Vinyl Music

Crass as this may seem MJ's recent passing has lead me to review some of his albums on here.I actually thought I had early in my years on Amazon but this is as good a time as any to start.This album was critical for Michael in a lot of different ways. First off obviously it had to follow up Thriller,a really good album made that due to it's record breaking sales was made to seem inhumanely perfect. In short,the standards for this album were'nt set very high-not even by the artist himself so it seems. He was convinced afront that if he didn't change,he wouldn't be able to outdo his earlier feat. So he set about with Quincy Jones on making what basically amounted to music that was generally tougher minded.It has all the basic elements of the previous album but everything is a lot more dramatic and diliberate.Does it work in the end?You bet!! The heavy funk of the title track alone,with an excellent solo by jazz organist Jimmy Smith of course grabbed the most attention right off. Being how his commerciality is a huge part of Michaels artistry he really puts a huge amount of energy into what ended up being the hits here."The Way You Make Me Feel",with it's edgy sexual shuffle is the prime example of that,with some unusually swaggering singing from MJ. The other hits were "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"...more or less a latinish pop ballad that Michael and Siedah Garrett sang the pants off of.It has recently been pointed out to me that there's an unexpected mix of funk and.....operatic classical chordal patterns to the edgy "Smooth Criminal",another of the tougher hits from this collection."Man In The Mirror"....is a song I've always loved and respected.As I've grown older I have to admit it's been one of the more imitated styles of message songs and that can make it sound slightly corny musically by todays standards.But whatever you think about the arrangment the yearning,consciencious song more than makes up for what energy it may lack in the musical department for some."Another Part Of Me" is one of the better uptempo songs on here,even if it was a minor hit only for him (who know MJ in the 80's would ever have a MINOR hit) and wasn't actually recorded spesifically for this album but rather for the Disney World based 3-D film 'Captain Eo',starring Michael and which few people who never visited Disney World have ever seen say for that MTV airing of it in 1995 or so.It's on some of the non hit material that you really hear the toughness in sound Mike was going for."Speed Demon" sadly tends to serve as this albums whipping boy.It's aggresive funk-rock approch is not as hit worthy as most of his music in terms of how the pop world approches this kind of music but it was definately something that seemed to be written based on his dancing style than for the purposes of getting on the radio."Liberian Girl" was never officially a hit but was such a great,sexy groove that it became very popular and even got it's own music video as well.It's definately a highlite of this album,for me anyway."Just Good Friends" is the "forgotton" song here,a duet with Stevie Wonder that.......well lets just say little screams "late 80's urban contemporary/R&B/funk dance crossover song" louder than this. But again the toughness of Quincy's production and Bruce Swediens excellent Acousonic recording process keeps it from being what I once heard referred to as "tinky tinky dance",someones description of a very dated and poppy style of 80's electro funk-disco."Dirty Diana" is a good tune and an okay hit.I admit it's not my favorite on the album;Michael drove a rock kind of tune home more directly with "Beat It" from the previous album but this was okay in a big arena kind of way;the addition of audience noise was a good effect.On the CD of this album you also get "Leave Me Alone",a tense dancey-funk tune that introduced itself as one of his first direct rantings about his own negative press. Overall this album puts Michael in a possition where being commercial and an artist of some not musically and otherwise began to become a complication rather than a clear career choice. But no matter how you look at it the album was good enough and successful enough to end up becomming a success even at this point.And how many obvious pop albums of recent years can you say that about?

In 1987, two years after Michael's involvement with USA For Africa's "We Are The World", Michael released his eighth album entitled, BAD. I don't know about anybody else, but this album is a big favorite of mine. I mean... besides THRILLER, of course. Pretty much every song on here rocks my world ... no pun intended.

"BAD"
The second single from the album. Always a great song to listen to. The music video to this song is one of my favorites. I always loved how Michael turned his songs into short films. This video features Michael as a young man named, Daryl, coming home from school, after a successful term, for a Winter Break. He is greeted by his three best friends, one of which, is played by an up-and-coming Wesley Snipes. At first, the reunion is a happy one. But as the night wears on, the guys see a major change in Daryl, as he is trying to clean up his life and break free of his bad habits. He swears them off by saying he's still down and bad, where he tries to show them by robbing an elderly man, but Daryl backs out and lets the old man go. His three friends confront him angrily, where the song finally kicks in.

"THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL"
The third single from the album. Another a great song. The harmony vocals are just awesome. The song is accompanied by a great music video, as well.

"SPEED DEMON"
Though, never released as a single, this great tune was accompanied by a music video featured on Michael Jackson's, "Moonwalker" video, where Michael is dressed as a clay-mation rabbit to escape a crazy mob of clay-mation fans and paparazzi.

"LIBERIAN GIRL"
The ninth single from the album, though, released as a single in Europe and Australia only. Great song.

