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tleveretts
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    9
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  • First review
    April 29, 2008
  • Last review
    October 14, 2009
  • Featured reviews
    1
  • Average rating
    4.9
 
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tleveretts's Reviews
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good, but not great
on October 14, 2009
Posted by: tleveretts
from VA
HCJ fans will probably not jump at the chance to recommend this newest offering of classic crooner songs. It is not that Harry doesn't sound as smooth and charming as ever, because he does. His voice is probbly the greatest asset on this CD. It is not that the songs aren't great, because they are all popular classic ballads that are instantly recognizable, or at least should be. It is just this CD is such a departure from Harry's usual jazz based fare. These arrangments tend to make the songs so palatable to everyone that they end up being a little bland. The arrangments tend to be a little heavy on the easy listening side, and a little light on the jazz and complexity that make Harry stand out so much. Songs like Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" lack some true soul that Harry could add with the right arrangment. This CD is not without merit. It is the perfect background music for cocktail parties, long bubble baths and anytime you really need to unwind. It just isn't the CD you would reach for if you just want to enjoy some great jazz.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Il Divo Keeps Promise On New Release
on December 1, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
from VA
Prior to receiving this CD, I was only minimally aware of Il Divo, the princes of popera. I had seen them on television several times, and knew that they had amazing voices and harmonies. When I first listened to this, I was blown away. These songs truly showcase Il Divo's incredible harmonies. The instrumentals are expertly arranged. The melodies are deceptively simple, yet compelling. Each song is full of pleasant surprises in harmonies, melodies and dynamics. If you listen, and emerge yourself in the music, you will not only be interested, you will also be lost in the music. With the exception of Amazing Grace, the songs are in Spanish. Regardless if you understand the words, the music emotes the sentiment of the song in a way that makes it easy to understand the message of the music. Songs such as "La Luna", Angelina and Amazing Grace really showcase the power, range and precision of Il Divo's voices.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
"Other Side of Me" is other side of talent
on October 27, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
Linda Eder’s new project, “The Other Side of Me” is indeed another side of Linda Eder. Those familiar with Linda’s previous work might be expecting the diva to come alive and belt ballads with never ending crescendos will be surprised. This is not the work of a singer trying to be a diva. This is certainly not the work of a singer trying to be a pop star. This is the work of a artist comfortable enough in her own talent to know that a whisper can be as attention drawing as a shout.
Appropriately titled, “The Other Side of Me” showcases songs that are rich in melodies and harmonies. Lyrically, the songs reflect grief from life changes as well as hope for the future. These are songs are relatable and comfortable while avoiding the trite, redundancies present in many adult contemporary lyrics. Songs such as “Pieces”, “Lifted and “They Are the Roses” skillfully combine piano, acoustic and electric guitar and Eder’s exquisite voice in a way that allow the listener to gladly come along on a musical story. The most remarkable thing that struck me on these songs is that they were actually produced to have dynamics. Many of Eder’s contemporaries produce song after song that is one long, ear piercing crescendo. Eder does not need long vocal riffs to show off her range, or long, musical climaxes to prove her vocal power. Rather, she allows the song to tell the story. She trusts the listener to know that the subtleties in the music and her voice are the true signs of talent. She knows that she can gently embrace the notes with a soft velvet voice and invoke emotions, rather than rely on long riffs and sheer volume. Her voice becomes an instrument that compliments the others to make a smooth, harmonious sound.
The first time listening to this CD, I have to admit, I did not instantly gravitate to one particular song. All seemed to flow into each other as the styles are similar. I immediately noticed that the natural, clear, beautiful intonation. I also was struck by the fact that this music was not overly processed. After listening to the CD several times, I noticed myself humming some of the songs throughout the day. Try listening to it a few times, I guarantee, you will be hooked also.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
"Devils and Angels" is pure heaven
on October 10, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
It is increasingly rare for a band to come along that defies labels. It is even rarer for a band to genuinely transcend all labels because they all apply. This is the case for Melee. Upon first listen, there is that lingering thought of "who do they remind me of?" This is a question easily answered, but that answer changes with each song on the CD. First, great 90's bands come to mind like Goo Goo Dolls, Maroon 5 and Ben Folds. After a few songs, they begin to remind you of all those bands and then some: some Coldplay, some Night Ranger and even some Reo Speedwagon. Even though you can hear nods towards all these bands, you quickly realize that Melee has a sound that unique to them. They skillfully combine post punk, indie rock and pop into an unique sound that will leave you wanting more.
