![[SOUNDSTAGE! MUSIC OF MERIT]](../backs/tp_music.gif)
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October 1997 Rejoice!
The song "Good King Wenceslas" is played with such life that even a guy like me who's worked retail and heard more then his fare share of Christmas music highly enjoys hearing it on this recording over and over! "Joy to the World" even takes on new vigor as these four musicians breathe new life into this music. This is the first Christmas CD that has brought me joy in a long time. Great performances and great sounding instruments combined with high quality recording techniques is a rare breed in the Christmas music genera. A big thanks go out to John Marks Records for making Rejoice! available to a holiday music burnout Scrooge like me. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight. ...Steve Rochlin Colin James - National
Steel October finds me back in blues corner. My special guest this month is one of Canada's premier guitarists, Colin James. Colin has dedicated this cd to the memories of Brownie McGhee and Yank Rachell, which to a large extent foreshadows the mood and style of music that is contained within. This is a very fitting tribute and it acknowledges the major influence both these artists had on the music of Colin James. It is nice to see these two, often overlooked bluesmen, who gave an incredible combined 130 plus years to the blues, get some well deserved recognition. With National Steel, Colin picks up his steel guitar and covers a veritable who's who of blues musicians from the past 6 decades. In addition to Rachell and McGhee, the music of Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, Taj Mahal, Bukka White, Sam Cooke, Tiny Bradshaw, Lonnie Chatmon, Willie Dixon, Mose Allison and Robert Johnson find a very fitting home here. A couple of original tunes are also included. "National Steel," the song, is without question a rock tune, more in line with Colin's earlier works, but the use of the steel guitar and slidework give it a bluesy feel, which makes it a pretty good fit. "Before the Dawn" is written by the other Colin in the band and is a country blues tune, and my least favourite of all the tracks, 'nuff said. The sound of steel resonating on steel
has always held tremendous appeal for me and in the
gifted hands of Colin James it is a truly wonderful sound
to behold. Each note conveys empathy for the original
author and transmits itself with eloquent simplicity
directly to that part of the brain which is responsive to
the blues, transporting the listener into As an added bonus National Steel is exceptionally well produced and mastered, so it will, without a doubt, be well appreciated by the audiophile blues aficionado. ...Bruce Bassett Prodigy - Fat of the
Land
This is definately not music to relax to! Recorded at Liam Howlett's 'Earthbound' studio in Braintree, the music is fast paced psycho-somatic electrono-rage. The bass beats are virtually nonstop flux with syncopated rhythms while the guitar and keyboard riffs are playing along with style. The sound quality is not audiophile but not bad either. Next time you need something to get cha going in the morning or to rejuvenate you for a long night, this album is highly recommended. WARNING: Those with weak hearts or other physical challenges may not be ready for this music. Those renting their apartment facility may hit lease breaking status with this music so please use disgression with applying maximum SPL levels. You have been warned! ...Steve Rochlin Sex-O-Rama
My favorite track is called "Green Door Fantasy" and has that slow groove 70's style walkin' sound. Something that would sound at home in a Shaft movie as it would an adult film. The guitar has it's melody and the keyboard chimes in with style while the drum rhythms are slow and steady with tasty fills from time to time. My second fave track is "Amanda By Night". If you lived through the free love era and remember the TV show Laugh In, this music is just like that you've heard during their little dance/music comedy breaks. How can i explain this except to say that this CD is fun, the music is renewed, and it sounds much better then that video tape copy of a copy of a copy sitting in your dresser drawer. ...Steve Rochlin Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra - The
Life Desire / Lucky Life Have you ever sat and stared at a sitcom on TV? You are not really watching the program but the TV sucks you in and you can't pull yourself away, even though you know there are a million better things you could be doing. After the show is over, you wonder to yourself, "Why did I watch that?". You feel empty and unfulfilled and a tad guilty, but you enjoyed the show, your brain got to take a little break and after all, what harm did it really do? Pop the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra into your CD player and the aforementioned becomes a realistic parallel. Don't expect Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller or Duke Ellington here. There is no brilliant song writing, nor are there any virtuosic performances. What you get are a handful of mostly original swing style tunes that are happy-go-lucky and make you feel good for the moment. At an average of 3 minutes per song and a total playing time of about 30 minutes (is it a coincidence that it is the same length as a sitcom? or is this their niche market?), the moment is brief. If you want to pop something into your transport to give your mind a respite from life or you are having a party and want to liven things up, and you are not too concerned about sound quality, then this disc is for you. If, however, you like more meat than potatoes in your TV dinner than you might want to order up something different. ...Bruce Bassett Copyright © 1997 SoundStage! |
![[REJOICE]](../lpcovers/rejoice.jpg)
This is classic
Christmas music played classically and wonderfully by a
string quartet. Arturo Delmoni and Alexander Romanul on
violins, with Katherine Murdock on viola and Nathaniel
Rosen on cello. These four musicians perform with musical
taste and highly polished styling. If you've been looking
for that well recorded Christmas CD for the upcoming
season then look no further my friends. All the classics
are here! From "Joy to the World" and
"Deck the Halls" to "We Wish You a Merry
Christmas". This album was carefully recorded for ![[PRODIGY]](../lpcovers/fatland.jpg)
If
you haven't heard of Prodigy by now then you've lived a
sheltered life. This band has been on the cover of major
music magazines and just recently won MTV's Viewers
Choice Award. This is
their third album and there's a lot to rave about.
Featuring number one
singles like "Firestarter" and
"Breathe", it also includes the bands long
awaited collaboration with Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker).
Prodigy is fronted by the ever colorful, totally
rage-ariffic Liam Howlett. Ya see, Liam was one of the
arranger/producers of Art of Noises' album titled Best
of the Art of Noise in 1988 and was classically
trained on the piano while growing up in Braintree,
Essex. He cut some wax of his own and later hooked up
with Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill which is now known
as Prodigy. ![[SEXORAMA]](../lpcovers/sexorama.jpg)
Remember that
first adult film you saw? Coulda been Debbie Does
Dallas starring Bambi Woods or Behind The Green
Door with Marilyn Chambers. Surely the music lover
in you said to yourself "WOW! Who writes this groovy
music?" (Said like a TV announcer) Well look no
further because