Month: April 2019

Atomic Rooster – The Best Of (2002) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

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Andrea Bocelli – Verdi: Arias (2003) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

Following the spiritually flavored Sacred Arias, Andrea Bocelli presents an album of the music of Giuseppe Verdi, covering arias from several operas, leaning heavily on Il Trovatore, La Triviata, and Rigoletto. Supported by the Israel Philharmonic under the direction of Zubin Mehta, Bocelli reprises his role as the crossover-friendly opera tenor, offering his interpretations with capability and grace and warmly embracing the songs with his familiar voice. Opera purists may find Verdi a little off-putting; for example, the album opener, “Di Quella Pira” from Il Trovatore (which serves as the rousing finale to the opera’s third act), sounds out of place as the opening track, and Mehta’s conducting is adequate but lacks passion. However, the album is not without its charms, and the ballads represented here (“La Donna e Mobile” and “Possente Amor” in particular) are wonderfully suited to his notoriously light tenor. Fans of Bocelli’s previous albums should be happy with Verdi, and will hopefully be awakened to the works of one of opera’s great composers. (more…)

3 Doors Down – Seventeen Days (2005) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

The stronger songwriting on 3 Doors Down’s multi-platinum sophomore effort, Away from the Sun, was encouraging, especially after the rote post-grunge of their 2000 breakthrough, “Kryptonite.” But the hit single “When I’m Gone” resonated in particular with American military personnel and their families, who identified with lyrics like “Hold me when I’m here” and “Love me when I’m gone” as deployment to Iraq became imminent in spring 2003. That populism guides Seventeen Days, the Mississippi band’s third full-length album. Its liner notes connect to a cross-section of U.S. culture, thanking NFL quarterbacks and major league ballplayers alongside Tim McGraw, Metallica, Dale Earnhart Jr., and “our troops everywhere.” And Away from the Sun’s Southern rock flourishes have been broadened to create an album that’s purely American, built from meaty power chords and everyman lyrics that search for redemption in plain-faced terms. It’s no surprise that Bob Seger, heartland crier from another era, guests on “Landing in London.” It’s not the weary traveler’s anthem Seger’s “Turn the Page” is — “London”‘s keening strings can’t replace the pain and longing of Alto Reed’s saxophone wail. But 3 Doors Down try their best, and Seger’s rough tenor riding shotgun makes the song more memorable. “When I’m Gone”‘s template repeats throughout “Seventeen Days.” Lead single “Let Me Go” has the usual quieter verses building to a strong chorus, with easily identifiable lyrics like “You love me/But you don’t know who I am.” “Be Somebody” and “Real Life” use similar pieces, aligning thick distortion choruses next to brooding verses and lyrics about finding one’s own road. The harder-charging guitars of “Never Will I Break” and “Right Where I Belong” reference Alice in Chains’ legacy, “Father’s Son” is a morality tale in more quiet/loud dynamics, and “My World” amplifies Southern rock capably. 3 Doors Down have hit on a formula that works very well for them. It’s a great framework for Brad Arnold’s earnest lyrics, and the heavy bass and rousing guitar melodies ensure plenty of radio play. It’s not unique, and the songs tend to run together. But they’re heartfelt, and easily fill the average American’s rock & roll quota. (more…)

America – Homecoming (2001) [DVD-Audio ISO]

Studio Masters By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

Homecoming, America’s finest album, refines and focuses the folk-pop approach found on their debut release. The songs here are tighter and more forthright, with fewer extended solo instrumental sections than before. The sound quality is clear and bright; the colorful arrangements, while still acoustic guitar-based, feature more electric guitar and keyboards. The performance quality is more assured, among the most urgently committed the group would ever put on vinyl. Verses are still sometimes banal and clunky (“You can’t disregard your friends/But life gets so hard when you reach the end”) or cryptic (“Sorry, boy, but I’ve been hit by purple rain”), but a number of the song subjects here exhibit a yearning sense of wanderlust and love of the outdoors that proves to be highly evocative and compelling (particularly on “Moon Song,” “Ventura Highway,” “California Revisited,” and “Cornwall Blank”). Chordal progressions are sophisticated and contain many subtle surprises. A few new style wrinkles can be seen in the country-influenced “Don’t Cross the River,” the drivingly gutsy “California Revisited” (perhaps the hardest-rocking song the group would ever produce), and the hushed yet mildly funky “Head & Heart.” Chart hits from this release include “Ventura Highway,” “Only in Your Heart,” and “Don’t Cross the River,” but each song here has something to recommend it. This top-flight album is a very rewarding listen. (more…)

