International music reviews

I picked this issue as a background to my wedding celebrations. My party was enthraled. Beautiful and romantic.

I agree with Jeremy. This is a beautiful disc. Listen to the samples. Each one a gem. Right from the heart. Would love to hear more from his other shows.

I have purchased all of J.J. Sheridan's Albums. This is really unique playing. He brings out the naturalness of these beautiful melodies. It's as if the words did not exist. He's playing melts my heart. Grab this one.

A perfect blending of folk and pop and synthesizer experimentation with jungle rythms. A great variety on the album, and Annie's voice is amazing - even on my old vinyl!

I happened to encounter this superb produced album in its Lp version. The 1st & best studio solo by Haslam to date. Her 5 octave perfect voice with the rich superb guitars of all the musicians that accoumpanied her (Joe Camp from Renaissance, Roy Wood) blended together to create an art-rock masterpiece. IMHO, the main key beyond the successful result of these sessions is the warm sound with the right musicians & the right genre. To compare with, her 1989 self titled album falls far far beyond this album, as it involved mechanical synthisizers production (with very poor singing, aka Moonlight shadow). Hope it will be re-released in CD format, although the vinyl version perfectly suits to the warm rich sound of this album. In short: A must. You can find copies via auction sites.

Annie Haslam's perfect voice is superbly presented on Annie in Wonderland. Annie's remake of "Nature Boy" is certainly an enjoyable tune.

I stumbled across this album a few years ago not really intending to buy anything but could not resist purchasing it. Even without hearing it I had faith in Banda Gorda's previous albums which are quite good. This one is no exception to the rule, it has a good mix of merengue styles; fast, mambo, up beat it should meet the needs of all. The most sentimental and catchy song on the album is Aqui, pero alla. It perfectly explains the sentiment of Dominicans who left their land for better but their hearts are still in their country. Very touching, that song alone makes the album worthwhile. There's a nice cumbia as well- Besos-, a first for Banda Gorda. If you like this style of merengue-mambo, this album is a must!

Jose Pena Suazo has always been the main man from the beginning. But with this album he really has proved to the world that he can rock the charts, and keep everybody dancing to his music for a long time. This album is worth buying, dancing, and listening to. All of the songs are masterpieces, and you will enjoy every minute of them. The title song "Aqui pero alla" has a special meaning for all of the immigrants living in other countries. "WOW" Jose Pena Suazo just keeps getting better and better as time passes. "Y SIGUE SIENDO EL REY DEL MAMBO"!!!!!!!!

This album is hot. Pe�a Suazo came back with so much mambo in this album that you'll really need agua after listening to this album. The tracks are great and the title track is so important to immigrants in this country because it really hits them in the heart to hear a true story. Banda Gorda has an instant classic in "Dame Agua" becaus this song will make noise for years to come. If you wanna get a party started, just play this track and you'll party all night. This album is definetly a step up from the previous album and the last album was great. All the tracks are great and I realy don't find a flaw in it. I can't wait for his next album........DAME AGUA QUE TENGO CALOR....that's what you'll be saying after dancing to this album. QUEREMOS A PE�A SUAZO! Asi que DAME MAMBO....

This album contains some of the most genuine, awesome and varied ranchera songs of any of Chente's works. Perhaps singing about his place of birth, Heuntitan Jalisco really brought out extra punch in his vocals, because these are exceptional performances even by "El Rey" standards.
He kicks it off with a barrage of high-energy ranchera excellence in El Jalisciense and then changes pace with the more somber but equally impressive Voy A Navegar. There are many nice changes of pace on this CD. Plus, if your Spanish is still a work in progress like mine is, this is a good Chente recording to have because his power-packed enunciation and measured vocal delivery are more easily understood on this CD than some of his others. You don't have to be fluent in Espanol to appreciate his world-class vocals, but it adds a lot to be able to understand most of the lyrics. A classic recording by Vicente, and you can have it for mere pocket change!

Mexican Legend Vicente Fernandez shows in this CD his potent voice in such songs as "El Jalisciense" and his signature song "Volver, Volver" and his baritone voice in "Voy a Navegar". Vicente Fernandez has one of the greatest voices in the history of World Music!

