International music reviews

Wow, I am too overwhelmed. This is soooo great!!!

I will be the first to admit my ignorance to Aha's work. They were never the trendiest of bands after the 80s. However, how lucky I was to find 2 versions of this track on the One Night at McCools soundtrack. It is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and I was stunned at the fact it never got any air time on MTV UK or on any of the radio stations here. The haunting music made my hairs stand on end. Absolutely beautiful. I would recomend it to everybody!

I just can not understand how a song like Velvet can be overlooked? It is utter beauty! The mixes on this disc will give you everything you need to enjoy for years to come. I first heard Minor Earth a year ago and it has not bored me yet. I must have listened to Velvet 500 times so far and it sends chills down my spine everytime.

the best and great cover for "woman in love" it's sounds like it was written exactly for dana. perfect!

Long live, Dana! All of her songs are so sensitive and full of pain for "all those breaking hearts"! These songs will give you minutes of joy and permanent tears ...

Well done to DANA, this is a worthy follow up single to "DIVA". My hat is off to this talented singer. I was expecting a campish cover version when keeping her history in mind, but my doubts were soon discarded when I heard her sultry vocals. DANA really shows her mettle with a cover of a song made famous by Babs Streisand.

well done and keep it up Dana

Women of Spirit is, without reservation, the best Putumayo album ever to be released. Filled to the brim with radiance, passion, and the irrepressible light all wonderful female vocalists can bring to their work, this is like an international Lilith Fair.

With soulful works originating from anywhere from Greece to South Africa, Women of Spirit compiles some of the best female vocalists to ever grace the planet. Including Ani DiFranco's "Done Wrong," Capercaillie's "Inexile," Ima Galguen's "La Zarza," and Savina Yannatuo's "El Sueno de la Hija del Rey" as some of the shining stars, as well as songs from Susana Baca and Tarika, both previously covered by Putumayo.

Ranging from a crystalline, delicate Celtic/Mediterranean sound to harsh, tender, and sprawling melodies from the USA, this record truly has spirit guaranteed to outshine nearly everything else.

As Maya Angelou, whose quote introduces the album, says, "Being a woman is hard work. Not without joy and even ecstasy, but still relentless, unending work." Here is a record to remove our minds from these burdens, a collection of music that is peaceful, sexy, uplifting, or just insanely beautiful by turns.

Deciding my favorite tracks on this CD was harder than for many others. In most compilations one or two tracks stand out. In this, different tracks grew on me at different rates. The collection as a whole settled slowly; how well it went together was only appreciated after several listenings.

This CD was given to me as a gift, and I must admit, I was a little skeptical. Much to my surpirse and delight, it's a fabulous CD with a mix of world influences. I'm in the process of tracking down entire albums from some of the artists on Women of Spirit.

It's a shame there are only two Piero CDs avaialble, and they both have pretty much the same songs. He's still alive (54 years old as of 2000), still touring and very involved in environmental causes.

He put out some albums in the 80's that I really liked, but as far as I know it's impossible to find them anywhere on the Internet or outside of South America. Searching for his name turns up very little.

Like someone else mentioned, his collection of childrens' songs was terriffic. Now that I have kids, I wish I knew what I did with the tape.

Of all the Piero collections, I think this one's the best, and has the most of his great songs...and there are so many fabulous songs on this CD that I won't go through my list of favorites, which would start with the incredibly moving "Mi Viejo" and would go on for at least 15 titles ! These are classics. They have aged like fine wine and are better than ever today.

I have a immense fondness for Piero's airy, clear voice...his poetry, his music, his sensitivity. It's a magical sound that brings a little piece of Argentina into my living room in Massachusetts. I love this CD !

Sol�a escuchar a Piero desde que ten�a 4 a�os, hoy a los 25 lo sigo escuchando...me encantan sus canciones como tengo la piel cansada o fumemos un cigarrillo...necesito un favor cualquiera que tenga las canciones que hizo Piero para ni�os, serian tan amables de comunicarse conmigo...gracias

Recomiendo este CD a todas a quellas personas que disfrutan en genero balada romantica. Favio es sin duda uno de los grandes espositores de este genero.