Each song combines carefully worded lyrics with beautifully crafted melodies. Melee skillfully blends guitar riffs with piano melodies. Their music has all the subtle nuisances that make true indie rock such a listening pleasure. With each time you listen to a song, you hear something new. The songs, like the lyrics, have depth and layers that make them both intriguing and contagious. Each and every song on this CD is a song you will want to listen to over and over, sing out loud with and even do a little car dancing. I highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Idina Stands For Great Music
on August 26, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
On this her third solo album, Idina Menzel's "I Stand" is able to seamlessly combine her impeccable stage voice and presence into a pop CD. Best known for her roles in the Broadway musicals "Rent" and "Wicked", this Tony award winning actress is able to prove that she is able to sing pop tunes with the grace and class that she brings to show tunes.
The CD has exactly what you would expect from Idina: strong vocals that demonstrate her range both musically and stylistically. For the most part, the songs speak of empowerment and hope. "I Stand" is a classic pop ode to the things we find important and make us unique. "Gorgeous" has a catchy Latin vibe and show cases Idina's unbelievable voice. "Enemy" is a song about self sabotage that has a surprisingly edgy sound to both the vocals and the accompaniment.
This CD is great for anyone that appreciates true talent. It does not have all the electronically added vocals heard with most of the pop CDs on the charts today. It doesn't have lyrics that are explicit or seductive. It has melody. It has dynamics. It has true vocal talent with no need for dubbing or distractions. It has Idina.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Alanis, even better
on July 1, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
Alanis Morissette’s new album “Flavor of Entanglement” has the deeply personal songs and undeniable vocal talent that we have come to expect from Alanis, but this is not the same 20 something Alanis full of rage. This CD is very much about her personal break up with Ryan Reynolds. But this CD is so much more that your average “love gone wrong” songs. Alanis is older, more mature, and more introspective. She sees how the battles of the world are really not that different than the battles we have in our personal life. She is not only trying to find her place in relationships, she is trying to find her place in the world. At first listen, her lyrics are so deeply personal, it gives you that moment of “oh I shouldn’t be hearing this” but at the same time it resonates to the universal, familiar grief we all feel with the death of a relationship. Gone is the in you face rage and it is replaced with longing and grief.
Not only are Alanis’ lyrics reflecting her growith as a song writing, the music itself reflects Alanis growing as an artist. She skillfully mixes folk, world beats with techno dance beats. She so skillfully combines the two that you forget to be shocked that the two are combined. There are few artists that can challenge you to consider your own relationships and make you want to dance at the same time. In “Citizen of the Planet”, Alanis sings of seeing herself as more than just an individual. She sings of being unique but yet part of the bigger world. This theme is repeated throughout the CD. “Underneath” considers how our everyday conflicts are just microcosms of conflicts in the world today. “Not As We” is a raw testimony to the grief of losing a relationship and part of your identiy as part of a couple. Alanis sings, “Day one start over again. Step one step one. I’m barely making sense for now. I’m faking it ‘till I’m making it. From scratch begin again but this time I as I and not as we”. “Torch” is probably the most personal song about her break up. It is a sensitive laundry list of all the things that she will miss about Ryan. She holds nothing back as she sings, “I miss your neck and your gait and your sharing what you write”. Make no mistake, this albulm is not all morose. “In Praise Of the Vunerable Man” is Alanis’ ode to an emotionally available man. “Moratorium” is her oath to focus on herself for awhile and take a break from her quest to find a soul mate. All of the songs, regardless of topic reflect an artist that has experienced much growth and continues to growth through the good times and the bad.