"JUST GOOD FRIENDS" (performed by Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder)
Great song. Not a fan of Stevie Wonder's, but still a great duet.

"ANOTHER PART OF ME"
The sixth single from the album. Great song.

"MAN IN THE MIRROR"
The fourth single from the album. This song is so powerful, lyrically and musically. And Michael's vocals sound just as powerful. What an awesome song. This song will always be in my heart, in dedication to Michael.

"I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU" (performed by Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett)
The first single from the album. What a beautiful ballad. Siedah's vocals are incredible.

"DIRTY DIANA"
The fifth single from the album. Damn! Listen to Michael rockin' it out. What an awesome, kick-a** song.

"SMOOTH CRIMINAL"
The seventh single from the album. Another one MJ's greatest songs. The video features Michael in his infamous forward-lean dance move.

"LEAVE ME ALONE" (Bonus Track featured on CD release)
The eighth single from the album. Been a favorite of mine ever since MJ's "Moonwalker" video was released.

With this album, Michael shows how down and bad he really is. Michael, with this album, proves to us that he'll always be the King of Pop.

i enjoy this album which allows one to pat his feet or dance to the rythm of the beat.

Amazingly, Michael Jackson turns 50 today. While these days, he's in the press for all the wrong reasons (well, most of the time), there was a time he was also in the press mainly about the great music he released.

1987 was such a time. The world was waiting hungrily for his follow up to the Grammy guzzling, best selling album ever (a record it holds to date), and Michael wisely reteamed with super producer Quincy Jones. The album found Michael penning 9 of the 11 tracks, the first time so many of his songs were used on any of his albums and showing his growing confidence as a songwriter.

While there are those that believe "Thriller" to be the best album ever released, I feel "Bad" was an excellent follow up, as good as, or even better than "Thriller". Lead-off single, the syrupy sweet duet with sound alike Sieddah Garret (the #1 hit "I just can't stop loving you") aside, every track is a delight.

#1 hit "Bad" has a deep sonuous riff and blaring horns racing ahead at full speed. #1 hit "The way you make me feel" has a swinging retro whiplash feel, "Speed demon" with its sparse funky riff and skeletal beats finds Michael treading in Prince territory, the bewitching ballad "Liberian girl" with excellent vocal layering and a sensuous groove (which oddly features some lyrics in the un-Liberian language Swahili. The video was a star studded affair), and the energetic funky duet "Just good friends" with Stevie Wonder. Michael would return the favour on "Get it" from Wonder's "Characters" album.

"Another part of me" is a funky horn peppered futuristic tale which will get you moving. The #1 hit "Man in the mirror" features one of Michael's most emotional performances, backed by a stunning choral performance by the Andre Crouch Choir. Unfortunately, it seems he was so inspired by this song, he later went on to pen the rather maudlin "Heal the world", "Earth song", et all.

The #1 hit "Dirty diana" is a hard Rock number alternating between gentle haunting verses and an explosive chorus, telling the tale of a Rock groupie. It features a blistering guitar solo by Steve Stevens.

"Smooth criminal" is high-octane Dance/Pop, one of the catchiest songs on the album (and featured the heartbeat of his then manager Frank DiLeo, no doubt worrying about sales of the album), and closing is his message to the press, the rolicking Pop song "Leave me alone", a UK #2 hit.

The album "Bad" had an unprecedented 5 US #1 singles (the only album to date to achieve this feat) and 8 UK top 20 hits, and sold about 25 million copies worldwide (including becoming his biggest selling album ever in the UK). While not matching sales of "Thriller", I bet it helped calm Mr DiLeo's pulse rate.

Having released the best-selling-album-ever just five years before pushing this one out to the market was, already, a quite difficult milestone. However, "Bad" still delivers good music not to disappoint the true fans, even though it did disapointed the critics and the profane masses expecting a "Thriller v.2".

If compared with "Thriller" this one would definitely look unfairly like a poor recording, but when listened as a standalone project (what it really is) you'll find quite a good R&B dance pop album, delivering quality, creativity and a several pop gems. Remarkable collaborations also helped to made this one an essential.

Keeping in mind it was dated on 1987, you'll understand why this chap was used to be considered then the "king of pop" as it sounds far ahead from it's era... far so good that it even gave the enough reasons for the jealous to start the harassment that lead to Michael Jackson decline. It marks the beginning of the end of a legend, away from the music scenario.

A personal masterpiece on Michael Jackson's career, carefully produced by Quincy Jones, who also deserves a special recognition on being the one who put "Off the Wall", "Thriller", "Bad" and Michael Jackson himself on the place they are, even today, no matter the resentful: at the pop highest.