Este CD es mas que excelente! Lo recibi el lunes y lo he estado escuchando sin parar por una semana. Inspira nostalgias, romance, amor, buenos sentimientos. Definitivamente Leonardo Fabio vivira para siempre en los corazones romanticos. La letra de su musica es inspiradora, su voz es acogedora. Este CD es una joya. Me pregunto donde estara hoy este inspirador de amor de adolescentes...

Leonardo's voice is absolutely amazing! His lyrics are poetic and everything about his songs make you feel nostalgic about a place resplendant with warm and beautiful memories. Lovely, just lovely. Please buy it, or try it, and you will surely be more than satisfied.

A great album from a very talented singer....
Its a great pity that this album is deleted...
Well worth tracking down and adding to your collection of Paulinas discs.

Wow! This is really one of Paulina Rubio's best albums. The music is excelent and so are the lyrics. Even though she does not have an extremely powerful voice, she sounds very good in this songs. There are so many fun songs like "Maldito Amor" and "Los Dioses Se Van", and the really good singles released off this album "El Me Enga??", "Nieva, Nieva" and "Asunto de dos". Definitely, one of the best songs is "Nada Puedes Hacer" an extremely good ballad. It is sad that this album is not available any more. I own the cassette, but it is very old and it has bad sound quality (1993)...i wish I could by the CD.

PAULINA RUBIO MUESTRA SU CALIDAD ARTISCTICA Y MADUREZ INTERPRETATIVA CON 24 KILATES, DISCO GANADOR DE MUCHOS PREMIOS. ES IMPRESIONANTE VER EL BALANCE ENTRE ROCK, BALADA, ACUSTICO, BLUES AND JAZZ QUE PRESENTA EN ESTE DISCO EN DONDE SE ENCUENTRAN CANCIONES A LA ECOLOGIA, AL ENGANO, AL AMOR, A LA PASION, A LA ESPERANZA. PAULINA BRILLA EN SU VERANO CON 24 KILATES, award winner. It is amazing to see the perfect balance between rock, balade, acustic, blues and jazz shown in this new Paulin's disc. You'll find lyrics and music dedicated to the ecologu, love, pasion, hope. Paulina shines in her summer with 24 Kilates. Paulina Rubio proves her artisctic quality and vocie mature in 24 Quilates

Keyboard magazine said "Aleks Syntek is the Mexican king of Pop"
in their march 2002's issue.
If you want to know why, just check it out!.
This album its a great compilation to introduce you in to Aleks's work.
From 1989 to 1999.

Este grupo, en mi mas modesta opinion es lo mejor que ha dado la musica moderna mexicana en su fase tecno. Son increibles tanto en su musica como en las letras.

This is a great CD!!! Its short, but its amazing. It contains the Live versions of just a few songs ( I think its 6) but its got an incredible, accoustic feel, and the accoustic versions of the songs are breathtaking!
A must have if you are an Alex Syntek fan, and if you aren't... a good CD to get to know and enjoy his music!

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Este es uno de mis discos de Alex Syntek favoritos. Es corto, ya que solo contiene las versiones EN VIVO de como 6 canciones, entre las que est�n la super conocida Sexo, Pudor y L�grimas. Fue grabado en el Auditorio Nacional y las versiones son EXCELENTES! Todas las canciones son acusticas, con Alex cantando y tocando el piano a la vez.

De verdad es un CD MARAVILLOSO!!!!

Lo recomiendo ampliamente, sobretodo si eres fan de Alex Syntek, pero si no lo eres, te aseguro que te va a encantar!

It took several "listens" for me to appreciate this CD. It doesn't match up to the Juan Gabriel of the live performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes; the energy just isn't there. The backup vocals are fantastic, and the arrangements are catchy. And Gabriel tells some delightfully mushy secrets in "Estos son recuerdos." No, this isn't the Gabriel of "Celebrando 25 A�os . . ." It is nonetheless a Gabriel that once again pulls the listener into his world.

He does it again. No wonder he is the most influetnial prolific latin american music composer. This album is on the same path as todo esta bien but with lyrics not as weird(luna llena). The music is great and it features arrangements by top contemporary arrangers like silvetti among others. He was wise enough to leave the arrangement for "abrazame muy fuerte" track to the maestro Maguellanes. That is the most powerful track. Its ending is as powerful as the lyrics in that it is about time is too short hence abrazame. Again, a lot of fusion in the songs as in his previus cd Todo Esta Bien. BUY IT.

