International music reviews

I was introduced to the earthy-ethereal sound of Anggun by a friend who lent me Snow on the Sahara, and was quickly moved to find more of her work. This, the original French version of the album that was later translated into English (not the other way around!), creates a world of beauty and wonder that needs no translation. Some of the tracks (La Neige au Sahara, Always, etc.) are almost exactly the same music-wise as their English counterparts, but many have additions or introductions in different languages and there are a few tracks (like La Memoire des Rochers) which are not found on the English translation. To me, the "flow" of this album works even better in French than in English--possibly because of the many subtle transitions and between-song bits omitted in the latter. However, ultimately it is this "flow" which sets it apart, not the language in which it was sung, because Anggun's music will move you no matter what language you speak. My recommendation: for anyone who understands the languages of love and beauty, this album is for you!

This album is simply a beautiful listening experience with Anggun's French smash hits. By the way, THIS is the original version - the English album is just a translation. Stick with the original! It's awesome and you won't regret it!

`Au nom de la lune',is a French version for Anggun's english version CD of`Snow on the Sahara'.When first I listen to the CD,it sounds a bit familiar to the english version.The opening track,`La neige au Sahara'[Snow on the Sahara]is gives you a unique blend of Javanese music and Pop.While`La rose des vents'[A rose in the wind]giving you a mixed of ancient Javanese and Pop with some Bahasa Indon quotes.The Hinduism effect could be heard in `Gita'.There are two Javanese songs included in this album:`Selamanya' and`Ceria'.My perception for `Selamanya'is about a earthlink princess who fall in love with a young prince or God from abode.And the must-listen last song is the one&only english song`Always'[Secrets of the sea].Although all songs are sung in french but no wonder it is a best-selling album in France alone that sells more than one million copies.Gotta get it before it flies over the moon!

BAD IMAGE is another superb album by Lenny Wolf & Co. This time Lenny incorporates some German friends to help. The sound on some of the tracks is a bit different than previous recordings, almost Egyptian like. Very nice though, just a little out of the ordinary for a heavy rockin' band. After listening to it a few times, you get kind of mesmerized. In a good way, of course. All the musicians sound excellent. My favorites are the bass playing and the drumming, very deep and intense. Lenny's vocals are great as usual. He is without a doubt, one of the best in the business. Try this one out, it's bound to be one you'll keep in your collection and play over, and over, and over! Turn it up and enjoy!

Lenny wolf has to be the most underrated musician on the planet.
He is such an amazing songwriter. This album is oozing with pure genius. I absolutely love the mystical sound of the entire album. Lenny never dissapoints. NEVER!!!! You will love this album. Get ready to forget about everything! Lenny has a way of bringing out the positive in everyone. The musicianship on this album is incredible. The vocals are top notch once again, and what an amazing drum sound on this album. Buy this and buy every other Kingdom Come album. ONCE AGAIN LENNY IS A GENIUS!!!!!!!!

I get ticked off sometimes hearing Kingdom Come
being compared to Led Zeppelin.....I beleive KC deserve so
much more than an immitation label.
KC has survived the 80's and should be applauded for holding true to their sound. All thanks go of course to Lenny Wolf.
Lenny's staple voice and unique rock expression is what I find alluring to my heart and ears.
Kingom Come contributes some of the Greatest Rock Ballads I have ever heard.
"Bad Image" being among the best KC has to offer...(and that isnt saying much either....cause I beleive that Every KC cd stands alone in Greatness).
Every song is great on this Cd.
I recommend "Bad Image" to those who are tetering on whether or not to give Kingdom Come a shot.
Then go to "Hands of Time" after that.
I think by then you will be hooked!

This is an outstanding example of a "mix" of Spanish flamenco upbeat music, with arabic tunes and instruments, with lirics in Spanish, French, and Arabic. Spain was under Muslim rule for over 7 hundred years, and the music from the Southern part of the peninsula retained a distinct Arabic flavor and rhythm. The French had colonial outposts in some parts of Africa, but their music was not as influenced by the Arabs as the Spanish. Some of these songs are very similar in rhythm to The Gipsy Kings' and Azucar Moreno's, so, if you enjoy their music, you are most likely to better appreciate this CD.