For a full "Bad experience" customers and real fans might find interesting to get also a copy of the complementary movie, 'Moonwalker', which showcases a kindo story around the "Bad" songs (keeping also in mind that the imdb rating is 4.7/10 as of today...):

Micheal Jackson - Moonwalker [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Back in the 90's, Spin magazine put Axl Rose on the cover with the title "What The World Needs Now Is Axl Rose". I remember thinking to myself,"hmmm, I couldn't agree with them more". Well, careful what you wish for because he's back and it is predictably anticlimactic given the amount of time he spent working on this album and the amount of time he spent away. First off, make no mistake, this is an Axl Rose solo album, which is not in and of itself a bad thing but it isn't the Gunners no matter what the cover art says. If Mick Jagger ditched Keith, Ronnie and Charlie and kept the Rolling Stones name, would it be The Stones? Of course not and this is just Axl and a cacophony of very good sidemen. I wish Buckethead had stuck around because I think he adds a lot to everything he plays on here. These are mostly all good songs but no standout classics. I like the title song and Better and Catcher In The Rye and Sorry the best and I don't think there is a bad track on here, just no classics and no particularly obvious songs to single out for radio airplay. It's funny, I waited years for this album to be released and checked all the websites dedicated to it's progress and had live bootlegs of at least 5 of these tracks for several years but when it finally came out, I waited six months to buy it. He just waited too long. Even a dedicated Axlhead such as myself just didn't really care anymore. With all that said, if this were someones debut album and was viewed without all the baggage that comes with it, it would be considered the hottest debut of last year. It actually is probably the best Rock album to be released last year because there aren't many real Rock stars like ol' Axl around anymore. I'm glad he's still there and that this finally got released at all. It is a very decent album of everything I like from Axl( minus Slash ,Duff etc). Just don't wait so long next time, I've only got so much time left on the planet.

This album, due to the incredible amount of time of the delaying of its release, was doomed to be looked at as a failure unless it was an almost flawless album. This album is certainly not flawless, it has many flaws, but it is a very solid album. There are some hard rocking songs that will get the blood pumping on the album like "Chinese Democracy", which is an awesome really hard rocking song that almost everybody I talk to has as one of their favorites. Other hard rockers are "Shackler's Revenge", which has a bit of industrial influence and some cool guitar work by Buckethead and a very melodic chorus, "Scraped" is an old-school GnR type song, which is very fast and Axel's voice is in top-form, the drumming to this song is really great as well. The last fast, hard-rocking track on the album is "Riad n' the Bedouins", which is also very cool. There are songs with a mixture of soft and hard like "Better", which is definitely one of the better songs. "There was a Time" also switches between slower and faster parts and has a great solo (as almost every song does). There are of course, some slow ballads, like "Street of Dreams", "Catcher in the Rye" (which sounds very much like old-school GnR and is one of my favs), "This I Love" (which is quite depressing and sounds like 80s light metal - Scorpions anybody), and lastly "Prostitute", which starts out pretty slow, but towards the end picks up and is a great way to end the album. Highlights of the album are: "Chinese Democracy", "Shackler's Revenge", "Street of Dreams", "Catcher in the Rye", "Scraped", "Riad n' the Bedouins", "IRS", and "Prostitute". The album has a great deal of variety and many different song vibes, but there are a great deal of songs lyrically dealing with romantic relationships. Overall, this is a very good album and I would recommend it to all GnR fans, old and new, just give it a fair chance and listen carefully and you might really enjoy it.

When I say "Guns 'n' Roses," what comes to mind? How about this: a thunderous riff combined with a high-pitched vocal? If, like me, that's what you hoped for from "Chinese Democracy," you will be disappointed.

Axl Rose's voice is in good form on this album, and there are a few good guitar fills. Yet, there isn't one -- not one -- memorable riff on this record. Not a single one. Nothing to compare with any of the stuff on the old G'n'R records, or on either of the VR CDs. That's why this has to be considered a solo album: throughout, any G'n'R fan will miss that other guy. You know, the curly-haired guy with the top hat. Mr. Riffmeister. Slash.

I would give this disc 2.5 stars if it were possible. As it is, I had to round up.

100% music as art, the way it should be. Axl does not sacrifice art in any shape or form. He took his time, explored new styles and went against the grain again, in a great way.

Excellent album. Every track is unique to its own. The instrumentals are genius, complex and unheard of elsewhere in music. This is what music should be. 0% commercialized, 100% art.

I am a huge Gun's N' Roses fan, I loved the raw hard rock of appetite, and I also loved every song on Use Your Illusions I & II, songs like "Civil War" and "Coma" were masterpieces.

I have tried to give chinese democracy a fair shot, but it can't even touch their previous works. All The songs are extremely overproduced, many songs that could be great are just ruined throwing 5 guitars at the song, cheap tacky voices like the beginning of "better" and in shacklers revenge really cheesy 90's techno sounds. There are some good tunes, the title track is alright but the vocals are uninspired, and there was a time is my personal favorite.

