Reviews about Music & Arts

mailforkim2 says "John Mayer is very talented" about John Mayer

mailforkim2 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:20:01 GMT

John Mayer is just one of my all time favorite musicians. His music is creative and he holds true to his own style. I have never liked when an artist I like suddenly decides to change their style. John Mayer never does this.

When I am nervous or upset his music relaxes me. His lyrics are creative and have meaning. If I am happy, cleaning, driving a car, sad... doesn't matter his music fits my mood.

I like music that is not loud and obtrusive. His music is mellow.

I also like that he is not a media hog. You do see him in the news but it never appears that he seeks out that attention like some others, such a Brittany Spears. Mst of his media attention comes from his talent or because he was dating someone famous.

It doesn't hurt that he is very easy on the eyes to look at. Nice casual style of dress, nice hairstyle and to dye for eyes.

I do wish he would put out more new work more often but hen don't we always wish that.

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MikeMaroon says "Finding Hope in The Worst Kind of Personal Tragedy." about Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise

MikeMaroon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:21:39 GMT

May 21, 2008 was to be a special day at the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth were about to celebrate both their daughter's engagement and the high school graduation of their eldest son. Then, something horrible happened. As one of their sons pulled into the driveway he didn't see his little 5-year old sister Maria. His vehicle struck and killed her, leaving Christian music's most successful singer/songwriter to cope with unspeakable pain, the loss of one child and to father another through heart-numbing guilt. I myself have a 5-year-old little girl and the thought of such a thing is something I cannot bear.

Beauty Will Rise is Mr Chapman's love letter to his lost little girl and a raw look at him working through his pain. With sparse arraignments and acoustic guitar, he publicly wrestles with pain only a father who has lost a child can experience.

He said that, after he lost Maria, he honestly didn't know if he would ever write or sing songs again. ...

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chercat says "I love the Dixie Chicks " about Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

chercat — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:10:56 GMT

I have not always been a fan of country music btu the Dixie Chicks are a pretty awesome bunch of ladies musically speaking .

I started listening to them with the CD " FLY" and enjoyed Natalie Maines' lovely voice - she can sing a great ballad or really belt a song out when needed . She also plays a pretty good guitar.

Emily Robison is an incredible musician too - she can play 5 or six instruments with ease and finesse and her sister ,Martie Maguire , is one of the best fiddlers ever to grace a stage .

These ladies are certainly controversial and have lost a lot of fans with Natalie's( now infamous) remarks about George Bush and Texas . Many were offended and I agree that it was not the brightest comment to voice , but it should not detract from the brilliance of their music . I certainly think the death threats to Natalie were overkill - people are entitled to their opinions, although " dissing" the President , esp on foreign soil,as a very foolish thing to do and cost them a lot...

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MikeMaroon says "Play On, Carrie, Play On." about Play On [11/3] * by Carrie Underwood

MikeMaroon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:26:01 GMT

It is my belief Carrie Underwood is the best singer to graduate from American Idol. She has an almost perfect voice and the range of Celine Dion. Loves ya Kelly. Respects ya Adam. But Carrie, she da man, er, woman. She really showcases those gorgeous pipes of hers on Play On, her third and definitely most pop-leaning album yet. Shania, watch your back.

And Ms Underwood went to the studio determined to hit a massive homerun this time. She very nearly succeeds. Bringing in the the ringers, like producers Mike Elizondo and Max Martin along with writers Brett James, Tom Shapiro, and Paul Overstreet, Carrie presents us with an eclectic group of songs that sometimes feels like pandering but mostly feels like a nice variety.

Kicking things off with her already huge radio hit, Cowboy Casanova, Elizondo imparts a juiced-up dance hall flavor that sounds like an attempt to bring back line-dancing. With Underwood's booming vocals, this "warning" song is sure to have urban cowboys...

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MusicGuru says "Trans-Siberian "Awful"-- this was a bunch of 80s has beens!!!" about Trans-Siberian Orchestra

MusicGuru — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:30:04 GMT

I went with my mother in law and our thirteen year old nephew who wanted to go to this concert for his birthday. The concert was too long, too loud and had very bright lights that were blinding. The concert was interesting and entertaining for the first 30 minutes but by the end of hour 2 we were all ready to go home and still had another hour to go! The nephew was falling asleep even amidst the blaring music and explosions of flames! It was just so boring... The music was unoriginal and very repetitive. The Christian spiritual aspect lacked depth and was shallow. I was disappointed in how patriarchal and sexist the presentation of the story of Jesus and Christmas was. The narrative was really bad and sounded like a fifth grader had written it. "A glass of whiskey used as a moat" was imaginative but ridiculous. I tuned out most of the rest after that. The lyrics and songs were also juvenile and poorly composed. In addition, we got to watch a bunch of blond women...