Overall, this is a CD full of the new and of the familiar. Alanis’ unmistakable voice and painfully personal song lyrics are as familiar on this cd as on all of her albums. This album reflects a personal and artistic growth. She has more depth and more understanding of herself and the music reflects it. The music itself has many more dimensions . Like different parts of her personality, Alanis is able to skillfully mix and highlight sounds that seem like complete contradictions, but the end result is pure music to my ears.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
This soundtrack really shines
on June 10, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
Just like the ladies of SITC, the songs of the SITC Soundtrack all bring their own unique flavor to combine into one unbeatable ensemble. This soundtrack embodies what every good movie soundtrack should have: the old, the new and the old with a new twist. It should have diversity along with some cohesiveness. For this soundtrack, the diversity of genres makes it interesting. Some songs on this are good, and some are just brilliant. The soundtrack starts of with Fergie’s “Labels of Love”, a catchy pop dance tune that embodies all things SITC. The soundtrack then does not follow the expected route and continue with more pop hits. Rather, it takes a long and winding path through the story, hitting a plethora of genres on the way. There is a soulful, bluesy song “All Dressed Up” by Jennifer Hudson and an amazing duet with Al Green and Josh Stone, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”. For the truly nostalgic, there is a hauntingly beautiful cover of “Auld Lang Syne”. Then the journey takes new turns. The classic rock Aerosmith/Run DMC classic, “Walk This Way” is included as well as the classics, “How Deep is Your Love” and “Heart of the Matter”. These last two songs are my favorites on the soundtrack. These are both amazing remakes of the classics. The Birds and the Bees’ rendition of “How Deep is Your Love” is at once familiar and different. India.Arie places her own unique sound on “Heart of the Matter”. Again, the songs has not be changed to the point that the very essence of the song is gone, nor is it the same exact song we are used to which we hum along, just with a different voice. Both are beautiful, skilled remakes that actually offer something very new while still preserving the integrity of the song. Keeping pace with the twists and turns of the movie, the soundtrack journeys into the dance music arena with songs such as The Weepies, “All This Beauty” and Morningwood’s “New York Girls”. Even though many of songs have lyrics that reflect the movie, the true genius in this compilation is in how the songs all reflect the women of SITC: some are slow and sweet, some are fast and clever but in the end, they all enjoyable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Undeniable Talent
on May 20, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
In times of pop stars who become famous for being infamous while lip syncing to canned drone like synthetic music tracks, Missy Higgins is truly a beacon of light and hope for a new musical era. Although insanely popular in her native Australia, she is just beginning to grace America with her incredibly melodic voice and extraordinary song writing abilities. "On a Clear Night" is a sophomoric album that exceeds any sophomoric results. Her tracks are guitar based with strong, upbeat melodies. Her voice is that of a Siren, pure, sexy, soulful, pulling you in and leaving you mesmerized. Her songs reflect a young woman that is confident and comfortable in her own skin. "Where I Stand" is an addictive song that reflects the conflict of growing and moving on and wanting to stay in that old, comfortable place. "Steer" is a beautiful homage to being true to yourself. It draws you in from the first line and you are hooked. "On a Clear Night" is not an album that you simply buy for those two or three great songs. This is a CD that you will put on and listen in its entirety over and over again.
What's great about it: Great lyrics, beautiful melodies, great voice
What's not so great: None!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Allison Moorer is EVERY woman
on April 29, 2008
Posted by: tleveretts
Allison Moorer proves on "Mockingbird" that she is every woman. With a voice that has the unusual ability to mix powerhouse voice, with soulful stirrings and sweet melodies, she collaborates with other superstar females to cover a multitude of musical genres. Whether it be soul, folk, punk, country or rock, Allison Moorer sings it beautifully. Listening to this album, you understand that the female experience, just like women themselves, are multifaceted, deep and resounding. Amazingly, Allison Moorer has been able to represent all facets of being female in a way that is universal to all people: men and women, young and old, rockers and country fans. Her critically acclaimed talent is evident on each and every song on this album. She does an amazing cover of "Ring of Fire" by Merle Kilgore and June Carter Cash, to a lovely rendition of Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. Each and every song will leave you with wanting Moorer.
What's great about it: Pure, soulful voice, great arrangements
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
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