This album really lacks the essence of guns n' roses and is just a showcase of axl rose's perfectionism gone wrong.

Has always been one of my favorite albums. Thirty years later it still is great to listen to and sing along with.I love it.

The Cd was in amazing condition, and not a scratch was found on it anywhere. very good, very good. and honestly, can you really go wrong with the beatles?

While it's definitely an album worth having, The Beatles White album is my favorite. Abbey Road requires a bit more depth on the part of the listener to fully appreciate the sound and meaning.

Perfect condition. Quickly shipped.
This was the first album (vinyl record) I ever owned. Brought back fond memories. Thanks

To start with - Abbey Road to me is one of the top 3 albums ever made. I only rated the vinyl re-issue. Now - to the point. I recently rediscovered vinyl after almost 2 decades of CD collecting, and I have to admit now that I wasted my time and money on almost 500-CD collection. Almost any vinyl record sounding so much better than a CD! I spent 350$ on a stand-alone CD player, and about the same for a brand new turntable (both hooked to same amplifier) - and the sound of the most recent remastered CD and vinyl pressing from before CD era of the same album is incomparable (in favor of vinyl). Please note - I am talking about the pre-CD era pressing.

Unfortunately, most of the recent re-issues on vinyl that I purchased are sounding pretty poor, even compared to a CD. Examples: Band on the Run (Capitol vaults) and Hot Rocks by Rolling Stones sound just like the CD versions, and Hard Day's Night, Let It Be and Abbey Road actually sound worse that 1987 CDs! Disappointment with Abbey Road was so big that I just returned it to the record shop for a fraction of the price, and bought the 1969 version of the vinyl instead, and it was definitely the best sounding version of Abbey Road I have ever heard. Bottom line - if you want a good vinyl of Abbey Road - stay away from this re-issue and try to find one of the earlier pressings (the earlier - the better, the price well worth it).

After a few listens, I am really not sure what all the hype is about. I found the songs to be quite dense and boring.

The hype surrounding the release of this album was huge, and it did not fall short of expectations. Grizzly Bear is at the peak of their music creativity. This and Yellow House are two of the standout albums of the past 5 years.

Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest is the best album I've heard in 2009 and it's going to be hard to beat. It's so excruciatingly beautiful I don't know whether I should laugh from happiness or cry about it.

Artistically Veckatimest is top notch. You can tell every second of every song was labored over. Every member of Grizzly Bear is so talented musically and the four part harmony is just otherworldly at times. There are multiple layers to each song and it takes awhile to hear them all. I certainly haven't heard them all yet. Even though the whole album stays at a middle tempo it's no small feat that it's exciting and complex.

Since the dawn of being able to download music where songs are bought al la carte the art of creating a solid album is a bit lost. It's more about the hit it seems. However, Veckatimest needs to be listened to in its entirety. Each song has something to offer and it just works together beautifully in its entirety.

However, there are some highlights. "Two Weeks" is the single and probably the most upbeat song on the album. The flow and harmony is just incredible. "Fine for Now" climaxes spectacularly! When the symbols come crashing in it will literally take your breath away. "Southern Point," "Cheerleader," and "While You Wait for Others" are personal favorites of mine but again I will stress the album needs to be listened to in its entirety.

Also, I had the pleasure of seeing Grizzly Bear and the are even better live.

Ok. So I am mad about "Two Weeks" I can't hear it enough. So when I got the album itself, after reading such glowing reviews, I was really excited to hear what else was in store. They recently played here in Dallas to a sold out crowd, so I thought I was on to something.
Imagine my surprise when I almost fell asleep listening to the album while driving. Other than "Cheerleader" which I love because of the odd drumbeats, I have to say, um, HUH? BUT! I know that this must require repeated listenings to fully appreciate, and I'll keep trying, and next time I'll use headphones. Hopefully I can come back here and write a more glowing review. Until then, there it sits on my desk. Looking at me. Love the cover art, though.

I was never really into indie, until I bought this CD. Now, it's my favorite genre and Grizzly bear is my favorite band. This album has so much going for it. From it's strong start (Southern Point) to it's beautiful finish (Foreground). If you don't have a lot of money and can only afford a few CDs a year, make this one of them.

This is great ! ! ! It's like THE BAND never stopped.I am going to stick my neck out and claim this as the best CD of the century , so far.
It is really, really good.
This is somewhat a bluesy americana work with a touch of THE BAND instrumentals,done in a foxy , cagey , jazzy format.
When Levon comes on a singing MOVE ALONG TRAIN I about melt.
One cut is STUFF YOU GOT TO WATCH was released in 1993 originally on JERHICO (THE BAND'S best cd,top ten best of the previous century) and on this work he throws a bluesy vocal performance that is about perfect.