"Baila Habibi" is a high voltage blend of Moorish-Spanish dance music sometimes referred to as "Euro-pop" by those insatiable for it as well as those derisory of it. What makes "Baila Habibi" stand out from the rest of the pack. Is the outlandish remake of the ultra new-wave British band New Orders' classic eighties hit "Blue Monday" into "Cest toi" by Mr. Cool/Maurice and Debra Fortunato. Perhaps less audacious but certainly as interesting are the fresh renditions of old favorites as "Haila" by Moustafa Amar and "Elejigbo" by Los Fernados. The latter can also be heard on the soundtrack to "Wild Orchid' one of the few good things about that movie. Why purchase this or for that matter its sister album "World Beat Zone" when the hip-hop is enthused with flamenco trills and the raping is clumsy at best. Because its unapologetic unpretentious fun. Like all disco music it is guilty appreciated by those who regret the passing of the "Los Lobos" and the "Gibson Brothers"

Is this a "Latin" album or is it Mid-eastern? Well record stores have a hard time labeling it, so you will find Baila Habibi under Latin music and World (Middle-eastern) sections. This compilation truly blends both cultures in a way that sounds natural, and it should. Spain was ruled by the Arabs for more than seven hundred years, so it is natural that there should be affinities between both culture groups. I play the disc constantly and am anxiously awaited Vol II. Khaylee khub hast! Shaat lav e! Que lindo disco!

Es increible como Melina logra llevar el merengue a otro nivel con este album. Para Melina Le?n su merengue no tiene fronteras. Se puede ver en distintas fusiones con la batucada de Brasil, la bomba de Puerto Rico y el Flamenco espa?ol. Melina convierte el merengue en internacional con este album. Tampoco para ella existen barreras, ya que nos interpreta una EXCELENTE version de "Ba?o de Luna" en POP, que se escucho en una telenovela en Telemundo. Tambien nos presenta a la baladista con su "Cuando Una Mujer", que es un excelente tema.

Hola,soy Andrea de Buenos Aires. Quiro contarles que hhace poco me compre uno de los discos de Melina... y me parecio espectacular!!!Aca no es conocida. Yo habia escuchado uno de sus temas en un canal de videos, pero no conseguia el compacto. Bueno, cuando lo consegui, me lo compre y la verdad, que conoci a una artista maravillosa. Se los recomiendo en absoluto.

Desde el principio hasta el fin, este disco esta magnifico. El tema "Bano De Luna" tiene un ritmo de merengue tan original pero pegajoso al mismo tiempo. Esta misma cancion esta en ritmo de pop, que tambien suena sensacional. "Cachito De Esperanza" es un tema que seguramente encantara. Tiene un ritmo tan bueno y la letra esta magnifica tambien. Otro tema que resalta es "Seras". Comienza con un ritmo de bolero y despues convierte en merengue. Tambien esta "Siento", "El Mensaje", y "Mala Vida" que seguramente le gustara a cualquier persona que lo escuche. Definitivamente, este disco es el mejor trabajo de Melina Leon.

Personally I think "Le Canzoni" is the best album. Belle Speranze is my second favorite, but this one comes so close that I can't decide.

In "Belle Speranze" Fiorella Mannoia has graced us with songs that are intelligently written, skillfully arranged, and artfully sung. Mannoia's voice is arguably the most powerful alto in contemporary Italian popular music, and she uses it confidently, often declaiming much of the poetry she sings. Yet she can be effective in a softer song, such as 'E Comunque Natale'. For those studying the Italian language, Mannoia's diction is exceptionally clear.

I also want to recognize the arrangers and musicians, who have achieved originality that is a pleasant surprise. Too often I have been disappointed in Italian (and other European) music that differs from American music only in the language being sung. I am happy to say with confidence that Belle Speranze will not be mistaken for an American record translated to Italian!

I just found this CD by chance and love it! She has a deep and soulful voice which entrances me. Her interpretations are not sickly sweet, and she doesn't overdo it to show off her vocal ability, as so many American female singers do. (Her voice reminds me a little of Tracy Chapman) The musicians are great too, and there are some hauntingly beautiful melodies. (My canary loves it too and he's quite selective.) I have listened to it over and over (which I don't usually do). You don't have to understand Italian to appreciate the music, but the CD came with the Italian lyrics enclosed, so if you're learning Italian, or even if you understand some Spanish or Portuguese, you can follow them and they're quite good. Other Italian singers I like are Eros and Zucchero. Her style is original but in their league.

If you haven't heard "Bent", it is one of matchbox twenty's most innovative, musical songs ever. in other words, it freakin rocks. What's great about this single, they didn't pile on the 3am, Push, Long Day etc. They have an awesome, smile till yer head falls of, really loud version of "Busted" on here, as well as a live version of the Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down", in which KYLE sings the lead vocals! Even if you have the mad season by matchbox TWENTY cd, as long as you are a diehard mb20 fan like me, its worth the bucks for this one.

