Arena Review

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(More customer reviews)WHAT IS IT? The 20th anniversary reissue of Duran Duran's live CD, digitally remastered and with two bonus tracks: the live versions of "Girls on Film" and "Rio."

THE PROS: Thanks to the remastering, the sound quality is a huge improvement over the original 1984 recording. The bonus tracks, especially the dynamic live version of "Girls on Film," are so good that they're almost worth the price of this CD. It makes you wonder why they weren't included in the first place. And, of course, we have the Nile Rodgers-produced "Wild Boys," a killer studio track that went to Number Two in the fall of 1984.

THE CONS: With a few exceptions, the audience is eliminated from the recording. As a result, you don't really feel a connection between the band and their fans. Also, the live versions are, for the most part, note-for-note replicas of the originals, although the kickass "Careless Memories" is a true standout.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Worth a purchase only for Duran Duran fans, even if they already have the original release. While its flaws remain, the remastering is top-notch, and the two extra tracks are worth checking out.

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Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2008.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Nobody's Daughter Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow. Who expected this? We all know the back story of Courtney Love. Her personal life has long overshadowed any musical effort that she has put out. And in her own words, she has spent more time being a "celebrity" than an actual musician in the past 10 years. After years of tabloid scandals, celebrity feuds and gossip, even the most hardcore fan could be forgiven for thinking this was going to be an absolute disaster. But it's not. In fact, this is a great record...actually, scratch that. The fact that this was made at all makes this a phenomenal record.
If you are looking for the heaviness of Pretty on the Inside or the roaring grunge Queen of Live Through This, then look elsewhere. Compared to Holes discography, Nobody's Daughter is probably closest to Celebrity Skin, but even that is an unfair comparison. This album is more in the vein of latter-day Marianne Faithfull and Stevie Nicks than any of the above. Some critics would have you believe this is a disappointment. Most seem to want some sort of repeat performance of Live Through This, which is ridiculous. Grunge is dead and Courtney is now a 45 year old woman. Do they still want her to be singing about Pee-Girls and Garbadge Men at 45? As someone who favours songwriting and lyrics above all else, Nobody's Daughter is such a classy, lyrically strong and wonderful record that shows a remarkable amount of growth.
Nobody's Daughter started out life as a solo record, and a folk-rock record to it's core. The re-recorded product (Recorded with and co-produced by new Hole guitarist Micko Larkin) still retains some of the earthy folk of the ditched solo record, but adds some much needed meat to it's bones. Some of the highlights include The title track, which could one day be regarded as her masterpiece. Containing a brilliant riff and equally brilliant lyrics, it's epic. It's sweeping. It's her "Gold Dust Woman" it's her "The Wall" all combined into one. It is truly that good. "Honey" is a gorgeous, heartbreaking scream-along ballad that is quite obviously written about her late husband. It's a very touching song, sung with a passion that has been missing from Courtney's music since Live Through This. "Pacific Coast Highway" is the twin sister of "Malibu"; it's a fantastic track which sounds like it should have been given to Stevie Nicks. "Someone Else's Bed" is one of the true highlights of the album. A song about one night stands, it's like R.E.M's "Country Feedback" meets "Doll Parts". The real highlight for me on this record though has to be "For Once in Your Life". The track is a stunning English pop/Celtic waltz, complete with marching drums and cellos and a beautiful backup vocal from Martha Wainwright and Jenni Muldaur. It is just a phenomenal tune, which very much recalls early Marianne Faithfull. The album ends on a big high note with "Never Go Hungry" which is just Courtney alone with her acoustic guitar. This is a 60s Dylan style folk tune, about survival through the darkest of times.
Some people don't want to see an artist grow. As an album, Nobody's Daughter is possibly lyrically the strongest Courtney has ever been, and as a long time Courtney Love/Hole fan I couldn't happier with it. This isn't Zeitgeist and it isn't Chinese Demoracy. However you feel about Courtney using the band name Hole for this record, Nobodys' Daughter is for the most part an intelligent, mournful, elegant, sometimes angry, but gratifying album that attempts to face some of her past mistakes head-on. In a perfect world this album would be given the accolades it deserves. Unfortunately we will have to wait for the world to catch up with her before it sees the critical praise it is due. Highly recommended.

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NOBODY'S DAUGHTER is the first album by Hole in more than a decade (since 1998's three-time Grammy-nominated Celebrity Skin).It also marks Courtney's first record since her solo album America's Sweetheart of 2004 (with "Mono" and "Hold On To Me," both songs co-written with Linda Perry, who co-wrote the bulk of that album's songs with Courtney).