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ksweeper21 says "Firefiles is fun, moving song, with great beat and is catchy!" about Owl City - Ocean Eyes; Firefiles

ksweeper21 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:49:29 GMT

I first heard of the band Owl City when a good friend of mine sent me there song "Hello Seattle". I instantly fell in love. The song was instantly a hit with me. It was catchy, easy to sing-a-long with, and the beat and rhythm just made you want to tap your foot and put the song on repeat. Then over the next few months I heard a few more singles. I purchased the album Ocean Eyes, and listened to every song on the disc. I loved all of them. All the songs are a combination of electronica/popish music that just catches you a bit of guard, yet I am sure you'll fall in love with the sound, lyrics, and style. With the song Firefiles there are no exceptions. It is fun, exciting, catchy, and a perfect song to sing-a-long to. When I first listened to Firefiles I instantly felt like I was indeed taken to the sky like a firefly. The synthesizer sound bits at the beginning set the motion for the entire song, and entraps you until song ends. The song is a playful one that talks about real life elements...

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MsWilliams says "This flute will make you play and sound better." about Yamaha YFL-381/381H Intermediate Flute

MsWilliams — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:05:09 GMT

I received this flute as a birthday gift 5 years ago, and my skill has grown imensely. Not only does this flute allow the player to achieve a better tone quality, it also teaches the flutist to hold the flute correctly, allowing fast fingerings.

On the downside, this flute is not for people with small hands, the keys are very spaced out. The A flat key is also set higher, which will take some getting used to. I recommend using plugs and gradually taking them out until you are comfortable playing with out them, the less plugs used, the better the tone will be.

Other than those cons, the flute is perfect for someone hoping to strengthen their skill in playing the flute.

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Fardreamer says "These are the best Star Wars soundtrack recordings ever!" about The Best Versions of the Star Wars Original Soundtrack Albums

Fardreamer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:20:58 GMT

A long time ago (1978) but not in a galaxy far, far away, on my 15th birthday a friend of the family's presented me with the two-record (LP) album of music from the original soundtrack from the film then simply known as Star Wars.

The two-record album came in a record sleeve with a white-on-black rendering of the Star Wars logo and the words "original soundtrack composed and conducted by John Williams, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra" on the front, and a stylized rendering of Darth Vader's helmet and breath mask on the back, along with the track lists for both records.

I was 15 at the time and had just gotten my first stereo system, and because I had that youthful ardor for Star Wars that bordered on insane obsession, I listened to the records until they became unplayable due to needle scratches.

What I didn't realize because I didn't keep my liner notes (I was 15!) was that most original soundtrack albums are usually abridged "samplers" of music from movies and television...

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musicisveryfun says "The Yamaha Flute Model 221 is an extremely good student flute." about Yamaha Yfl 221 Standard Flute

musicisveryfun — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:01:04 GMT

The Yamaha standard flutes are among the finest in the world. The model 221 is one of the company's best instruments. It is primarily a student flute but it can be used by levels of flute because of its versatility. Its silver-plated body gives a good base for the warm low and mid ranges of the instrument. Any beginner can create a good sound from this instrument. Although the high ranges are difficult to produce for beginners, the model 221 Yamaha flute can create a high range suitable for any novice. Overall, this instrument is one of the best flutes any musician could wish for.

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elmenor12 says "after the music stops is a great topic to talk about." about Lecrae - After the Music Stops

elmenor12 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:26:52 GMT

AFTER THE MUSIC STOPS IS A GOOD TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT IT HAS EVERY TIHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MUSIC AND ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE SEE IT. TEENEGERS SAY THAT RAP HIPHOP AND R&B ARE THE BEST MUSIC AROUND WELL SOME PEOPLE DONT THINK THAT WAY OLDER PEOPLE SAY CLASSICAL MUSIC AND JAZZ ARE BETTER BECAUSE ITS MORE RELAXING EVEN I THINK THAT WAY THINK ABOUT U SIT DOWN ON YOUR COUCH THINKING AOUT STUFF PUT ON A NICE JAZZ SONG THAT HELPS U RELAXE OR THINK THIS WAY YOU GET HOME FROM WORK WITH A HEDACHE AND WHEN U TURN ON THE RADIO WHAT U HEAR ARE THE BUUM BUUM OF THE HIP HOP SONG NAH THATS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR HEAD NOW ISNT IT WELL YOU HAVE TO THINK OUT THE BOX AND DO SOME NEW THING IN LIFE TO BE SUCCESFUL INVOLVE YOUR MIND IN OTHER THINGS IF THE MUSIC STOPS QUE VAS HACER NADA WHY CAUSE YOU DIDNT NOW MUCH ABOUT MUSIC SENSE YOU WERE HEARING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR MIND AND LIFE THINK BETTER