Woah! I bought this CD in New York in The Virgin Megastore. "Bent," is the first single of of their newest album, "Mad season." I thought nothing would be better then their first album, but I was wrong! "Bent," has two other songs on it from their "Live in Australia" video. They are called "Busted," and "Don't let me Down," which was written by The Beatles. This a very good album.

Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20 are without question one of the most exciting and talented musicians of this century! Their sound is smooth, (pardon that reference to Santana's recent smash!)and this song has a rocking beat that you can't help singing along to -- and real loudly too! In one word -- WOW!

Tja es gibt halt nicht nur guten Amerikanischen Hip Hop.
Echt klasse Album, Ich finde es gut das auch ein paar Ami's
das checken. Check out the New Album: 'Noch 5Minuten Mutti'

Even though some people might say German is an ugly language, Deichkind makes it sound good. This german rap crew has demonstrated with this album that it can combine powerful plays on words together with a nice beat and a very catchy melody. And they do this while still being considered an "underground" crew in germany. I recommend this cd to anybody who likes hip-hop and who can accept the fact that it is in a different language

Like the other reviewer, I saw Bon Voyage on MTV in Germany in 2000. I loved it (especially the bouncing green Mustang, the "Green Monsta") so I wanted to buy it. And, that I did. I enjoy this cd, as well as groups such as Rammstein and Kraftwerk. I actually don't usually like rap, but this is good.

The fact this is from the early 80's and had Rod doing pop does not mean this album should be allowed to fade away. This has some of his best songs ever, Baby Jane, What am I gonna do?, Sweet Surrender, Satisfied are all top quality and everything else is great to listen to as well. I heard this album as a 3 year old kid in 1983, (doesn't neccessarily make me biased) but it stills sounds great to me.

some rock stars have it and some never will,but for rod stewart ,hes in a class all alone .hes the best when he came out with bodywhishes,he out did his self this record is very hard to get its not sold in stores been there done that.it cant be ordered through any stores its an import and if you dont have it ya need to own it .this is a class of art here and no one can compare to the mod,so sing it again rod

Rod again makes this import cd worth the wait and the purchase. Stand out songs are the title track, "Body Wishes", "Dancin'Alone", and who can forget "Baby Jane". I will sum up this album in two words: Vintage Rod!!!

When I first picked up this album, I listened to it constantly. It's great. If you were ever in Germany or probobly any part of Europe, the whole series of CDs is a great reminder of the trip. My favorite song is "Anton aus Tirol"

I am living in the states since one year now. This imported album series is the best way for me to keep track what of exactly is going on in the european charts. And since Lou Bega we all know that Hits are not only coming from the USA to Europe! They make pretty good music there too. And in the matter of trance and techno germany is kind of controling the charts. So, if you want to hear the newest and best Hits from Europe buy this album. I love it and I will certainly by no.30 too. Have fun.....

i just got back from vacation in Switzerland and i also bought this cd. It has many of the most popular songs that young europeans listen to. I recommend this cd to anyone who likes a broad variety of music and is interested in finding new music.

I heard most of the songs by David on MTV2 this past weekend during their Saturday night concern and I thought he was great. I think he is refreshing. His band is also very good. The drummer and keyboard player are fun to watch and very good. I am wondering why there is no review by Amazon.com on this CD? I know that KBAC in Santa Fe is playing it alot along with the local public radio station Pacifica in Houston TX. - Thanks - Mike Wagoner

Babylon is the single that has started to get David Gray reconized. Although David has released many singles and albums before this the first one to really have any impact. Babylon is but only a small taster of what is to come if you buy the album White Ladder, as it is filled with songs that are of the ame quality. David Gray is going to be one of this years top artists and its about time too.

White Ladder, Babylon is a three and a half minute burst of life, energy and soul. Its folk-rock tempo and modern beat blended with searing lyrics wrapped around a beautiful melody lend it instant attractiveness, but also an infectious, enduring quality. Evoking terrific visions of beauty and anticipation, Babylon represents Gray's future for music. His bittersweet lyrics seek a sympathetic ear; his voice guarantees one. A velvety mix of Dylan and Springsteen, he exudes emotion and honesty throughout the song. This version of Babylon differs from the original album-version. This one is shorter and has been compacted to deliver a powerful blast of energy up against a great beat. The almost hallucinating introduction melody kicks off a journey through London's night life and the search for something... Gray himself isn't even sure. This CD includes two live versions of his material that will either start evoking great memories of all who have seen him live, or instill the desire to do so. David Gray doesn't disappoint and all who come to listen will certainly "feel it now" and hopefully find their own Babylon. Pure excellence.