Friday, May 22, 2009

Taylor Swift - Fearless (2008)


Fearless is the second studio album by American country pop artist Taylor Swift, and was released on November 11, 2008 on Big Machine Records. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 592,304 copies in its first week, the best first-week sales for a female artist in 2008. Fearless became the first album to sell one million copies in 2009
Fearless has received generally positive reviews from music critics. According to the music review aggregator Metacritic, it has received an average score of 73, many fans though think its better than Swift's first album.
Newsday gave the album an "A" rating, calling it "Wise beyond her years". James Reed of the Boston Globe gave the album a strong positive review saying the "Young country star's 'Fearless' proves she's just that, and more". Allmusic quote the way Swift writes her music and how she matured into her new album: "Swift's gentle touch is as enduring as her songcraft, and this musical maturity may not quite jibe with her age but it does help make Fearless one of the best mainstream pop albums of 2008."

Rolling Stone magazine said that her "music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism - it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory - with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true." Fearless is listed as the 39th best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone.

Tracklist
1. "Fearless" (Taylor Swift, Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey) 4:01
2. "Fifteen" (Swift) 4:54
3. "Love Story" (Swift) 3:55
4. "Hey Stephen" (Swift) 4:14
5. "White Horse" (Swift, Rose) 3:54
6. "You Belong with Me" (Swift, Rose) 3:51
7. "Breathe” (featuring Colbie Caillat) (Swift, Colbie Caillat) 4:23
8. "Tell Me Why" (Swift, Rose) 3:20
9. "You're Not Sorry" (Swift)
10. "The Way I Loved You" (Swift, John Rich) 4:04
11. "Forever & Always" (Swift) 3:45
12. "The Best Day" (Swift) 4:05
13. "Change" (Swift) 4:40

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Paula Cole - This Fire (1996)


Paula Cole originally released This Fire on October 15, 1996 on the Warner Bros. Records label.If you’re a Paula Cole fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Cole, or even Rock to know is good. It’s just good music.
This Fire is a nicely varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are her own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

Personnel: Paula Cole (vocals, piano, Juno synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano, harmonium, beat box, toy xylophone, didjeridoo, clarinet); Peter Gabriel (vocals); Gerry Leonard (guitar); Greg Leisz (guitar, pedal & lap steel guitars); Wenyi Shih, Elizabeth Knowles (violin); Judith Insell (viola); Chase Morrison (cello); Seamus Egan (Uilleann pipes, whistle); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick); Jay Bellerose (drums, percussion); Kevin Killen.
Engineers: Roger Moutenot, Kevin Killen, Gerry Leonard.
Recorded at Bearsville Studio, Bearsville, New York; The Magic Shop, Paula's apartment and Shelter Island Studio, New York, New York.

Tracklist:
1. Tiger
2. Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?
3. Throwing Stones
4. Carmen
5. Mississippi
6. Nietzsche's Eyes
7. Road To Dead
8. Me
9. Feelin' Love
10. Hush, Hush, Hush
11. I Don't Want To Wait
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Uriah Heep - Sweet Freedom (1973)


Uriah Heep is an English rock band, formed in December 1969 when record producer Gerry Bron invited keyboardist Ken Hensley (previously a member of The Gods and Toe Fat) to join Spice, a band signed to his own Bronze Records label.
They were sometimes jokingly referred to as "The Beach Boys of heavy metal" for their melodic songs, and trademark multi-part harmony backing vocals, although their music draws on diverse influences including progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, and even country on occasion.
Sweet Freedom is the sixth studio album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was as a gatefold-sleeve, reproducing the lyrics within. There was also a central page with a photograph of each band member.
It was the first album of Uriah Heep's to be released by Warner Bros. Records in the USA.
Arguably the best-known song from Sweet Freedom is "Stealin' ". On the Billboard charts, Sweet Freedom was received #33 in the U.S., and #18 in the UK
Sweet Freedom was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 5, 1974.
- David Byron / vocals
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, guitars and vocals
- Mick Box / guitars
- Lee Kerslake / drums, percussion, vocals
- Gary Thain / bass guitar
Tracklist:
01 dreamer.mp3
02 stealin.mp3
03 one day.mp3
04 sweet freedom.mp3
05 if i had the time.mp3
06 seven stars.mp3
07 circus.mp3
08 pilgrim.mp3
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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pat Benatar - Love Is a Battlefield (1983)


"Love Is a Battlefield" is a song written by Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, after Pat Benatar asked Chapman to write her a hit song.[1] It was released as a single from Benatar's album Live from Earth, which was popular in 1983 and 1984. The single has been certified gold and is her highest charting single in the United States, as it topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for four weeks and made number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the Australian singles chart for five weeks in 1984. The song was finally released in the United Kingdom in March 1985 and reached #17.

The music video, which depicted Benatar as a teenage runaway, was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video and was viewable on the DVD for the movie 13 Going on 30. The single was unlike most of Benatar's previous work, as it featured an electronic dance element, but guitars and drums were still present. The song won Benatar a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
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Thursday, May 7, 2009

Nazareth - Homecoming Live (2002)


Recorded 20 years on from their last official live set "Snaz," Nazareth have since been through all manner of worldly experiences, both good and bad. Changes in band lineup, record companies, and musical trends have all come and gone during that time, but Nazareth have held their ground.
Back on their home turf, in front of an international army of fans, Nazareth tear through a sensational "Homecoming" set of hits and live favorites. Recorded in the intimate setting of Glasgow's "Garage," it is the perfect setting for an up close and personal look at one of rock & roll's all-time legends. Nazareth show their mettle on DVD with surround sound. The technology has changed but Nazareth still supply the power.
Scottish hard rock band Nazareth returns to the stage in this performance video. Recorded live in their hometown of Glasgow at the Garage, the band resurrects their popular hits and fan favorites. Tracks include "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman," "Hair of the Dog," "When the Lights Come Down," and "Love Hurts.