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The Lost Magical Mystery Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)THE BEATLES MAGICAL MYSTERY MONO TOUR EP'S,SINGLES AND SESSIONS - THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF RARITIES AND OUTTAKES , INCLUDING AN 8 PAGE BOOKLET WITH THE COMPLETE DETAILS. UK IMPORT TRACKLIST
DISC ONE
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR era sessions
01. Magical mystery tour-take 9, RM5 or RM7
02. The fool on the Hill-take 1, RM'95
03. The fool on the Hill-take 4, RS'95
04. Flying-take 8, RM4
05. Flying-take 8, RM6 unedited
06. I am the walrus-take 7, monitor mix
07. I am the walrus-take 8, monitor mix
08. I am the walrus-taken 9, monitor mix
09. I am the walrus-take 17, RM4
10. I am the walrus-take 7, RS'95
11. Blue jay way-take 3, RM1
12. Your mother should know-take 9, rough mono mix
13. Your mother should know-take 27, RS'95
14. Hello goodbye-take 1, RS'82
15. Hello goodbye-take 16, RS'92
16. Hello goodbye-take 22, RS '82
The "Fool on the Hill" rehearsal tape
17. Part one
18. Part two
19. Part three
20. Part four
21. Part five
DISC TWO
THE MONO MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR EP AND SINGLES
01. Magical mystery tour-take 9, RM10
02. The fool on the Hill-take 6, RM12
03. Flying-take 8, RM6 edited
04. I am the walrus-take 17, RM 23, UK version
05. Blue jay way-take 3, RM27
06. Your mother should know-take 52, RM25
07. Hello goodbye-take 22, RM6
08. I am the walrus-take 17, RM23, US version
The 1988 stereo video soundtrack
09. Magical mystery tour
10. The fool on the Hill
11. Flying
12. The magicians
13. I am the walrus/Five little Dickie birds singing on your head
14. Jessie's dream/Song of the Volga boatmen
15. Blue jay way
16. I wonder what the magicians are cooking up now?
17. I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts/Toot, toot, tootsie/
Happy wanderer/When Irish eyes are smiling/When the red,
red Robin comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' along/Never on Sunday/
Orpheus in the underworld
18. Your mother should know
19. Magical mystery tour/Hello goodbye
The BBC radio interviews
20. George on"Scene and heard"
21. John on "Where it's at"
A TIDY COLLECTION OF THE ORIGINAL MONO MIXES , THE FILM REMIXES AND INSIGHTS INTO BEATLES CREATIVE PROCESS VIA THE DEMOS.THE TOP NOTCH OUTAKES INCLUDED IN THIS SET BRINGS THEM FROM THE SOUL/REVOLVER PERIOD INTO THEIR NEXT PHASE/METAMORPHISIS,LITERALLY ON THE CUSP OF PEPPER. CERTAIN OF THESE TRACKS WERE ACTUALLY TO BE PLACED ON THE SGT PEPPER ALBUM , HOWEVER PER THE BEATLES USUAL STANCE THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO FEEL RIPPED OFF BY HAVING TO BUY AN ALBUM OF MATERIAL ,THAT HAD BEEN ALREADY RELEASED AS SINGLES. I HAVE USED THIS PHRASE A LOT ABOUT THESE GUYS AND AT THE RISK OF REPETITION - THINK ROCK 101 - THROUGH GRADUATE!

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Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Live at the Quick Review

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(More customer reviews)I would deduct a star for the lackluster quality of the video production and editing, but this disc doesn't deserve less than 5 stars.
This band has gone so far beyond its component parts, its roots and influences, that they are shining a big bright spotlight into the future. It's a future where any genre, any sound, any ethnicity, any technology become simply part of an overarching musical language that the Flecktones have mastered and speak fluently.
This snapshot of the band is a complete and satisfying experience, musically transcendant and sonically gorgeous (excellent 5.1 surround), even though is barely scratches the surface of what these musicians have done and continue to do. Nobody who appreciates this band should be without this DVD.
It's too bad there weren't enough cameras. It's too bad the director never figured out how to point a camera at Future Man. It's too bad there are so many instances where the video crew couldn't seem to figure out who was soloing. It's too bad the disc has no option to skip the documentary segments between the songs. But these things simply make the video quality average for this sort of production. Fortunately, Bela was the music producer for the project, so it sounds perfect, and all of the performances are complete.
I have a hard time imagining any music lover who wouldn't be stunned and amazed by this DVD.
RichC

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No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: DVDArtist: FLECK,BELA & THE FLECKTONESTitle: LIVE AT THE QUICKStreet Release Date: 02/26/2002

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