International music reviews

The best, in my opinion out of her 4 CDs.
I was initially going to rate it a 4 out of 5 stars, but who am I kidding, I have been listening to this CD continuously for years. I drop it and pick it up again!
Julieta is a one-of-a-kind gem from Mexico, but trandescends languages.

I enjoyed this album very much.I have all three of her albums.I like this one the best.

Aqu� is a great record. Julieta Venegas is a hard hitting pop rocker along the lines of POE or early Alanis. The neat thing about Julieta is that she goes from lilting jazzy rhythms to straight ahead rock with a totally un-affected voice. So many Latin pop stars sound trained and polished. Julieta Venegas has a great voice and just sings. Her other two albums are also quite good. S� is somewhat more refined while Bueninvento is much rawer.

(This review is for the set of 2 cds, A and B, that by all means should be considered toguether. Soda had to release 2 cd's for contractual reasons but we forgive them for this..)

Set yourself in Buanos Aires, at the packed River Plate stadium, August 1997. It is the last concert of what is without any doubt the greatest rock band to ever have come from latin-american soil. The unforgetable music of La Ciudad de la Furia, a song about the darker side of Buenos Aires itself, blares into the stadium and penetrates deep into the collective conciousness of the thousands of adoring fans. Now fast forward to the last song, De Musica Lijera, pure rock and roll bliss, fans screaming the lyrics like mad and amazing gutar riffs roaring for the last time. Everybody in the stadium knows that is to be the end of it. Soda Stereo is to be no more. They can put the sadness aside, in between these two moments all those present had been treated to an unadultaretad piece of music heaven. It is precisely that what this pair of cd's try to capture.

To overstate the importance of Soda Stereo to latin-american music is impossible. This band which fused elements of ska, new-wave, pure rock and others into music that was remarkably progressive for its time and place has influenced so many others that it effectively has placed itself at the top of the latin rock world. In the 80's they opened doors for what would later become a musical revival not seen in Argentina since the time of the tango. If you have not listened to their music yet, take some time to do it. Listen repeatedly to these cd's and pick up all of their subtlelties, for the music created by Soda is just plain great. Even if you do not understand a word of Spanish you will apreciate what you will be listening to.

Soda has always delivered better performances live than in the studio, feeding off the crowd's energy. The performances in these cd's are no exeption. Listen to classics like La ciudad de la furia, Persiana americana, Zoom, El temblor, Ella uso mi cabeza como un revolver, Cancion Animal, Musica lijera among others and understand what this band was all about.

It pains me to see some of the trash that inundated the american and world markets coming from latin-america and at the same time for there to be no difussion of some great music like the one Soda created. Some gems from latin-america are known worldwide such as Brazilian music, salsa, merengue and other colorful examples. It is time for the rocker side to be known too.

Sell all of your other music if you have to, but get these cd's.

Las despedidas siempre son duras. Es el caso de este Album. He escuchado el album, mas sin embargo no lo he comprado ni lo comprare. La razon es simple. es el ultimo, muchas de las canciones suenan opacas y con son de despedida; pese a ser lleno de vida, es inengable el hecho de saber que tocan por ultima vez y se despiden. (musicalmente se siente que tienen que cerrar un capitulo de su vida pero no quieren). Esto no quiere decir que no sea un buen trabajo. Lo es! pero tengo mi razon para no escucharlo y saber de ritmos mas alegres y locos de Soda Stereo que ustedes ya conocen en otros trabajos de ellos.

Junto al lado a. Demustra la fuerza que tubo durante toda su historia y la cual algunos la siguen hasta hoy.

Reviewer: Kirk Douglas Provo kprovo@hotmail.com
Patti Austin really can sing anything . . . and this record, her third of four for QWEST RECORDS, is a pretty diverse showcase of her prowess. The minor hit "The Heat of Heat" (written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, later of Janet Jackson fame) is included here, and it is lovingly performed in warm, knowing tones by Ms Austin. Michael Bolton's slick "Talkin' 'Bout My Baby" offers some retro-feeling rock and roll, featuring Billy Joel (among others) on back-up, while "Big Bad World" features the creme de la creme of R&B/soul in the 80s: Chaka Khan, Jocelyn Brown, and the crooner himself, Luther Vandross!