Al DI Meola – Flesh on Flesh (2002) [DVD-AUDIO ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

Al di Meola continues to broaden his musical horizons with Flesh on Flesh, his fourth release for the Telarc recording label. The great guitarist is joined by two members of his World Sinfonia acoustic group — Gumbi Ortiz on percussion and Mario Parmisano on keyboards — in addition to such stellar musicians as Gonzalo Rubalcaba, flutist Alejandro Santos, and bassist Anthony Jackson, who recorded with di Meola on his 1977 best-selling album, Elegant Gypsy. Offering classic guitar lines on an array of guitars (including a vintage Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster, and Conde-Romano acoustic), di Meola is memorable, timeless, and true to the beauty, culture and sensual imagery that inspired him to compose and arrange these eight great songs. Each song is a masterpiece, and such compositions as “Flesh on Flesh” (which features him on five different instruments), “Zona Desperata,” and “Fugata” (which showcases di Meola trading with Gonzalo Rubalcaba on their Fender Rhodes solo in part three) are just three of the musical statements befitting all who’ve been lucky enough to see or hear di Meola’s phenomenal sound “live.” To hear that same energy and excitement recorded “live” on Flesh on Flesh is especially gratifying since the music is developed and takes place in a new context, space, and time. You’ll find that every graceful musical curve, every dynamic concept, every technological update heard on Flesh on Flesh is a celebration of new forms and functions, of strict rhythmic reinterpretation and the inimitable di Meola sound and guitar virtuosity. A must-have.

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After forever – Remagine (2005) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

After satisfying most of their wildest progressive metal aspirations with 2004’s intricately conceptual Invisible Circles, Holland’s After Forever took the virtually opposite route with their 2005 follow-up, Remagine, which, true to its title (and as indicated by the distraction-free front cover band photo, highlighting striking singer Floor Jansen), produced some of the most commercial and straightforward songwriting of the band’s career. Of course, the group still couldn’t resist kicking things off with a one of those token, instrumental intro snippets, and packing ample metallic guitar chords, lush prog-symphonic passages, and massed choirs into several of the album’s minority, complex offerings, including “Free of Doubt,” “Only Everything,” and “Forever.” But regardless of these stylistic holdovers, the band’s arrangements throughout the album were generally far more focused and the lyrics themselves significantly less bookish than ever before, resulting in a few bona fide gothic rock singles candidates in “Come,” “Boundaries Are Open,” and “Being Everyone” (all of them featuring hook-laden choruses), and even a rather plain ballad called simply “Strong.” As the inevitable visual, vocal, and emotional focus of the group’s otherwise all-male contingent, singer Jansen is in fine form here, as usual, and her classically trained operatic chops are given additional showcases alongside her equally powerful rock voice, thus leading to inevitable comparisons to Finland’s Nightwish, whose example has always been an undeniable influence on After Forever, anyway. For his part, guitarist Sander Gommans also manages to interject his Cookie Monster vocals into a few token treats for the band’s die-hard contingent like “Living Shields” and “No Control”; although these fans may also have a few negative things to say about the part nu-metal, part pop-metal sore thumb “Face Your Demons.” What really matters, though, is that despite its incrementally song-oriented vision and decreased flirtation with progressive flourishes, Remagine is still perfectly recognizable as an After Forever album, and a very decent one at that. (more…)

Aaron Neville – Devotion (2000) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

Devotion is Aaron Neville’s latest full-length disc committed exclusively to spirituals. The singer’s voice remains in great shape on reverential covers of traditional spirituals “Banks of River Jordan,” “Jesus Loves Me,” “Mary Don’t You Weep,” combined with modern rock classics possessing a sacred nature; “I Shall Be Released,” “Morning Has Broken,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” fit in the context of the album beautifully. Making special appearances on Devotion are Avalon, Ivan Neville, and Rachel Lampa. (more…)

