International music reviews

Escuch� este disco una manana muy temprano por la radio, alla por 1994, una de esas manana en las que el DJ ponia un disco enterito. A mitad de Siete Crisantemos, no pude mas y llame a informacion para pedir el telefono de la radio y pregunte de quien era el disco; a Sabina recien lo conoc�a. Esa misma manana sali de la oficina a comprarme no solo Esta Boca es Mia, sino todo lo que pude encontrar de Joaquin.
Dificilmente he vuelto a escuchar un disco tan bien logrado, tan completo y tan bien cantado. Mis canciones favoritas definitivamente son Siete Crisantemos, Por el Boulevard de los Suenos Rotos (dedicado a Chavela), La Casa por la Ventana (grande Pablo Milan�s), Besos con Sal (Para mi la mejor canci�n de amor de Sabina), Mujeres Fatal, Mas de Cien Mentiras (un maravilloso recuento tan tipico en Sabina) y finalmente Esta Boca es M�a con un delicioso final, tan inesperado. El resto de las canciones contribuyen a balancear una obra maestra, la cual nos pasea por tantos g�neros como acostumbra a demostrar Joaquin que domina.

Pego mucho desde sus inicios en el 94 es un cd completo, es de esos cds que son para escuchar y ponerles replay.

La verdad, y me da pena decirlo, conozco de Sabina hace menos de una a?o, no se que rayos esperaba!...pero la verdad es que lo conoc? por la estrecha relacion que tuvo alguna vez con Andres Calamaro y Los Rodrigues, pero una vez que adquir? uno de sus cds, no pude detenerme alli, tuve que adquirir uno a uno hasta tenerlos casi todos. Este album tiene canciones excelentes, ritmos variados, letras majestuosas, de hecho, muchas de sus mejores canciones estan en este CD, que esta a la altura de "Fisica y Quimica" o su ultima joya "Dimelo en la calle" canciones a resaltar: Mas de Cien Motivos, Besos con Sal, Como un explorador, Ruido, Siete Crisantemos, Incluso en estos Tiempos, Por El Boulevard de los Sue?os Rotos, Mujeres Fatal

To find a cd strictly devoted to the music of O'Carolan was delightful, but to find one crafted by such skilled musicians was simply wonderful! This is
music that will warm the hearts of any proud Irish-American, and keep the toes tapping. It's a great ode to the great man who composed these stunning pieces!
I can't express how accomplished these musicians are, and how beautiful this music is. This music is so diverse, so timeless! Run, don't walk, and get your credit card and purchase this cd!
You'll be glad you did! Thanks to Joe Et Al for creating this lovely gem of a recording! Slant!

Cool! (This is very nice music and my aunt says it makes for a GREAT St Patrick's Day gift---for all ages! The music is varied and light,....)I listen to it with her in her car all the time.

miss emily
(as told to her aunt)

"Harper's Reverie" is really a fine effort, with great playing and superb as well as fresh arrangements. Possibly one of the best tributes to the music of O'Carolan. Massimo Ferro Radio Voce Spacio 1 "Un Monda di Musica" ("A World of Music") San Michele, Italy

I really like the songs on this cd. As a young child when these songs were mostly played, it shows that some of the older hits are timeless.I still find these songs to be modern in an old way-

"That's when I Think Of You" was released in US and only hit #100 on our Top100...what a Shame! I bought the cassette and loved it. I feel it should have been a big hit here, but as always, the US was facinated with stupid music like Milli Vannilli at the time. A classic album I must say of 1927!

Hi to all who read this.
If you from outside Australia you have probably never heard of 1927. They formed in the late 80's and "Ish" was their first of three studio albums.
It is probably the most accesable of the three but "The Other Side" and "1927" (self titled) are still very good (4 stars).
This album is full of easy listening pop type songs with catchy tunes that you will not forget in a hurry.Probably not an album for a teenager of today but for people in their 20's - 40's it is a must hear.
The album opens with the stirring track "To Love Me" followed by the two monster Aussie hits "That's when I think of you" and "If I could". Other memorable songs include the anti war song "Compulsory Hero" and the very catch "All the People".
Eric Weideman the lead singer has a voice unlike many other singers, it is a rich mature sound with a raw edge which suites ballads through to the heavier sound found on the third self titled album.
I CHALLENGE ANY OF YOU WHO BUY THIS ALBUM NOT TO BECOME HOOKED!
Please enjoy.........

Just another band to make somewhat big in other places in the world. An extremely talented band from my hometown and the amazing vocals of Dylan Ferro are only a few factors in which make this album amazing. This band is able to writes song after song with catchy tunes and great lyrics ... all the albums are incredible .... check them out!!