There are many shades of pop, funk, soul and . . . .you name it . . . but one thing is clear: IT'S ALL GOOD! Austin always delivers, and again, it is a shame that these mostly solid tunes weren't the huge hits they should have been. The funky "Only A Breath Away," and a soulful cover of "Honey For The Bees" (Alison Moyet) are testaments of the singer's ability to swing.

For a sample of an artist in complete comand of her instrument, check out Austin's "If I Believed" (from Randy Goodrum's pen) or "Summer Is The Coldest Time of Year" (a Jam-Lewis opus with tasteful classical undertones).

These days there seems to be more recording artists than actual vocalists. Patti Austin is the rare gem: both.

KDP

This is the best if not one of the best Q-West collaborations featuring Patti Austin. It catches quite a few artists on the cusped of their careers right as R&B music is in the middle of transition. Miss. Austin's vocal range to this day is unmatched. I still get chills from "The Coldest Time of Year." The Jam/Lewis connection literally takes off with this album. "The Heat of Heat" is a perfect set up for "Saturday Love" preformed by Alexander O'Neil and Cherell. These two even gave Patti credit in the Grammy acceptance speech. Bottom line, I have this on wax and two CDs.

Under-played and almost extinct, and such a waste too cos this album, released in the mid-80s, was a great welcome to the music scene!

This LP/CD is pure listening pleasure. An absolute joy. Each song is very distinctive (instrumentation changing constantly) and some of them, as seen in previous reviews, are truly touching. Kiss and Say Goodbye, a joyful funky smile-on-the-face opener. Blues in D, glorious with its piano syncopation and clarinet. Mendocini is a song like no other, the best harmony I ever heard. Go Leave, truly touching in its simplicity. Honestly, I can think of only one better way to spend 45 minutes.

talk about a part of the soundtrack of your life-this is it! Talk To Me Of Mendocino...that song alone is worth the price of admission. These women are two of the best songwriters around. Their later work has unfailingly kept pace with this one. Idiosyncratic to a lovely degree-personal and intimate like the creases in an old shoe, they are truly themselves, and that is pretty rare in any age.

Gorgeous arrangements and the sweetest sibling voices I'd heard since Don & Phil Everly; this album burst into my world, seemingly from another era, in 1975. It came to my ears, like so many of my 70s classics, courtesy of the genial Chris Winter on Australian radio's best source of non-mainstream music,'Room To Move.' It was a generous sampling, though one song,'Mendocino' would have sufficed to lure me to the import shops the next day. Its slow surging, oceanic orchestral arrangement still puts me on edge. It also introduced to me the zaniness of Loudon Wainwright 111's writing, with 'Swimming Song', now part of our family singalongs.'Jigsaw Puzzle of Life,' & 'Go, Leave', seem to have been drawn from an ancient well. The sisters have recorded consistently over the decades & I welcomed the 'McGarrigle Hour' when it was released, with the full complement of McGarrigle couplings & progeny. They have made albums as good,'Dancer,' & 'Bruised Knees'come to mind, but none better than this stunning debut album. Its pop-leaning sensibility would lead me towards a happy decade's romance with Rounder Records, to source the roots from whence this marvel issued.

BETH HART IS ALWAYS BLASTING OUT WITH HER OUTSTANDING VOCALISM. HER MUSIC IS SENSATIONAL!

Beth Hart's "LA Song" is a breath of fresh air! When listening to this song, you are forced to take it's soulful journey. "LA Song" is a bar-type song, but emerges from its ordinary genre ruins and transforming itself into a sparkling gem. It's one of those songs you just can't help but sing along too (Ex: "Nothing Compares 2 U", but better). Surprisingly it had a chance to merge onto today's expressway of music, playing on the radio a while- but nearly immediately got bashed to the side, as so many do. Why this happens to the best I will never know. Turn this song up loud, it's as if you are a part of it somehow (sound corny? you'll see)...