Huentitan, Jalisco, is Vicente's birthplace, and accordingly this early '70's album is one of The King's watershed masterpieces. This was the original album upon which his unforgettable rendition of "Volver, Volver" appeared, but the album as a whole is equally great. You'll also find Vicente's extraordinary performances of "Voy a Navegar" and "El Jaliciense" here, which to my mind demonstrate that if he wasn't the King of Ranchera, he'd be The Fourth Tenor. It's great that a timeless, classic album like this can be had for such a low price. Those who've enjoyed Senor Fernandez' outstanding '90's albums would do themselves a favor to also give this earlier recording a listen.

The Feelerrs are an absolutely Awsome rock band
They have a style a little like BUSH, the second album Communicate is the best I have heard of them, With Communicate, As good as it gets and Fragile being my favourites
A new album has just also been released and Im sure that will not disappoint either
If you get the chance its Definitely worth listening too

I can, in all honesty, recommend the Communicate CD to anyone. The Feelers are a MAGNIFICENT band! New Zealand knows how to make great artists! I lived there for 3 years and fell in love with a plethora of music: The Feelers, Bic Runga, Nesian Mystic, Fu Che, Anika Moa, etc., etc.

If you're into The Feelers (or any NZ music for that matter), buy the Communicate album, or just this single for a taste. It really is good stuff!

At My Most Beautiful is a great song to begin with, then you get a very nice version of Country Feedback, which everyone loves, and the very fun Passenger. You will love this single!

At My Most Beautiful is a great song of course. And then there's the other two songs, which is why I really bought this single. Passenger is just great, marvelous fun, and Michael finally get the audience to sing a chorus on their own by the end =) Besides, this has to be one of the best versions of Country Feedback I've ever heard. Unbelievable. It's a little expensive I suppose, but I think it's worth it.

Hi...I just bought this CD Single for the amazing and incredible "Country Feedback". 6'50 of pure happiness.Pardon my english. What a voice, what a song!

If you want a version of Bad Girl, this is the one. This one has three mixes of Erotica and one of Bad Girl.

1. Bad Girl (Edit): Again, this version takes away from Bad Girl, so I don't like it that well.

2. Erotica (WO 12") William Orbit, was the perfect canidate for this song. His beats are the perfect compliment to Erotica. This is my fav mix of Erotica, beacuse is uses the lyrics the version of Erotica, Madonna used on the Sex Book Version.

3. Erotica (WO Dub): A Dub version of the 12" mix. A really good dub. One of My Favs.

4. Erotica (Madonna's in my Jeep Mix): A Decent version of Erotica, but not my fav. William orbit's is much better.

This cd is becoming more and more rare, so buy it while you have the chance

Madonna opened 1993 hoping to make a fresh start with the world and her huge fanbase that had deserted her with the release of her album, Erotica. Unfortunately for Madonna, the damage had been done and she was set for a couple of years chart failure and critical reviews. Bad Girl was the third single to be taken from the Erotica album in March 1993, where it peaked at No.10 in the UK and spent a total of 7 weeks on the chart.

Bad Girl opens slowly and quietly with a soft beat that lasts for around thirteen seconds, before Madonna sings the wonderful first verse, "Something's missing and I don't know why, I always feel the need to hide my feelings from you. Is it me or you that I'm afraid of? I tell myself I'll show you what I'm made of. Can't bring myself to let you go." She then goes onto sing a great bridge, "Don't want to cause you any pain, but I love you just the same. And you'll always be my baby. In my heart I know we've come apart, and I don't know where to start. What can I do? I don't wanna feel blue." Madonna's vocals are very good on this classy ballad, and the lyrics are pretty good considering that most of her music at this era in her career was rather dull. Madonna then lets rip on the first chorus, "Bad girl drunk by six, kissing someone else's lips. Smoked too many cigarettes today, I'm not happy when I act this way. Bad girl, drunk by six, kissing some kinda stranger's lips. Smoked too many cigarettes today, I'm not happy...I'm not happy." The song then instantly swings into the second verse, where Madonna sings, "Something's happened and I can't go back. I fall apart everytime you hand your heart out to me. What happens now? I know I don't deserve you. I wonder how I'm ever gonna hurt you. Can't bring myself to let you go." The chorus is then repeated, before a great solo kicks in. Madonna relaxes, and the song starts up again when she sings "I don't want to cause you any pain, but I love you just the same. And you'll always be my baby. In my heart, I know we've come apart, and I don't know where to start. What can I do? I don't wanna feel blue." The chorus then repeats a few more times, and the song gradually fades out.

The video to Bad Girl is one of my favourite Madonna videos. The video is basically clips from Madonna's erotic thriller, the critically panned Box Office flop Body Of Evidence. Madonna looks very glamorous in the video, and very much the porn star for the movie! All in all, a fantastic ballad from Madonna, the true pop icon.