Melon Diesel is one of the best bands to come around this time and age. They're music really rocks better then most I've heard. There music is bilingual & both english & spanihs rock! I thought they were from spain, but others have been saying they're from england, though most of the guys look spanish, not english! Why else is half they're music in spanish! Eitehr way if you like good rock music that seems honest, you will like Melon Diesel!

By rights this British rock band from GIBRALTAR should really begin to go places. The "La Cuesta ..." album is a good indicator of their potential, but their latest album "REAL" is one of the most surprising and exciting works that I have heard in a long time. It is hard to pick a dud track in an album consisting of 17 rock originals (11 sung in English + 6 in Spanish). If you like U2 or REM, you're bound to recognise their influences on this band. Look out for "REAL" it'll rock your world!!

Led Zeppelin Remasters gives you all the major Zep tunes in one convenient 2 CD set.
Jimmy Page oversaw the digital remastering and the sound is excellent.
Zep purists my be slightly annoyed at the sequencing of the tunes (like with "Heartbreaker") but the casual fan shouldn't mind a bit.
So stick this in your CD player, pump up the bass, crank up the volume and prepare to be blown away by the greatest R&R band ever!

This is a great cd with alot of great songs like Whole Lotta Love, and Stairway To Heaven. I really liked this cd and I listen to it almost every day. I think anyone who likes Led Zeppelin would like this cd because it has some of there best songs. I`m a kid and I think this Led Zeppelin is the best band ever! So if your a Led Zeppelin fan buy this cd! I liked it and so will you!

This is definately the LZ compilation to have. It's got all of the hits, no filler and the sound is great. All of the good songs are on 2 convenient discs, there are no filler songs, to speak of. If you get just one LZ compilation, make it this one, it beats all of the other LZ compilations.

Me gusta Natalia desde la primera vez que escuchar.

Natalia combines an alternative and acoustic feel with powerful songwriting. She often switches to dance, but the songs still have serious backbone and are enjoyable.

Natalia escribe todas de sus canciones como Shakira y sera una estrella en la futura.

Very catchy and surprisingly good.

This was Natalia's first album and I really like this album. Her lyrics are so simple, she sings about the simplest things in the world such as eating a mango, but she makes you think is she really singing about a mango?? Her songs bring a smile to your face. When she sings and performs you can feel it in your veins and your heart that she loves to perform and this comes right across the whole album.

Natalia Lafourcade blends perfectly the sound of three of the greatest female singers/songwriters out there today: fellow Mexican Julieta Venegas, Portugues Nelly Furtado and Colombian Shakira. If this sounds like a bit too much of a mix, think again. Natalia accomplishes it, by throwing in an extra element of mellow lounge feel a-la-Amigos Invisibles into the blend, accomplishing a groovy album that is bound to go up in the ranks of your iTunes' "Play Count".

Favorite tracks: I love the album as a whole, but if you ask me, I'd stick with "El Destino", "Elefantes", "Georgina" (one of the most interesting tracks in the album), "Ma�ana Olvidare" (with its clever low-fi production aproach) and "Mango (Remix)". This is one contagious album that will make you dance and think, while you keep on playing it once and again.

Sin duda alguna, este es uno de los mejores discos jam�s concebidos en M�xico e inclusive, me atrever�a a decir que tambi�n en Latinoam�rica. Un poco marcado con fusiones que alimentan los sonidos y las fibras m�s �ntimas de la m�sica, en letras que surgen de esa b�squeda iniciada a�os atr�s, en medio de la explosiva avalancha de �xitos que empezaran dentro de Timbiriche. Despu�s de una importante y exitosa lucha contra sus adicciones, Sasha retorna con un disco magistral, en el que deja entrever su visi�n y su amor por la vida y en el que los d�as de la dama de negro, quedan atr�s. "Ser�s el aire", el primer sencillo, es el reencuentro con ese p�blico que la conoci� con el grupo y a�os m�s tarde con "Rueda mi mente", a la que siguieron otra importante lista de �xitos. Un tema compuesto por Juan Pablo Manzanero, Mildred Villafa�e y por la misma Sasha, interponen el sentido de crear m�sica de propuesta y de emociones.