There will never be anything more Americana than DIRT FARMER.It would be impossible to top that . . . but , believe it or not , the man has out done himself again.

I tried to get Jefferson Starship and Levon Helm to head up BAND AIDE, the concert to benefit "the Evicted" and homeless people due to Wall Street corruption.Maybe when they do the huge Ghosts of Woodstock festival in August-09 they could hit the road together with BAND-AIDE.
lets hope.[...](High Desert Gift)
You can also find me on facebook(Rick Beckner) and I am on ebay.Link that with 300182848968.
Levon is my "friend" on myspace, but he has no contact information.Can somebody please approach him about BAND-AIDE, The Concert to Benefit "The Evicted" . . .Done right , it could be bigger than FARM-AIDE.Maybe we can get WILLIE AND THE WHEEL to open the show.

As with all of the Band and previous Helm albums, this one has deep roots in southern, rock, folk-blues, Chicago blues, country, and gospel with a smattering of Dixieland when the horn section really gets its blood going. The title itself pays homage to Blues great Muddy Waters, who titled one of his albums "Electric Mud") and two of Muddy's songs are included here. While somewhat tamer and more polished than the tour shows (the Rambles), still Electric Dirt's overriding impression is the pure soul and fun of this music whether played as a traditional folk or rock and roll. Helm grew up playing rock and roll when rock and roll itself was being born and growing up. It's as much a part of him, and his music, as the Arkansas cotton fields where he grew up. Age and the travails of time have worked their way on Levon's voice - it's not the same liquid tone that one heard on "All La Glory" on the Band's "Stage Fright" album. But it's a soulful, "high lonesome" sound that you feel when you hear it.
The song selection is a broad mix, as if Levon pulled a list of favorites from his radio listening as a kid in the 50s and as lift the roof rock and roll drummer in the 60s. If you want to hear some old Band tunes thrown in, then check out the album listed below. But here on Electric Dirt, without any of The Band tunes, Levon's taste s great.

If you like Helm's music, you have to listen to the recording "FestivaLink presents Levon Helm Band MerleFest Ramble at MerleFest 4/26/08" It's as exciting as the shows, and deftly recorded, with the 11 piece band including vocalists, keyboards, 4-piece horn section, Larry Campbell Amy Helm . . . pretty much the same line up that was used for much of "Electric Dirt". Some of the great old The Band tunes are in the mix of country, soul, gospel, folk, and rock and roll, all wrapped up in one solid, tight, and versatile band.

If you liked Dirt Farmer, but prefer the fuller sound of his live Rambles, then this is the album for you. More upbeat, and featuring more horns, this album sounds like the Ramble, but with better production than most of the recordings I have of the Ramble on the Road.

Larry Campbell's production and playing both sound great. Levon's voice is strong. Even after first listen some of the new songs are pretty catchy and the covers are almost perfectly done.

The "last gentleman" in the music business returns with an electric release, but for my money the best track is the harrowing "Golden Bird" which is stark, empty, haunting and just beautiful. Again, the best sangin" playin'
drummer working does it right. Five Stars of Gold.
Take Me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography 1890-1950

Jim Linderman "Dull Tool Dim Bulb"

One disc 46 minutes approximately. The sound is crisp yet warm,which suits Helm's songs and voice perfectly.
This album is a continuation of Helm's fine previous (Grammy winning) release "Dirt Farmer",yet it builds on that album's feel. This time out there are electric guitars that replace the previous albums overall acoustic sound. Yet "Electric Dirt" has that same lived in,down-home feel,due in large part to Helm's wonderful aching vocals. The arrangements by Larry Campbell are just right,making each track stand out yet all the tracks form a seamless whole. A combination of up-tempo tracks combine with slower tunes that show Helm's voice is comfortable with either one. His voice sounds most authentic on the slower tracks,which give the feeling of this music being much older than it is.
The band is made up of Helm's musician pals from his famous "barn" concerts in Woodstock,N.Y. This is important to someone with Helm's authentic musical credentials that go back many years to his most famous group,THE BAND. Helm's voice needs the sympathetic back-up from musicians who know his music intimately. Instrumentation ranges from guitars to fiddles to mandolins to accordions,with a touch of keyboards mixed in,along with the standard rhythm section. On four tracks there is a small horn section which helps flesh out the music.
The songs are a combination of the well known ("Tennessee Jed",made famous by the GRATEFUL DEAD,"Stuff You Gotta Watch" and "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had",by Muddy Waters) to a song by Carter Stanley,and one tune by the great writer Randy Newman,among others. Together these songs blend together to make another inspired release by Helm. The vocals are helped along by his daughter Amy Helm and Teresa Williams,which give those tracks added feel and depth. But the tracks that feature Helm alone on vocals are the most riveting. There is so much feeling wrapped up in his voice that the words sometimes take a backseat to his arresting style.
This album is another example of "American" music,music that has it's roots in times past. The combination of good songs,good playing,and Helm's lived-in,seen-it-all,last chance voice is the real deal. Listeners who liked Helm's previous album,"Dirt Farmer",will find this album to be a fine companion to it.
If you haven't heard Levon Helm you're missing some real music played and sung by someone special. This album is refreshing,it's honest music played honestly. For that reason it stands out from most everything today. Do yourself a favor and pick this up.