You got it! The remixes are great, because not only do they capture the "Erotica" originality, but also a new feel to it. Highly reccomended "Bad Girl" remixes also. Some of her best are on this CD.

El CD es muy completo y tiene gran variedad de generos musicales. Muestra la versatilidad del artista. La cancion Se me acabo el Amor en las dos versiones esta buenisima. Lo recomiendo ciento por ciento. Tambien canciones como Al Oido, Candela, Baile de los Sue?os, son un embrujo para los sentidos. Nos tropezamos con una voz maravillosa. Felicitaciones para Maia!!! Y muchos exitos.

yo conoci a maia...... sin saber que era ella! la conoci por una cancion que sale en una novela colombiana!
me parecio increible su tono de voz, y su sabor.
ahora que tengo su cd, me doy cuenta que asi cante baladas o canciones menos movidas, su sabor y su swing caribeno, sigue intacto..
el disco es buenissssimo!! me encanta, no tiene una mala!
que bueno que todavia existen artistas de verdad!

WOW! Finally Sony released Baile de los Suenos here in the USA! Maia is the best new artist to come out of Latin America since Shakira! She infuses the typical rhythms of Colombia and the Carribean with fresh energy. Her songs are soooo danceable! She has performed in concert with Buena Vista Social Club, Bacilos and Juanes. They obviously knew what everyone here is about to learn. Maia is an incredibly talented singer! What a voice! And the best part...she's got the goods to back it all up! Maia is everything from smart to sexy with everything in between! All of the songs on this album are great! There isn't one bad song on the whole album!

I am only 15 years old but appreciate "old" music. Cesar Costa is the best Mexican singer I have heard. Magnificent Singer!

The former Mexican rock-and-roller has recorded a terrific collection of English-standards translated into Spanish, and performed with full orchestration. The songs are great: "Fever," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Carnival," and "Smile," among others. Costa voice perfectly suits the material, which alternates between swingers, ballads and even some bossa nova. And pianist Raul Di Blasio makes a guest appearance on "Smile," probably my favorite track on the album. No matter what language you speak, it's a terrific album.

Beatifull songs: fever,strangers in the night, and the like, performed in the mellow voice of Cesar Costa, all in spanish, a must for romantic people, bring back good memories from the 60s, I personally enjoyed this c.d. I highly recommend it Ernesto O. Munoz

The "Around the World" single appeared in two parts, each backed with a pair of b-sides. This is part 1.

The title track is a funky, driven piece, opening with a raging distorted bass run before blasting into an oddball, scratchy, funky verse. It's a decent tune, although it's on "Californication", so it's unlikely anyone would buy it for this.

The b-sides on part 1 are from the Teatro sessions, demos worked up before the album-- "Parallel Universe" hadn't changed much-- the bass and guitar are separated (you can really hear the metallic edge in Flea's bassplaying) a bit more, but other than that, it's about the same thing. The "Teatro Jam" piece features a somewhat irritating guitar riff and some superb playing from Chad Smith and Flea, but truthfully, it's not all that listenable.

In the end, this one is probably best for collector's only.

Around the World is one of my personal favorite Chili Pepper song, released as the second single to the smash hit Californication and in two parts--this being part one.

It combines their rap and funk roots in the verse with a melodic and powerful chorus. The beginning is rough, and abrasive, pairing Flea's demanding slap-bass style of playing with John's funky and masterful guitar manipulation that generates an amazing and mind blowing intro lasting 30 seconds.

It is the two b-sides that I'm not so fond of. "Parallel Universe" hasn't changed as much as you'd like it to. Really, if anything, it comes off less perfect then the actual album version.

"Teatro Jam" is a nice song that jams like crazy. Chad and Flea provide delectable rhythm, and John plays the guitar proficiently thought the entire thing. It's not bad. This single is purely for collectors, as the b-sides aren't the most valuable ones the Chili's have released. The title track is, hands down, the best off this single.

Peppers b-sides are always interesting, they're obviously thinking about the insatiable fan when they put them out. This one has a demo of "Parallel Universe". You can hear how the arrangement is still coming together and the song is actually longer. John's solo on this version is better (to me) than the album version and Chad's drumline switches to hi hats instead of ride on the solo which is another difference from the album which I thought was cool and better. The sound is a bit lofi but it's a demo. "Teatro Jam" is a good instrumental loaded with all kinds of tension but very loose.