International music reviews

The perfect accompaniment to a day on the shoreline,'On The Beach' is Rea's finest creation and my favourite album of all! From the lapping sound of waves on the title track to the loving reminiscence of the French countryside in 'Giverny', Rea, in his cool gravel-voiced style, paints an evocative picture of summer and succeeds in creating a more relaxed mellow sound than previous material, although the more upbeat tempo of 'crack that mould' and 'Bless Them all' do seem a little out of place and possibly outdated, but an underrated masterpiece nonetheless!

This is one of THE most wonderful CD's I have ever had the good fortune of listening to. I purchased this CD originally in 1990 and subsequently lost it to my ex in our divorce. I thought so much of this CD that I purchased it on my own - and I STILL love the music. Chris Rea has a unique, sexy quality to his voice that cannot be adequately described. You MUST listen to experience!

Unlike most albums released in the mid 80's, this one is not dated. It it the perfect anytime album. The soft soothing music is a perfect fit for Chris Rea and his unique vocal presentation. It is also the best of all the Chris Rea albums. (so far) The song "Giverny" is a great catchy song, but my favorite is still "Just passing through". Simply lovely! I bought this CD for my dad for father's day a few years back and it remains one of his favorite albums in recent times. I have searched Chris Rea's entire catalog for another gem like this one. All of his albums contain a few gems (sans Tennis; what was he thinking?) But this CD is loaded with great songs.

What can you really say about Madonna...typically, either you like her or you hate her and there seems to be no middle ground. Up until Ray of Light, I never liked Madonna or any of her songs but this album truly was a revelation when I heard "Power of Goodbye" and decided to buy the album. "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" opens the album up with lots of introspection and a good slow beat. "Swim" is a song that lyrically tells the world to end all its problems, and for each of us to let go of our burdens and not let them bury us. "Ray of Light" is one of the worst songs on the album but it's not as bad as some of her songs (thinking of "Tell Me" and "Music"). "Candy Perfume Girl" reminds me of the much more sensual Madonna many are used to but the electronic beat puts an interesting groove to this song...wonderful song. "Skin" follows beautifully, still with provocative and inviting lyrics but also the electronice edge that actually gets harder and faster. "Nothing Really Matters" is a strange video I'm not crazy about but the song is actually really good and a fun dance track, fitting in perfectly with the previous tracks. "Sky Fits Heaven" is an okay track but sort of mediocre on this album and "Shanti/Ashtangi" following it makes these tracks what I like to call "the new found beliefs" and honestly, I don't think these are strong tracks at all and seem out of place. "Frozen"...the second best track on the album...this is an AMAZING song here, something we have never heard of with the dark and rushing sounds throughout it, not to mention absolutely piercing lyrics (and the video is a work of art!). "Power of Goodbye"...the best song on the album still...this song lyrically is so strong even though it's pretty simple and allows for the building passion and constant psychological tearing of leaving someone you love (another beautiful video!). "To Have and Not to Hold" is an okay track but after following two powerhouse songs that have a unique beat, this song seems to aburptly stop the album completely...placement would have been better at the very end of the album. "Little Star" just gets on my nerves and it's one of my least favs. "Mer Girl" is lyrically a good song but again would be better probably as the third song or fourth song on the album. "Has to Be" ends of this import version and lyrically is sort of simple but it's not a bad song either. Overall, this album is probably the best Madonna has ever produced, lyrically and artistically, and hopefully if and when she makes a new album, she'll return to a deeper form of music that is found on this awesome album.

This is madonna's best album to date, that's for sure.
i will not review this album track by track, but i have to say that listening to this albu is a truly amazing trip to madonna's soul, is a very personal work.
my favourite track is drowned world (substitute for love), that was a single outside the states.
the plus of this edition is the exellent song has to be.
a song that is truly a masterpiece, so beautiful, and so quite, but her voice is in her best!.
So, if you don't have this album, now you can get this edition, and i promise you that you won't regret.
And if you want more madonna, get also:
**MUSIC: really upbeat and is exellent to dancer to.
(fav songs: amazing, don't tell me, i deserve it)
**AMERICAN LIFE: a great album, no matter what people said about it. with the deep lyrics of ray of light and the exellent music from the music album
(fav songs: love profusion, mother & father, hollywood, intervention, xtatic process)
**SOMETHING TO REMEMBER: with the WONDERFUL i want you�
**REMIXED & REVISITED : great remix ep, including the rock mix of love profusion, wich is my favourite remix of the AL era

So, you can't go wrong with her, she is not only an icon, i really don't care about that, i love her music, tht's what really matters at the end
BYE!!