All time classic, hadn't played it in years until recently given Michael's passing. Love love love this album, great music. Michael's vocals and emotions are incredible for someone of that age. But indeed it seems quite odd looking back that these little fellas were singing mostly songs of love, romance and desire. That's unusual, but the songs are great and will forever remain classics, even moreso now with Mike's passing. A must for any Jackson fan. MJ&J5 4EVA!

Without question, this is the Jackson Five's top album. Not only does it include "ABC" and "The Love You Save" but also amazing performances of cover songs like "Come Round Here, I'm the one you Need" and "I don't know why I love you", and originals like "One More Chance" and 2,4,6,8. Needless to say, young Michael Jackson is incredible here, singing with a soul and passion that is still astounding to me. There is honestly no filler on this album. Solid all around.

The definitive bubblegum pop-funk-soul album. This is my favorite album of all time and has been since I first got it as a present at the age of 5 back in 1973. Young Michael, as he always did back then, sounds like an angel. The music & production by the label's in-house "The Corporation" production team is immaculate for what essentially was a quickie release filled with Motown and other catalog covers made to cash in on the group's phenomenal singles selling success. Worth it alone for "A-B-C" but includes so many other classics, all I can say, is you need this in your life.

This effort by the Jackson 5 proves to be a commercial success. Michael Jackson is a very, very talented singer and while he takes most of the lead, Jermaine gives it his best on "I Found That Girl". "ABC" is the most well known song on the album and it's sampled a lot even today."One More Chance", "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" and "2-4-6-8" are also gems to be heard, also, with Michael sounding so young and fresh. This is one of the Jackson 5's best albums and I definitaly recommend it for any Jackson 5 even if you are not die-hard one.

Technically, these cats are good. But I've always had a problem with them, because a five year old singing about "wanting to get it on with you, girl" is just plain creepy. And, most of the songs sound very similar. It felt like there were about 1,800 tracks on this thing that sounded exactly the same. ABC and GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE stood out, however.

Best Dylan album since Time Out Of Mind. Great idea of including the CD with the vinyl purchase. Dylan is incredible...still as creative as ever.

Fantastic album, as Dylan gets older he keeps going farther and farther back into the roots of his music. Hope he features a lot of these songs on his summer tour.

Grabbed the vinyl release for this. I missed out on getting the vinyl releases for his last two, and I think its a cryin shame that I don't have them to spin. Dylan via Jack Frost focuses deeper into the world of roots music, and americana. He takes it into tejanan/zydeco places on this bit, some of the accordian work was distracting at first, but Dylan is infectious as producer Jack Frost. This album and his last two have something I've never heard anywhere else, and this two disc vinyl bit brings out the rich body that is present in all of Dylans work of the last decade. This third addition to the Jack Frost cannon took a little more warming up for me then on the last two, but the more I spin it, the more I want to spin it again. This music is cool and laid back but rad enough to get them dancing.

New Bob Dylan album finally was delivered by the US Mail. (Timeliness of pre-order delivery from Sony was dissapointing) Robert Hunter co-credit on the lyrics, David Hidalgo accompanying on accordion = Most Excellent poetry set to music! This plus Vinyl, CD, and poster all in one package = Most Excellent package, yet another gift from heaven while we are waitin' to get there... Way to go Bob and boys! And I can't wait to party with you all in heaven!

Was only going to get the regular CD of this - for 14.99 - then realized the vinyl version (at twice the price -29.99) - came with the CD. The only vinyl of this album they had was being held for someone. But then the clerk checked it - and he says "Oh their time limit expired. You can have it" - and I pounced.

It's now playing - we're on track 3: "My Wife's Hometown" - a Dylan/Dixon tune, that's Willie Dixon, as in "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "You Shook Me" Zeppelin blues classics - so let's get something straight right off the bat, shall we?

What we have here, regardless of whether some Amazon reviewers might claim otherwise, is brand spanking new classic Dylan in a vein we've not seen since, well -ever, really, and that's just one of the reasons this is a classic recording. What we're looking at here folks, besides an obviously matured gifted artist at a new prime in his amazing stride through life, is nothing less than Dylan embracing a post-Grateful Dead, Blues-based Heartbreaker slowburn jam whose presence to these ears completely makes up for the loss of such icons as Led Zeppelin, et al. I'd even go so far as to suggest such classic fare is beneath Dylan, he is so self-assured at his grand mastery of this fusion of post -blues -rock -jazz folk music that I'll be the first to step up to the plate and admit that atop the pyramid of established rock iconography such as Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, etc is comfortably seated none other than that old folkie and troubadour Bob Dylan himself, and this album is the proof in the pudding.