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tholgate87 says "Fresh new tunes from Five for Fighting" about Five For Fighting

tholgate87 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:32:44 GMT

I'll be honest, I've never been a huge fan of Fight For Fighting. When they had "Superman" on the radio a few years ago I didn't really care for that song or any other of theirs. But since that was a while ago and my music taste has become more open since then, I decided to give them another chance.

Their music is still slightly the same - mellow, meaningful, and unique. Lead singer John Ondrasik has a one of a kind voice which I actually kind of like. Five For Fighting is family friendly music (no curse words or suggestive language). Some of my favorite songs on the album are "Story of Your Life", "Slice", and "Chances". I'm glad that I gave Five For Fighting a second chance, because I actually enjoy some of their mellow music now.

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GigiandAdonai says "He started the whole world singing AGAIN!" about MICHAEL JACKSON - "This Is It" Souvenir CD and Booklet

GigiandAdonai — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:14:14 GMT

Yesterday I went to see the Michael Jackson movie This Is It. I won't take a lot of your time to tell you how wonderful it is. Check out my review or better yet; go see it and then tell us what you think. During the movie I was introduced to some songs that he had performed but they were new to me. I enjoyed MJ's music during the 80s and early 90s. I have several MJ CDs and probably wouldn't have bought this soundtrack; except for one reason: They were releasing This Is It and Earth Song.

This evening was our monthly girls night out and before the movie we went over to Walmart to pick up a few things and kill some time. I decided to go to electronics and see if they had the soundtrack and they did. I saw a $10 and $14.88 CD. I "think" the $10 was being advertised as a Walmart exclusive. It was the songs performed in the movie and nothing more. I chose the $14.88 Souvenir Edition because not only did it include a 36-page book with photos from the movie but it also has...

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jlowe308 says "A great artist who di way to soon." about Kurt Cobain

jlowe308 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:08:55 GMT

Kurt Cobain was a very talented man in his time.Born in Washington State Kurt always had a real passion and love for music.I can remeber the first album that I ever herad form Nirvana and I can still remeber whwn I turned on the news in 1994 and heard the words that rock legend Kurt Cobain was ead and gone.I put Kurt up there with Jimmy Hendrix,Janis Joplin and all of the other great rockers that have passed on.Kurts music was fascinating and people all over the world still listen to him today.Teen Spririt was a realy big hit back in the day and so was others like Rape Me,Polly and Where Did You Sleep Lastnight.Where Did You Sleep Lastnight is one of y favorite songs from Nirvana.That song is a really good song about a guy to his girl and that one has always been on of my favorites.Unfortunately for Kurt he became famous and got inot heroin and he never could get past it.Some people say Courtney Love killed him as well as others for talking about it but the truth is no one really knows...

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dmdifalco says ""This Is It" is More Than A "Thriller"; It's A Living Legacy!" about MICHAEL JACKSON - "This Is It" Souvenir CD and Booklet

dmdifalco — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:41:12 GMT

My Michael Jackson "This Is It" double souvenir CD set arrived today and I've been playing it ever since. I have a daily dose of Michael all the time with my "Bad" and "Greatest Hits" albums so I wondered how this would stand in comparison. "This Is It" ROCKS. Offering MJ fans some really stellar new tunes and some of our older favorites. I honestly never tire of listening to Michael Jackson. In "This Is It" you can hear his excitement and passion. Our generation was so fortunate to attend his concerts and grow up with him. When it comes to music, MJ was a Genius! Only He could take his older music, update and improve upon them and share with us his fresh perspectives. I remember the day that Michael Jackson passed away...I had been taking an afternoon nap and my adult daughter telephoned me because she wanted to be the first one to tell me. I thought it was a lie. My other younger daughter turned on CNN News for me to see for myself. They both knew how fond I...

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jlowe308 says "Love Steve Miller Band" about Greatest Hits 1974-1978 by Steve Miller Band

jlowe308 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:35:48 GMT

I love the Steve Miller Band.They were out a little after I was born and I sware that I am suck a semi old rocker form back in the day.My favorite song by them is Joker.This si such a good song and I love it alot.I could listen to this song all day long and it wouldnt bothe me at all.This band has alot of good music to offer and if you listen to them and your a classic rocker then there band is for you.They offer a seriously great collection of music and I just love them.Theres not much else that you cna say about them.Just have to listen and judge for yourself.