This has to be her best CD! I orginally checked the USA version out of a local public library here & was quite impressed. Although I don't like Madonna for the way she acts & things she says, I thoroughly enjoy many of her tunes--especially "Frozen", which is the high point of this particular collection. Because the other songs are so likeable (except for "Mer Girl", which is the low point of the CD), I just had to get this import out of curiosity over the bonus track, "Has to Be". In my opinion it was a major mistake to include "Mer Girl" on the USA version rather than "Has to Be". If you like "Frozen", you'll definitely enjoy "Has to Be", so order this CD today! It's terrific!

Brilliant record. Too bad that Amazon ships the USA(Non-latin) edition, which has different tracks from the Argentinian edition (2 different tracks and 2 additional tracks). Otherwise it would have been a 5!

Recibi este album de manos de un amigo argentino que me visito. Es un hallazgo! Gracias al Paz Martinez seguimos honrando al amor, magnifico tu tema! Tambien el # 12. Adelante, eso es hacer buena musica!

I bought this because of Andrea's review, and I'm glad I did. This CD of Argentine music in a folkloric style is superb. It's wildly romantic, exquisite poetry set to beautiful melodies and played and sung with heart and soul.

These songs are about passion that knows no bounds. There is so much love in this CD, it will overflow into your heart and warm it...and there's no limit to the times I could hear this, it's a work of art.

Nocheros says in their booklet: "...amor y arte son los fuegos divinos que dan aliento al alma".

The Year was 1976. I was basically into soul music, 19 years old and in the Navy. that's when a heard a friendly BOOOO! This album blue me away because it was vastly different from anything that I had ever herard. I am a trombonist and Fred Wesley was my idol a member of Booty's " Horny Horns" section. The only thing about this music was somewhat familiar to me was some of that James Brown flavor in the horn licks. But man that Space bass and razor sharp synthesizer had me listening over and over again to try and figure out just what they were doing. My favorite track is "Love Vibes. This album helped to usher in that electric funk sound that was never mastered by anyone except Booty and of course Dr. Funkenstien himself. If you are a true lover of the funk grab this one...YAA We're Funkin ON Babba.

This is the funkiest album I've ever heard. THe title cut is so funky that a skunk will stop to salute it. I was 19 years old when I got the album and I was just blown away. This album was contemporary with Parliament's "Mothership Connection", "Brass Construction 1" & The Brother's Johnson "Looking out for #1). THis was my favorite. Bootsy had won me over big time. Click on the samples and get a whiff of some real funk. I highly reccomend this album is your really into funk.

This is truly an all-time classic! Every single track is a soulful funky masterpiece. "I'd Rather Be With You" (catchy), "Love Vibes" (both soothing and thrilling) and "Vanish In Our Sleep" (haunting) are some of the most beautiful songs of the whole P-Funk canon, while "Psychoticbumpschool" will definitely get you movin'. PLAY LOUD!

I had never heard of Iran Castillo until I began to watch her show "Preciosa". The first time I heard the theme song I fell in love with it. Then I noticed she sang the song,to my surprise! I scrambled to find out if she had an album. She pours so much emotion into every song. I absolutley love her music and she will continue to be one of my favorite Latin singers! And as my title reads,yes,she is better than Britney Spears!!!

I had never heard of Iran Castillo until I began to watch her show "Preciosa". The first time I heard the theme song I fell in love with it. Then I noticed she sang the song,to my surprise! I scrambled to find out if she had an album. She pours so much emotion into every song. I absolutley love her music and she will continue to be one of my favorite Latin singers!

I discovered Iran Castillo one day while viewing her video "Yo Por El" on Hot Tv (Latin Music Videos program). I was intrigued by the lyrics that were beautifully sung by this very talented and gorgeous artist. I immediately purchased her C.D. the following day. Until today, her album is still one of my favorites. I had convince many friends on purchasing her album. They too have become her fan. We love Iran Castillo!

This CD is beautiful, the songs are so tranquil and passionate. There is one in particular that my fiance has dedicated to me and it just makes me want to cry. We'll probably play it at our wedding. I highly recommend it for anyone that loves romantic music!

Excellent. Eros Ramazzotti is a wonderful addition to any library of music.

This is by far the best album of Eros Ramazzotti, buy it and enjoy.

I was unprepared for the sheer beauty of this cd. It has a steadying, rhythmic peace and a joyous transcendance that is otherworldly. Rogers unveils the mystery of life and sound and spirit through her exquisitely beautiful voice. The musicians follow suit and will center you with rapturous sound. Unveiled is a spiritual expression par excellent, and a sanctuary that pierces through and illuminates in the midst of the chaos of the world. Thanks to all those who created it.