3 Doors Down – Away From The Sun (2005) [DVD-Audio ISO]

DVD-A By admin · April 30, 2019 · Comments off

In 2000, 3 Doors Down’s debut The Better Life and its omnipresent single “Kryptonite” authoritatively established the Escatawpa, Mississippi band as rock stars in the vein of fellow new arena rockers Creed. After extensive touring and over 6 million albums sold, it might have been difficult for the band to focus on their sophomore release. But vocalist Brad Arnold, guitarists Matt Roberts and Chris Henderson, bassist Todd Harrell, and new drummer Daniel Adair (who took over to free Arnold from behind the kit) retreated to a rented house in sleepy Escatawpa to jam on ideas and lyrics that had been formulated over long months on tour.

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Grady Tate – Movin’ Day (1974/2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · April 14, 2019 · Comments off

Best known as an innovative drummer who helped to define a particular hard bop, soul jazz and organ trio sound during the mid-1960s, Grady Tate was also an accomplished vocalist. His drum sound can be heard on the classic Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery albums recorded on the Verve label in the 1960s. As a sideman he has also played with Lionel Hampton, Grant Green, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tom Rapp, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stanley Turrentine, Charles Earland, Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, and Simon & Garfunkle. As a vocalist, Tate became popular as the voice behind many of the tunes in the Schoolhouse Rock series, including “I Got Six,” “Naughty Number Nine,” and “Fireworks.” Presented here is Tate’s classic 1974 album “Movin’ Day,” which showcases his prowess as a great vocalist, covering tunes from Van Morrison to Jimmy Cliff in his inimitable laid back style.

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Nat King Cole – Recent APO Collection (8x SACD, 1957-1963) PS3 ISO

SACD / DSD By admin · April 13, 2019 · Comments off

Nat King Cole – Recent APO Collection (8x SACD, 1957-1963)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 3.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Scans included | 14,4 GB
Analogue Productions Remasters 2010-2011

This recent Analogue Productions collection includes the albums: Just One Of Those Things (1957), Love Is The Thing (1957), After Midnight (1957), St. Louis Blues (1958), The Very Thought Of You (1958), Where Did Everyone Go (1963), plus The Nat King Cole Story (1961). (more…)

William Carter – Santiago de Murcia: La Guitar Espanola (2007) [2.0 & 5.1] {SACD ISO + FLAC}

SACD / DSD By admin · April 12, 2019 · Comments off

La Guitarra Española is the second solo album from William Carter. This recording explores the fascinating music of Spanish guitar legend Santiago de Murcia who successfully fused the popular and art music of the early 1700s. In contrast to his contribution to the rise of these scandalous and immoral dances the composer also produced many beautiful transcriptions and compositions. In La Guitarra Española William Carter successfully merges Murcia’s controversial materials with these charming works and consequently presents an exciting and unique recording. The guitarist creates an original sound delivered by the sensitive interpretations and innovative arrangements which include a guest appearance on the bass line by fellow Palladian Trio musician Susanne Heinrich. (more…)

Walter Bishop Jr. Trio – Speak Low Again (1993) [Japan 2018] {SACD ISO + FLAC}

SACD / DSD By admin · April 12, 2019 · Comments off

This is one of the last sessions by Walter Bishop, Jr. prior to his death in 1998. The veteran bop pianist is in great form on this trio date with bassist Paul Brown and drummer Al Harewood, which mixes standards, bop classics, and several originals. Bishop’s jaunty approach to ‘Yardbird Suite’ is a gem, while his lush treatment of ‘The Masquerade Is Over’ finds the rhythm section staying softly in the background. He revisits ‘Speak Low,’ a centerpiece of his first date as a leader some 32 years earlier, playfully detouring into Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Rain Check’ and leaving room for a few drum breaks by Harewood. His ‘Valley Land’ is an intense mid-tempo samba, while ‘Keiko’s Samba’ kicks into a higher gear. This Japanese SACD on the Venus label is worth seeking. (more…)