Este es un disco, en el que se pueden descubrir emociones y sensaciones determinadas. Temas como "Alma h�meda", "En la ciudad", "Si con mi voz pudiera", "Ya no te extra�o", "Pen�lope" y "Me faltas t�", ponen de manifiesto la vers�tilidad de la otrora integrante de Mu�ecos de papel. Participaciones importantes de m�sicos como Jorge Reyes, Nacho Ma�o, Benny Ibarra, Sabo Romo, Julieta Venegas y Juan Pablo Manzanero, est�n permeadas en cada uno de los temas de este disco, que a juicio de todos sus admiradores, es el mejor trabajo de su carrera en solitario.

Si quieres m�s informaci�n de Sasha y de este disco, as� como de su pr�ximo disco titulado "Con tu amor", visita la comunidad Sasha Sokol & more en http://groups.msn.com/SashaSokolmore y conocer�s a personas de todo el mundo que admiran a Sasha.

Saludes

This is one of the best spanish cds that I've heard. When I saw the video to "Seras el Aire" I knew I had to get this cd immediately, unfortunately, it took me 4 years to acquire it. This shows that good, not mainstream, spanish music is difficult to purchase in the U.S., my sister finally bought it for me in Mexico. After hearing the whole cd I instantly became a fan and proceeded to collect her previous material. In my opinion this is by far Sasha's best cd, probably due to the relaxing and soothing moods caused by the enigmatic and mystical music. This cd is reminiscent to some of Sasha's older songs such as "La Leyenda," "Justo en el momento," "Luna Nueva," but especially "Trampas de Luz." It feels that these songs were way beyond their time because they sound as if they should had been included in this cd. 11:11 (Once Once) is one of those cds that should have revolutionized the spanish music scene, but instead are lost in history. Sadly most people would rather seek mainstream disposable junk such as Shakira's "Donde estan los ladrones?" and Paulina Rubio's self-titled "Paulina." The cycle seems to get worse with their unintelligible English in "Laundry Service" and "Bordergirl." Too bad this artist is not as popular as her former Timbiriche band members Thalia and Paulina. 11:11 showed that it had potential to make Sasha an international star thanks to the diversity of mystic sounds packed in the cd. 11:11 contains New Age "Las voces del agua" and "Cancion de luna" both relaxing and enigmatic; Jazz in "Mi primer dia sin ti" and "Penelope" both soothing; and contemporary such as the haunting "En la ciudad" and the elegant "Alma humeda," "Si con mi voz pudiera" and "Me faltas tu." Of course, there is also the smash hit "Seras el aire" and the lovely "Omhaidkhandi" which shows that music transcends the language barriers. I can't believe it's been over 5 years since this cd was release, I am anxiously awaiting Ms. Sokol's new cd. A long time could only mean that Sasha has another trick up her sleeve.

Just to recommend a few others check out any cd by Soraya, but especially "En esta noche," both Thalia's 1990 and 2002 self-titled "Thalia," Eros Ramazzotti's "Todo Historias," and "Donde hay musica," Moenia's 1997 self-titled "Moenia" and Morbo's 2001 self-titled "Morbo." Sadly some of these went unnoticed when they should have been swamping the airwaves.

These cd's changed the spanish music scene in one form or another in their time.

Sasha is the best singer I ever heard, her voice, her beauty, her personality. WOW! with this CD She can touch your emotions. I have all her material. And I can say that with 11:11 She did her best work! I love her!

I THINK THESE GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO GO FAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IVE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, STILL HAVE THEIR MAGAZINES FROM WAY BACK THEN. WHAT I DIDNT KNOW WAS, THE CHANGE THEY MADE FROM MENUDO TO MDO. I DID NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL THIS MOMENT. IM SHOCKED! I LOVE THIS BAND AND THE SINGER. SOOO FINE. MDO DONT EVER CHANGE OR STOP PLAYING YOUR MUSIC. ITS BEAUTIFUL. CHERYL

MDO's self-titled album is a solid collection of Latin pop. This disc contains a good mix of song styles. "Volveras a mi" has a disco beat; "Ay Amor" is a sweet ballad; "Ay carino" has a rock/Latin fusion sound, with effective guitar accents. The rest of the songs represent a similar mix of styles. Although most of the lyrics are in Spanish, "A bailar" has an English refrain, and "Hablame de amor" includes an English rap. The guys in the group sound great; there is an effective mix of group vocals and solo parts. Overall, a very enjoyable, upbeat collection.

I have been a fan since 1983. Menudo has come of age. Today they are MDO. They are better then ever. I love them! Their music is incredible! They seem to only get better with age. Their music grows with them... This album is one of their best. A must for all whom love to dance and be free.

Beth

This product was never sent to me. It was sent to my old address eventhough I had purchased (quite a few) things from Amazon under a new address.