Diana has a voice that sends love raining down from Heaven and has the power to bring us Home.

The beauty of Diana's voice and the transcendent quality of the music, a superb blend of ancient and modern, transports the listener to the eternal present. Namah Shivaya takes one into the inner reaches of the blissful heart of Shiva. Accessible and profoundly devotional. Highly Recommended for inspiration and spiritual practice.

This CD is very good. My favorite songs from this album are "Herida Mortal" and "Hoy Me Jurare". Also recomend "Jessica Cristina" by Jessica Cristina and "Sincero" by Chayanne.

I'm relatively new to latin music so this is the first cd i've bought from jerry, but it unexpectedly amazed me! his voice is great for the songs recorded and the combination of ballads and salsa songs is perfect to listen to in any mood! my personal fav is "cortarle las alas a mi corazon" porque it's so well-sung that you really feel the emotion he puts into it. i mean, how many times have you wanted to keep your heart from venturing to someone who will hurt you?

I was looking for another salsa hit cd from Jerry Rivera but this cd is so much more. Very good slow jams. Light the fireplace, call your girl and enjoy the evening with Jerry Rivera's latest classic.

enjoy,
salsakid34

WHAT?NO CLIPS?NO SOUND BYTES?WHAT A SHAME.THE ALBUM IS GOOD.AS GOOD AS THE FIRST ONE.DUKE IS ON THE FIRST FEW TRACKS EVEN THOUGH HE NOW DOESNT RAP AT ALL DUE TO THE GUNSHOT HE RECEIVED.IT STAY UNDERGROUND THE WHOLE WAY.YOU TELL THAT JACKEN MISSES HIS BROTHER BEING ON THE TRACKS.BUT OVERALL IT F*CKIN GOOD.GET THIS ONE.ITS HARD TO FIND BUT WORTH IT!

Where do I begin with this review, for me trying to get a hold of this album was a process that I thought would never reach it's conclusion. I have travelled to the states (well just florida)looking for a copy only to be met with disapointment, forget here in england I was lucky to even know about Psycho Realm let alone have access to their material. It took three attempts to order it throught the internet before I finally struck gold, and now I have it and well...lets just say if you like well thought out and intelligent lyrics fused with some of the best production to ever grace an album in hip hop you need to come over to the sick side.

Sick Jacken and his brother Duke return with part 2 of the war story and it is a perfect successor to the excellent part 1, unfortunatly during the making of this album Duke was shot through the neck leaving him paralysed from the neck down meaning he was unable to complete the rest of it leaving Jacken to go at it alone, but luckily Jacken is more than capable of holding it down not to mention the album features the Street Platoon Cynic and Crow to help with the proceedings.
The album is split into two parts, the first (the war years part 2) is a straight up continuation from where the previous album had left off and it features Duke all the way through while the second half (post war era:the reconstruction)only features Duke on the first three tracks while Jacken goes on solo or is helped by the street platoon. The production also switches a little bit on the second half especially towards the end giving the impression that after the war years they wanted to liven it up a bit showing the good side of Pico Union (the place where their from) and in my opinion it is a bit hit and miss, the majority is fantastic but the last two tracks are in my opinion weak giving the album a bit of a sour taste after so much sweetness but this by no means diminishes the acomplishments of Sick Jacken and Duke, together they have created some of the best material to ever come from hip hop with their three albums (the psycho realm/war story/war story 2)it is a shame that they have been mostly overlooked even being dropped by their label with their first album (Columbia)leaving them to go the independent route.

I cannot stress how much people need to check Psycho Realm, be sure to get all their albums you won't be disapointed and Duke if you read this my prayers go out to you.

this is a greatest yet of the chicano group,The Psycho Realm will continue to make music to the masses.peace

I bought this CD based on reviews of it on the Amazon site. It is OK. That's it. Not one that I think I would even consider playing again. In fact, I think I might give it to a CD resale store. Taste in music is a very individual thing; however, so this CD may appeal to others much more than it does to me.

I like Uno because of the way different rhythms are mix into one beautiful album.

I like it because it makes me dance, dream and be happy.

These guys sing in three languages and they all sound great.

I like it, because some sounds send me back to my childhood, others make me wonder about other cultures and way of lives.

The message is one of unity, peace, equality & tolerance, just what we need now days.

Excellent

The mixed of the different sounds, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, and the afro music, make this CD unique
When you hear Marietta, that's my Cuba of yesteryears and you want to get up and dance.
Over all, a great CD, with at lot of Soul
Congratulations!!!!!!!