength or conviction; feels as if she's just reading the lyrics of a sheet. Everything is also dragged out to the exetent that you'll start falling asleep.
(14) Britney Spears "Oops!...I Did It Again" D+. It may be lively, yet it has absolutley no substance. This isn't a song; it's promotional tool for Britney's image. Never entertaining at any point; the bridge towards the end reveals how laughable the entire thing is. What a mess.
(15) Backstreet Boys "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" A-. Another example of the BSBs' mastery of the pop ballad. The song is touching. heartfelt and filled with beautiful images. Delivery is a very crucial part of any song; and this song has an graceful one.
(16) Barenaked Ladies "Pinch Me" B+. Lays back just like #5, this one is a bit more specific with content, very easing. It has the ability to bring forth memories and nostalgia; which is a hard feat to accomplish for any type of music.
(17) The Corrs "Breathless" A. A perfect pop tune. Its light, catchy, fun and completely enjoyable. A triumph on both the vocal AND insturmental levels. The song is destined to put a smile on your face and warm your heart with beautiful lyrics and beats.
Bottom Line: ***1/2. This truely is an album with something for EVERYONE. You won't find Paul Simon, 'N Sync and Eminem together on too many albums. I acctually wish that the album had more tracks on it; Marc Anthony, Sisqo, Faith Hill and Papa Roach were all contendors in top categories as well. This is a VERY diverse collection of music at the dawn of the new millenium.

If I can't buy the cd with ALL THE SONGS that were played in the movie then I won't buy it. I know one cd could cover the entire movie so why can't this be done? Does it concern copy rights and releases?

I have seen the movie and I know that there are more songs than even these. What happened to Gimme Some Lovin and You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones. Just to name a few songs that are missing. I wish it could have been a complete soundtrack it owuld have worth spending the money.

Now THAT's an ultimate complement. The CD's you can let play, and you don't have to flip to any particular song, because, guess what, they're ALL fantastic! In addition, the movie was fantastic, so I think remembering the movie kind of helps me along when I'm listening. However, seen the movie or not, this is a great soundtrack and it's fun to listen to, while you're cleaning, lying around, or even throwing a party. I highly recommend; enjoy!

I think my summary can be best stated in 1 word--"YUCK!"
Don't waste your money on this cd. Buy anything original by Jim Croce instead!! I would rate this a zero but that option wasn't available!!

I suppose that it's because I have Jim Croce's own version of these songs ingrained in my head so deeply -- most of the covers are fairly sticky sweet, the exception being the cover of "One Less Set of Footsteps", which I think rocks no matter who is singing it. I would suggest that Jim Croce fans get the original greatest hits album -- this one misses.

Noting but having different things obout somebody that cannot do it anymore and I think this is a nice example.

This idea of re-releasing all the Texas label cd's, with a ton of extra tracks is a slap in the face to any die-hard Chesnutt fan who collected his earlier works. It may be ok for those who never got their hands these disc's, but for the majority of us, it's another example the music business's attempt at squeezing more money out the consumers hands in an already expensive hobby. This is the new "gimmick" the business is using. All of Vic's early disc's are great, no problem there, but they could have just released all the extra tracks alone on one cd seperately, and then released the original titles on their own. (...)

First let me say to all Vic Chesnutt fans and fans of great music in general you can totally disregard the 1 star rip off re-release review of this record,even if you have the original Texas Hotel cds the New West re-releases are well worth the money!The bonus tracks alone are worth the price of the discs.Vic Chesnutt is the greatest singer-songwriter on the planet,he could sing Mary Had A Little Lamb and it would sound good.So let us all just disregard what the record company is making here and buy all of these.My wife and i went to 5 Vic Chesnutt shows last year and never payed over $10.00 a ticket.So i say buy these cds because the sound quaility is excellent,the bonus tracks are fantastic and Vic has to make a living too.I recommend all 4 of the re-leases! 1-Little,2-West Of Rome,3-Drunk,4-Is The Actor Happy?

Why is it that RCA/BMG keeps repackaging the same Dolly Parton songs over and over and over again?

Each of the songs on this collection have been anthologized before, while other vital early songs remain out of print.

There is some first rate material here. "The Bargain Store," and especially "Coat of Many Colors" are superb songs that help establish Parton as one of the most compelling voices in country music. But too much of this compilation is taken up with songs from the far less interesting pop/Hollywood era of her career. These songs are readily available elsewhere while such profound songs like "Down From Dover," "Gypsy, Joe, and Me," "In The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" etc. remain unavailable and out of print in either their original album form or in any compilation form.

The RCA/BMG treatment of Parton's early back catalog is an outrage, and this latest compilation is just more evidence of that.

I just went out and bought this today and it's GREAT!!!!!!!! One thing though where's Kenny on Real Love????? It's GREAT!!!!!!