(Should be 5 stars -- can't seem to edit the stars.) I was first exposed to this recording in a high school Spanish class. I was blown away. Through some difficulty, I eventually came to own the LP. My comprehension of the lyrics has faded, but my appreciation for the music has not. Serious ear candy. It's amazing stuff to these very American ears. Some of it has a "get under skin" quality that is especially pleasing. I recommend this CD to everyone, even if you don't know a lick of Spanish.

At times lyrical or up-tempo but always refreshing to hear. Serrat has a great voice.

It is very clear to me why this album went out of print so quickly and received little fanfare when available. As an absolute lover of OPUS 3 I spent a long time trying to find this CD. I've listened to it perhaps 10 times and cant enjoy it. While Kirsty is great at providing whispy vocals to light ambient influenced songs and excells at using her voice as a background instrument, she has neither the range or projection to front a band or an album. In addition, her songwriting is suspect as well. I thought the collaboration with Mark Pritchard on this album would be fantastic. Mark is half of the group GLOBAL COMMUNICATION, but his uninspired effort here is probably more of a lack of interest in the uninteresting structure (or lack there of)of the material rather than his own failings as an established artist. If you want to hear Kirsty and Mark at their best, get the single from PULUSHA called Isolation part 1 & 2. These tracks, Mark's own, shine and Kirstys vocals provide the exact amount of feminine warmth and personality to turn the otherwise cold tracks into something very much embraceable.

This is a poor effort and none of the songs hold a candle to anything she did with the group OPUS 3. If you like Kirsty's vocals, as I do, keep your money in your pocket (this CD tends to be expensive when bought online) or wait till you find a copy in a budget bin. Better yet, do a little research and buy her stuff where she lends her vocal abilities to other musicians and groups (The Drum Club - Drums are Dangerous, Orbital-Halcyon+on+on & Silent Poets - To Come...) where her vocals are much more part of the MIX rather than front and center where her shortcommings as a front-woman are too painfully exposed.

it takes me away. it takes me to a dreary day in london, walking through the fog, being depressed about something and only finding solace in the sky just because it seems to scream 'freedom'.

WHY IS THIS NOT READILY AVAILABLE? come on, record company people... get your acts together and promote things like this. you do it for dido and enya, you do it for sarah and tori and fiona... and this is on par with all of those and still has its own personality. brilliance, diversity, poetry, emotion, it's all here. people would eat this up if they knew about it.

i dare you to find a song as heartstopping as 'orange' or as insane as 'sci-clone'. i dare you to find lyrics as thought-provoking as those on 'chapter 8' or melodies as melancholy as those on 'river'.

kirsty = awesome.

I found Kirsty Hawkshaw, as many have, through her vocals with the now-defunct band Opus III. While I love the music on Opus III's two albums ("Mind Fruit" and "Guru Mother"), I was most struck by the etheral, subtly powerful voice that sang for almost every song. I made a mental note of her name, and in the intervening time I heard her vocals sampled for music by Orbital, as well as two new songs for the band Delerium.

Her work on her solo album, "O.U.T." (On Ultimate Things), is some of her best. Where before she was always singing someone else's songs, I get the distinct sense from this album that it is her music and nobody else's. It has a strong variety and a unique sound, and much of it is dramatically different from what we've heard from her elsewhere.

The lead track, "Leafy Lane," is the perfect way to set the tone for the whole album. It's a sexy, smooth song, Kirsty as I know and love her... but better. Her singing here is soft and sultry, ideally suited to the instrumentation. It's one of the strongest songs on the whole CD, which is filled with some really excellent work.

My personal favorite song, because it seems to tell an mysterious story, is "Chapter 8." Kirsty alternates between soft and powerful vocals here, and the lyrics suggest a story deeper than what they literally reveal. Listening to the song, I never fail to find myself imagining what it's talking about. Though it's never said with clarity, I find my self imagining "the meaning behind Chapter 8."

"Sci-Clone" is probably the biggest surprise on the whole album. If you've heard Kirsty Hawkshaw before, you probably recognize her for her breathy vocal style. She abandons that completely for this song, adopting a powerful, loud voice to scream out the lyrics against a fuzzy, technological beat. It's not at all what I expected from her when I bought the album, but it was delightful nonetheless.

I don't need to go through each song, but will only conclude by saying that each song on "O.U.T." has its own unique flavor and sound, and they're all good in their own way. Though the album is only available as an import, and is thus fairly pricey, it's one of the best single CD's I own, and it was worth everything I spent on it and then some. It has my highest recommendation, and I find myself looking forward anxiously to new solo work from Ms. Hawkshaw.