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jlowe308 says "Bartender" about Rehab

jlowe308 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:30:08 GMT

I love this band calle Rehab.I think some of their songs are so cool.I guess my two favorite songs are Bartender and Walk Away.Bartender is just so me.Tghis song is so crazy.This guys chick threw his shit out so he took her car for revenge and wrecked it so as h is waiting at the bar for the cops to come and get him drownin himself on beer he is singing all about it so it is funny but so real.I can just see it.You do me like shit and I will get even.It is one of those things.Walk Away is a good song to.It just kind fo gives you insight into to life and things and you just have to listen to them.This is a boy band rock with a little bit of a hip hop mix.Just dont listen to bartender if your drunk and fighting with your women or man because you just might find yourself jacking their car and sitting at a bar at 2 am waiting on the cops to come and get you.Rehab rocks.

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baverbach says "One of the best regional Jazz and Blues recordings in years" about Bam-Jazz

baverbach — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:34:24 GMT

So often the best music is only heard by a select few and never makes it to disc. Granted, there is nothing like "live" but sometimes you just can't get out to catch it. This recording, Carolina Moonshine, by Jazz group Bam-Jazz is one of those rare recordings that has caught the spontanious of a live recording in a small venue. Bam-Jazz went out of their way to deliver just that. With nothing predetermined except the method of presentation the group took their cue from Jazz great Thelonius Monk by playing and what came out was "it". The audience was live as well adding to the flavor with incidental hoots and clapping during some of the pieces.

One of my favorite pieces on the recording was an unusual rendition of Gershwin's Summertime as a Reggae number. It showed the interest in playing music and not just boxing sounds called "Jazz" or "Blues". There are no pidgeon-holes here!

SOme of the other pieces that I particularly enjoy on Carolina Moonshine include the Flounder Blues - a jump...

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Jesse123 says "Papa Roach is the best!!!!!" about Papa Roach - The Paramour Sessions

Jesse123 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:10:33 GMT

Papa roach is my all-time favorite band. It is the greatest. they have a mix of pure emotion to things you just wanna rock out to. All of my friends love at least one of their songs, even my daughter is into it!! I would recommend papa roach to any person who is ready to rock their hearts out, cause papa roach WILL blow their minds. It has some popular songs like "last resort" "scars" and the newest "hollywood whore" or the not so popular but still great "getting away with murder" and "to be loved". My honest opinion is...well its a pretty dang good band, and Jacoby Shaddix (lead singer of PR) is pretty hot. ;) if you don't choose to listen to me...its your loss suckers. THIS BAND ROCKS!!!!!

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jlowe308 says "Makes me sleep" about The Definitive Collection [Slimline] by Patsy Cline

jlowe308 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:47:58 GMT

I love to listen to Patsy Clines The Definitive Collection.Sometimes at night I have a hard time falling asleep so I pop Patsy Cline into my cd player and listen to Sweet Dreams and all of the other tracks.Usually by the time it is to number 10 I am fast asleep.Patsy Cline is a true legend and her music is so beautiful.I love He Called Me Baby Allnight Long.This is a great song.Although Patsy has been gone for years her music still lives on.I own her movie Sweet Dreams too.It is like the greatest music ever.If you have never listened to a Patsy Cline Cd then go out and buy one because even if your not a country music lover Patsy will change all that.Another great hit from her collection is Blue Moon Of Kentucky.This is a fabulous song too.There are just to many wondeful songs to list.If you just want to relax or are in the mood for a true legend then throw in Patsy Clines Definitve Collection and listen to her and you want be let down.

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dpeck says "Great experimental electronic music" about dep - Instructions for Flying

dpeck — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:24:34 GMT

I love it when folks get in touch to tell me of new music they've released. One such release is the wonderfully bright Instructions for Flying by dep. I loved his previous release nothing to undo : nothing to redo and was eager to hear how he has progressed as an artist.

I have to say I am impressed. His music is bright, melodic & deeply atmospheric electronica. No theme is overused... no sound is overplayed... and there is an overriding sense that everything is exactly where it should be.

Words like delicate & intricate come to mind as I listen to "these are your marching orders" which reminds me of The Album Leaf and Sigur Ros circa Takk... > the track building_ marching even_ towards a climatic finish.

His sound still retains a sense of the glitchy... rhythms are scattered, bells weave in and out, vocals are fractured... but there is also a sense of a broadening in outlook... a real undercurrent of post-rock flavouring... a widening of sound and real emphasis placed on ambience.

I would...

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