"Jolene" is playing right now and it is an easygoing serving of Bo Diddly blues flambeauxed over a spicey cajun rhythm that anyone should find irresistable. David Hidalgo of Los Lobos fame and Mike Cambell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers contribute excellent musicianship to this easy masterpiece of blues fusion. The return of Robert Hunter collaborating with Dylan for the lyrics is a welcome addition ("Down In The Groove" was the last time they collaborated on lyrics together). The only critical review of Together Through Life that really hits it on the nail is Blender, they gave it 5 out of 5 stars and called it "unbelievably good". That's right on -this album doesn't miss a beat, it is flawless from beginning to end. Of course, like any masterfully rendered music from seasoned professionals, that may not occur to the listener upon the first spin or two. Just keep this record spinning on your turntable, and it won't be long until you recognize Bob is back in the groove again, and its a wonderful thing indeed.

The ten songs on Together Through Life complement each other in an easygoing way. I have to admit I wasn't that impressed hearing this album for the first time, but I wasn't able to lend it my full attention. On the second listen, while paying it better attention, its subtle rewarding complexities became immediately more evident. After three spins, I'm sailing towards comfortable oblivion with a smile on my face every time I hear this lovely, rollicking, alternately hopeful and set with only a slightly-grim resolve, album. This artist has lived it all, and it is obvious from hanging out with these songs for a spell. He ain't got time to bleed these days - but he done that already ("It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding"). Now is his time to shine, once again. The medley of down home american roots influences on this record is a treasure trove and a delight to behold. Some people tell him he has the blood of the land in his voice. I can feel a change coming on too, Bob. I am grateful you've taken the helm on this new direction, to steer us through the oncoming darkness with your new songs, laid-back, confident beacons of reassurance we can all use in these uncertain times. Damm straight "It's all good".

Of course there were high hopes for this album. It's frickin Green Day. But when I popped this CD in my player and listened to it for the first time, I can whole-heartedly say that I was 'satisfied.' Soon after 10 songs I was bobbing my head and drumming on my steering wheel. This is Green Day doing songs that Green Day does best.

This album is set up like a play; it has 3 "acts" and a total of 18 great songs and 0 bad ones. They utilize a technique where they start a song quietly, making you turn up your player, then blasts out their catchy guitar riffs. The only problems I could have with this album is that some of the songs sound a bit too familiar, but when I buy a Green Day album it's because I want to hear Green Day, not Green Day playing something I'm not expecting.

Favorite songs would have to be 21st Century Breakdown, East Jesus Nowhere, Viva La Gloria, Before The Labotomy and Last Of The American Girls

Least favorite: Know Your Enemy (it's just a stupid song), Restless Heart Syndrome (too slow, lacking replay value.)

All in all, this is a cheap album so if you have doubts, just get it anyway. If you hate it you can resell it on here and get [...] bucks back. If you like it, like I did, it will make a great addition to your Green Day collection. If this is your frist Green Day CD, go back to Dookie and work your way into this one. Report back in 5 years when you fully understand what these guys are about, and not what the media has played them out to be.

If your used to the sound of Greenday, its just on the same line and sound. No big surprises. It is enjoyable, but don't exspect different sounds or the music to change up, it doesn't. I'm glad I bought it because there isn't a whole lot out there right now.

It's Green Day, need I say more? A very good follow up to "American Idiot."

green day has done it again. Great album. Thanks to Stephen Colbert I found out they had a new cd. Glad I tuned in. Worth the purchase.

I don't remember the last time a listened to an album from beginning to end and enjoyed every song as much as each track on 21st Century Breakdown. If you don't have it you have missed on something that you won't hear come around for many years.

This cd is nothing short of spacticular ****

And no I would not consider myself a big Dinosaur Jr fan either

I have gone into depth with a couple of theiir albums Green Mind and Where You Been. But have never heard as much polished songs as on "Farm"

On this album FARM its thou they have "cultivated" all of their previous works with and without BARLOW lineups, into one great album........

Stand out Tracks are

*Said The People*
*See You*
*Plans*

but all could easily stand out which is the bueaty of this albm........
No songs sound the same
Not to mention the Guitar work
One thing about Dino Jr if you like guitar your prlly gunna listen to them, very melodic and catchy riffs that get stuck in your head,
almost painting a vivid picture in your mind, almost taking you on a trip for say ;-)

Highly recommended to those who like an orginal sounding band
Perhaps and overlooked band
Great guitar work, and no i dont mean play as fast as you can
A flat out great album that may be in your player for awhile

The world is a much better place with the original Dinosaur Jr back together, no doubt, but I have to disagree with most of the other reviews here. This is by no means a bad album, but after the expectations shattering Beyond, I am left slightly dissapointed (ever so slightly).