Tracklist:
1.When the Lights Come Down
2.Razamanaz
3.Miss Misery
4.Holiday
5.Dream On
6.Simple Solution
7.My White Bicycle
8.Walk by Yourself
9.Bad Bad Boy
10.Heart's Grown Cold
11.Broken Down Angel
12.Whiskey Drinkin' Woman
13.Hair of the Dog
14.This Flight Tonight
15.Beggar's Day
16.Love Hurts
Download Here

Saturday, May 2, 2009

The Eagles - Desperado ( 1973 )



The Eagles, Bernie Leadon (vocals, guitar, banjo, mandolin); Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, piano); Randy Meisner (vocals, bass instrument); Don Henley (vocals, drums).
Recording information: Island Studios, London, England.
The Eagles' excellent debut indicated that they were quickly on their way to becoming one of America's leading country-rock acts. DESPERADO, their second release, ostensibly a concept album about an outlaw figure of the Old West, furthered their claim. Recorded in London under the aegis of Glyn Johns, the set was marked by the quartet's highly measured playing, distinctive, high-flown harmonies, and accessible folk and country-flavored pop-rock. Desperado may not be as cohesive as its predecessor, but the different styles it encompasses mirror the Eagles' many strengths.
"Twenty-one" is Flying Burrito Brothers-style country-rock, "Out of Control" is amped-up blues-rock, whereas the title track is a plaintive, melancholic piano ballad (abetted by a string section). Don Henley plays a bigger part on DESPERADO, lending vocals and co-writing much of the material, including the opener "Doolin Dalton" and the lazy, beautiful "Tequila Sunrise," the record's single. The Eagles' sophomore album showed them developing their signature style, and achieving the radio-friendly sheen they would refine over the next two albums, then perfect on 1976's HOTEL CALIFORNIA.
"Desperado" is a song by the rock band Eagles, written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley. It first appeared on the 1973 album Desperado, and has later appeared on numerous compilation albums.
Don Henley stated in the notes written in the booklet to Eagles' 2003 "The Very Best Of" compilation, that Desperado was a piece of a song that he had written in 1968. He said,
It was called something else, but it was the same melody, same chords. I think it had something to do with Astrology.
Accompanied by Glenn Frey on piano, the lead vocalist, Don Henley, begs the subject of the song, a "desperado", to return home, implies that this deperado is using pleasure to avoid dealing with his pain, and tells him that these pleasures will hurt him eventually.
Some Classic rock stations will play this song immediately following "Doolin Dalton" and then afterwards, segue into the "Doolin Dalton/Desperado" reprise.
While this is one of the Eagles' signature songs, it was never released as a single. "Desperado" was voted #494 in the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Tracklist:
01. Doolin-Dalton
02. Twenty-One
03. Out Of Control
04. Tequila Sunrise
05. Desperado
06. Certain Kind Of Fool
07. Outlaw Man
08. Saturday Night
09. itter Creek
10. Doolin-Dalton / Desperado - reprise
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Monday, April 27, 2009

Spandau Ballet - The best of (1997)


Spandau Ballet are a popular British band famous in the 1980s. Initially inspired by the New Romantic fashion, they quickly steered in to a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop, then eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. They continued to be tagged New Romantics, though, well into the mid '80s, long after that genre had waned, and their own style had long since changed. The band was called 'The Makers' in the early years, but profess to have changed their name after a friend’s (BBC London 94.9 DJ Robert Elms) visit to Spandau, a borough of Berlin, the most likely inspiration being from graffiti he saw in the lavatory of a club in The Venue, London (Victoria) in 1978/9, where members of the originally named band worked. These members were (Michael J) Mick Austin (now artist), David Wardill (later David Agar of The Passions), Mark Robinson (now 3D artist/musician), and Gordon Bowman (Drums) (now training in social care)[citation needed]. They had played under the name Spandau Ballet since 1978 and had played in London once under this name at the Hope & Anchor, Islington, London on 6 May 1979 supporting The Softies. The new Spandau Ballet, with Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley, began performing with this name and generating a positive buzz around London.
The Best of Spandau Ballet is a greatest hits album, from Spandau Ballet, released on 4 September 1997 and contains 17 of their biggest hits.

* Tony Hadley - lead vocals, synthesizer (1979–1989, 2009)
* Gary Kemp - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1979–1989, 2009)
* Martin Kemp - bass (1979–1989, 2009)
* Steve Norman - saxophone, guitar, percussion (1979–1989, 2009)
* John Keeble - drums, backing vocals (1979–1989, 2009)

Tracklist:
01. Only When You Leave 4:47
02. Gold 4:51
03. True 5:32
04. Highly Re-Strung 4:11
05. Communication 3:27
06. Lifeline 3:21
07. Paint Me Down 3:42
08. Pleasure 3:31
09. I'll Fly For You 5:12
10. Round And Round 4:33
11. Revenge For Love 4:16
12. She Loved Like Diamond 2:55
13. The Freeze 3:32
14. To Cut A Long Story Short 3:21
15. Instinction (12'' Version) 3:34
16. Musclebound (12'' Version) 4:48
17. Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) (12'' Version)
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