It's been many months since I first heard this song, and I still haven't gotten tired of it. This song was played on the radio station here in NYC, just as Beth Hart was being given some National exposure--before Letterman and 90210. (She gave a great in-person interview on the station, as well. She seemed like a very personable character.) When I woke up to the song one morning, it immediately gripped my guts and I couldn't stop thinking about it all day. The lyrics reminded me of how I felt many years ago when I first came to this enormous city--lost, alone, etc. Many times I wanted to give in and go back to my "safe" suburban town. Even though the song's LA, EVERYONE anywhere can connect, because we've all felt that way. But I think that the biggest impact of the song is what's said in the end, which goes beyond feeling alone in a big metropolis, but the idea that it's the same everywhere and there's this inexplicable desire to return to LA, or wherever, because it's really home no matter how bad it feels sometimes. Perhaps I've analyzed it too much, (or not well enough), because in the bigger picture, it's just a really wonderful and moving song.

Also, just as a sidebar, on the single there are two versions: the original release and a re-edit with new lyrics in response to the recent rash of school violence. Beth changed "She bought a gun, she bought a gun...." to "She's so ashamed, she's so ashamed. She knows Heaven don't want her anyway." Whatever the choice for the lyric change, I think it's much deeper and means more to the listener.

Thanks for such a great record!

This cd is quite not too young anymore, but it deserves to be rated. First of all, Morbo deviates from any resemblance to Depeche Mode or Moenia. Quite frankly, I'm getting tired of the comparison. Morbo inspires the listener. I'm in love with the sound, the lyrics, everything. I'm hooked on "Tengo de Ti" and "Por Ti." I listen to it mostly everyday. If you have not listened to it, you don't know what you've been missing. While I was aware of its existence at the date of its release back in the year 2000, I never wanted to give it a try, since I thought it was just a Moenia-rip off. Boy, was I wrong. If you would like to know a band that you can make your own and yet its a special discovery, this is it. I'm very impressed by the former part of Moenia.

This man has created or opened a new series of music. most of the alternative music are well know in English. since he left moenia which it a Mexican depeche mode, Juan Carlos decided to leave his first band just to be different. not only he wanted to be different but having a dream that some Hispanic people don't think it exist. everyone should listen. I doesn't matter if you don't know English. now there is his new album called elctro-guitar-pop and you could only get it in www.mixup.com, a Mexican version of sam goody. they sell some good products but you should wait till amazon grabs a hold of it. the new album has 10 songs and paying 33 dollars. that's ridiculous but at least wait til other stores in the U.S. gets it. go to (...)to her a demo. thanks and good day.

Wonderful album, a nice combination of electronic and somewhat rock/pop music. Dark lyrics and a voice that can just about cut through anything. I lost the album and bought it again if that tells you anything.

Como indica el encabezado, este CD esta muy bien hecho. Tal Vez
porque estaba ligado con Manzanera y Bugoslavy en esos momentos.
Trata de hacer algo "Radical"y lo logra muy bien. Con varias
veultas en el tocador y estas escuchando a un musico de musicos.
Los Heroes son lo maximo pero Bunbury mantiene el mismo sabor y le pone su toque. Muy bien acompanamiento de musicos hace este fabuloso

Para Julie Velazquez, Mira, podrias contactar en el site de Enrique: www.enriquebunbury.com (y enviar tu email). Enrique aveces entra tambien en el chat (muy dificil pero no imposible), el no tendria problema ninguno, creo yo dedicarle esa cancion a "la memoria de un buen amigo", pero tu sabes que eso suele ser complicado. Yo hace aprox. 12 anhos que soy fanatica de HDS, y finalmente tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Enrique (conversar con el) el ano pasado en Panama, Lamento lo de tu amigo... pero que no se puede estar triste para siempre..."pues para siempre me parece mucho tiempo"