Beyond had all of the elements of a classic Dinosaur album: earth rattling riffs and solos and possibly the best rhythm section in underground rock, sludgy yet warm production, that magical spot where punk rock collides with stadium rock, metal and even folk, and most important, excellent songs. The only thing seperating it from their first three albums (besides almost twenty years) is the fact that they had all improved as musicians and songwriters.

Farm is Dinosaur in full-on classic rock mode, and while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, there are few surprises here. Where's the punk thrasher? The acoustic falsetto ballad? The damaged art rock? Maybe that is the surprise, perhaps that would have been even more predictable, to play by their own established rules.

Opener "Pieces" is an instant classic, as are Lou's two contributions "Your Weather" and "Imagination Blind", which help to break up the album a bit, as J's songs don't sway too far from the midtempo mark. The ghost of Crazy Horse haunts this record, especially on "Plans" (with a recurring riff eerily reminiscent of "Cortez The Killer") and "I Don't Wanna Go There", probably Dino's longest song ever at almost 9 minutes, with it's never ending solo. Mascis is one of those very rare guitarists that you could never mistake for someone else (when he guested on Thurston Moore's solo album, you knew immediately which contributions were his).

"Over It" (and less successfully "Friends") finds J exploring the pop sensabilities that the later (Lou and Murphless) Dinosaur and J Mascis & the Fog albums focused on. The more I listen, the more details snake to the surface, which leads me to believe it's a bit of a grower, unlike Beyond which grabbed me on the very first listen.

All in all a nice adddition to the ever expanding Dinosaur Jr legacy, but in my opinion not the instant classic that they are more than capable of producing. You gotta love that album cover though. 3.5 stars.

Wow! When the original Dino Jr. trio got back together, no one expected 2007's 'Beyond' to be as great as it was. That record pales in comparison to this one though, 'Farm' is simply brilliant from beginning to end. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this album, every track is brilliant, the playing is great, J's solos are incredible, Lou's two tracks are among his best. If you are a Dino fan, this is essential!

FARM - by Dinosaur Jr.

J Mascis is shredding like loaded lightning in a rainforest during a hailstorm !!! ...

Lou Barlow is growling like a feral alligator in heat crawling across a bayou dirt road !!! ...

Murph is thrashing his cymbals and bashing his drums like his very life depended on it !!! ...

Wait? ... Is it true? ... Have I happened to take an accidental whiff of nitrous oxide that may have mysteriously escaped out of the window of Dr. Mascis's dental clinic on North Pleasant street in downtown Amherst, MA? ... Did I just wake up out of a bad dream like Rip Van Winkle hung over from too much bad brew drunk at The Drake in 1974 or too little magic mushrooms found on the 17th floor of JQA in Southwest at U-Mass, Amherst? Did I hear correctly? ...YES, I did !!! ...

Dinosaur Jr. is back with a bite like an overbite from a humungous hippopotamus high on adrenaline and feeding on a baby crocodile!!! ...Indeed, their new album - FARM - is out now, and you best grab it before they are all gone! Get the limited edition, double CD - or the record on vinyl (or both!) - because the four short songs on the second disc are all gems, and the album artwork by Marq Spusta will make you feel like you are being saved by one of Tolkien's gentle giant, benign yet powerful, Tree Ents as they make the great escape from the apocalyptic, urban wasteland to the renewed, rural paradise out in the country. Dave Huckins would be proud!

Where you been, buddy? ... Take a load off your feet, sit back, and groove to the pure awesomeness of this dynamic and powerful music by a band that deserves to be called by the name Dinosaur. This sound is HUGE !!! ...

YOWZA! - George Koumantzelis / The Aeolian Kid

This is the rock album of the year.

1. Buy it
2. Listen to it
3. Repeat step 2

I was floored when "Beyond" came out. I was always a huge fan of the band, and was absolutely overjoyed to hear they got back together. When I listened to that album for the first time, I felt like it was 1989 all over again, but in a good and relavent way. That great feeling I got with "Beyond", is present ten-fold with "Farm".

"Plans", "Said The People", and "I Don't Wanna Go There" are instant American classics. They're catchy and substantive. Not always an easy combo to find. Hearing Barlow sing "Imagination Blind" and "Your Weather" is a wonderful thing. More bands should mix up the singing duties. It just completely diversifies a band's sound.

Oh, and even if you don't like amazing music, you should buy the album just for the art. I haven't smoked weed in years, but it ALMOST makes me want to puff again:P I might even buy the vinyl just for the creepy but cool art.

Buy it now.