I have listen to this song many times, and I don't get tired of listening to it. I'm a big fan of Juan Gabriel. I think he is one of the best singers in latin music. I'll be very glad if you could please send me over the lyrics of this song to my e-mail address. I'll apreciated very much and so that I can also buy this song for friends in the future. I look forward to my reply soon. Thank you in advance.

Eros' "9" is a fine release from the Italian pop-song singer.

Eros normally sings in Italian, however this is the Spanish language version of the same album available in Italian. Spanish and Italian are very similar. If you're like me and you have a few years of high school Spanish, you'll enjoy this.

First off, his voice is great; he has a wonderful beautiful full voice. He's more pop-oriented than the other opera singers.

Eros' music is much more upbeat and fun. At times it's almost cheesy latin rock songs, but I like it; it never gets corny.

"9" is a very solid album that I'm sure the rest of the world enjoys very much.

Eros is one super cool dude. It's too bad that Andrea Bocelli is more well-known, more critically acclaimed, and probably much richer. Those of us in-the-know can still dig on Eros.

I have 4 Ero albums.
I don't listen to them.
I never really like them at all, even though I have tried and tried to get into his music.
A friend of mine, back from Europe, brought me this album and upon glancing at it, I said to myself "Holy crap, not this guy"
Smiling sweetly, I thanked him and asked him "where's the rest of my presents ya cheap bugger".
After a while I did get to listen to it and now its constantly on my cd player. Its so good. Its so good. (worth repeating!!)
Maybe its the production, but his voice, unique that it is, is very clear and strong. The musicians are superb, true craftsmen/women. And together they have made a superb album. I've listen to it over and over and over. Now I'm brave enough to go back and revisit his other albums I have. But not yet, I'm not through with this one. Strongly recommended!!

SENTIMENTAL Y ROMANTICO. UNA DE LAS MEJORES OBRAS DE RAMAZZOTTI. EXCELENTE VOZ Y EXCELENTE MUSICA. ADORO SU ESTILO ROMANTICO Y FASCINANTE.

I thought I was buying a country record but except for 2 or 3
nice songs the rest is screatching electric guitars, 3 sets
of drums, shouting back vocals....it's hard rock and I hate
that.
The grean CD - supposed to be the Country versions - is pure
nonsense. It's somewhat less noisy and you hear some more
steel guitar. I just do not understand how Shania is considered
as a country artist. She probably was during the early 90's but
after the interruption of Garth Brooks, Country music changed
into heavy rock and Nashville didn't stop this trend towards it.
If you like Country and want to listen to it you will have to
buy remastered versions of artists from the 60's, 70's and 80's
like I do. Nowadays -again- I inmensely enjoy listening to f.e.
Gene Watson, Johnny Duncan, Johnny Lee, Moe Bandy, Charlie Rich
etc. etc. etc. That's what I call Country and not this "heavy,
punk-like pop rock whatsoever!

Up international~ I have the American edition but i have got to listen to the cd tracks through the genius creation of the net. It is very different and Americans and pop influenced areas of the UK, Australia etc. all have to realize we are hearing music style that is accepted in the global market that Shania was targeting. It isn't what we're used to at all but in respect it is unique to us and just strange but thats because it's new. Tracks on the blue version like, Juanita, I'm Jealous, Pretty Face, Forever For Always and Ka- Ching best showcase what Shania was wanting to achieve. This version doesn't fit all the songs and it is an experience that just has to be appreciated because it was saying to all her fans hey I want you guys to enjoy me too!!

I still say everyone should give it some credit even if it is so different.

The "international" version is nothing more than the American release vocals with an Indian-flavored background band used in place of the rock or country musicians used on the "red" and "green" versions, respectively. Maybe Sade's songs could be "massaged" with this style to create interesting versions of a CD's worth of tunes, but the result on UP sounds goofy and hard to listen to... like you've hired Ravi Shankar to play lead guitar for the Rolling Stones. If this version of Shania's album ever became popular ANYWHERE, I would be really surprised. Stick to the red or green versions of this CD.