COMO ESTAN.. ESPERO QUE BIEN. MIREN LA VERDAD NO SE A DONDE ESCRIBIR. PERO PIDO UN FABOR. ALLER, EL 16 DE SEPTIEMBRE. FALLESIO UN HEROE.UN GRAN AMIGAZO DEL ALMA. SOLO TENIA 22 A�OS DE EDAD. SU NOMBRE ARA MANUEL, DE CARI�O LE DESIAMOS "MENY".
MURIO EN UN ACCIDENTE, DE AUTO. QUEDO TOTAL MENTE DESFIGUJADO....
SU MAMA SOLO LO PUDO RECONOSER POR SUS TATUAJES, DE LOS HEROES DEL SILENCIO. ERA UN FANATICO DE ALMA Y CORAZON.SIEMPRE DESIA "HEROE ASTA LA MUERTE"..............
MUI PRONTO, ENRIQUE BUMBURY TENDRA UNA TOCADA EN EL "JC FANDANGO"
EL DIJO "POR NADA EN EL MUNDO ME LO PIERDO".... QUE LASTIMA.
MI FABOR ES QUE SI ALGUIN LEE ESTO PORFABOR DIGANME COMO LE PUEDO ASER, PARA QUE LE DEDIQUEN UN POCO DE ESA TOCADA.
SE LO AGRADESERIA SIEMPRE.
SINSERAMENTE:JULIE VELASQUEA

Once again this band has outdone itself. They broke up in 1997, but decided to leave us with this great album, Sueno Stereo. I always said that Soda Stereo was ahead of its time, and this album is evidence of that. Even 10 years after this recording, this album still sounds like it may been recorded yesterday because it sounds so fresh and modern, unlike anything you've heard before. I highly recommend everyone, whether you're a Soda fan or not, to purchase this album. You will not regret it.

Este album esta muy adelantado a su epoca. Es m�s, han pasado casi diez a�os, y este disco todav�a suena fresco, coo hecho este a�o. Es sin duda uno de los mejores de Soda. Basta con escuchar a la rockera "Ella uso mi cabeza...." o las guitarras de Disco Eterno, para darse cuenta de la genialidad de este disco. No es un album ordinario.

Este disco de Soda los pone a la par de cualquier banda a nivel mundial, tremendas canciones y letras, perfectamente concebidas, logradas y terminadas.

Otra cosa que se puede apreciar aca, es que el estilo se acerca mas a la onda que toma Cerati y por esto es como un anuncio de futuro rompimiento de la banda.

The cd is good and I like it show us what she could do and I just can't get enough of her and I am glad that I bought it because it just a nice collection of Selena best work.

God brought Selena home early, but she'll be there singing when we get there. I pray I get to see her father's face when he sees her again !! The CD is too good for the public...it was made for Godly ears. I loved it !! I own all of her CD's. She was and is the Real Deal !!

12 Super Exitos was one of the first Selena CDs I purchased in 1997. I was buying every Selena album left and right at the time, so I didn't immediately realize that this particular album was a compilation. If you already have the albums on which the songs in Super Exitos originally appeared, then it's not an essential buy (unless you want a complete collection). Unfortunately, Selena didn't live long enough to have to produce a large "catalog" of songs as vast as those of Elvis, Juan Gabriel, or Nancy Wilson, for example. HOWEVER, if your only exposure to Selena has been her English language songs--such as "Dreaming of You" and "I Could Fall In Love," then 12 Super Exitos is the perfect introduction to Selena's Spanish language work. You can sample the various styles of Mexican and Tejano (Tex-Mex) music that Selena excelled in performing, as well as the English language ballad, "Missing My Baby." If you don't know any Spanish, relax--the tunes are rather infectuous! If you want some background on Selena's life and music, I also recommend getting the biography "Selena: Como La Flor."

get this one used. it's worth for a few of the better tracks. love parade, life in a northern town, and one thing are all great songs and worth having. the rest of the album is average at best. eighties nostalgia is the way to describe this album.

The most most people hear off of this album is the oft-played "Life in a Northern Town", a radio staple written about English folk-guitarist Nick Drake. This first track sets the tone for the whole album, a mellow, beautiful soundscape that ranges from soft pop-rock to the jazzy ending track "One Dream."

Highly recommended. If you can find it, buy it.

It is like listening to a gentle dream. Brilliant music! I hope they release some of the songs not put onto the three albums and hope they get back together to make some more music. Listening takes me back to my North Jersey teenage years in the eighties.