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Artist:
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is the all-new singing and sort-of-dancing-but-probably-too-cool-for-all-that, rebellious, girl-kissing, Avril Lavigne v2.0 bad-girl of high-production American pop. She's not exactly out to be ignored. In fact she's out to become both an idol for disenfranchised Britney fans and a poster-girl for emo-boys, not to mention tabloid-fodder and gossip-page regular. She is also, it should be noted, the daughter of two pastors and made her recorded debut with a Christian pop album aged 17 (she's now 23). And while a leopard changing its spots, or at least its wardrobe, might all be part of growing from a teenager to a feisty young woman, it is easy to be cynical about this package, headed up by the ready-to-download controversy of her "I Kissed a Girl" single. That tune at least has the bold beats and choreographed raw heat to match its sassy premise; it is a little disappointing that for someone resting on rebellion as her central cause that the music on One of the Boys is so conformist. "Mannequin" is Kelly Clarkson American-Idol style modern power-rock, the lyrically questionable "Ur So Gay" takes Lily Allen and adds a dash of Christina, "Hot 'n' Cold" is a Pink-esque floor-filler, "Thinking of You" a Britney ballad of some scale and the title track like an Avril Lavigne reworking of a brazen Cyndi Lauper classic. But while she brings little originality to the table, there are certainly no half measures covering the bases on this efficient debut. --James Berry
 Very Entertaining Song Lyrics, 2008-10-22
I have a rule for buying CDS: I have to like at least four of the songs to make it worth my while...I took a chance and bought this after hearing only two of the songs played on the radio, but it turns out that I like almost every song.
There are a couple where she sings with a very high yet soft voice that I thought was kind of boring, but I enjoyed her vocals the rest of the time. Her style reminds me of the Go-Gos Beauty and the Beat, Kim Wilde, and Thompson Twins. (Yeah, I am an an 80s fan).
The lyrics are hysterical; she's very good at telling stories, and even though you might be tempted to think she is exagerating, I could relate to a lot of the scenarios she describes.
I love ALL KINDS of music - I have very eclectic tastes, but I have to say it was refreshing to hear a female vocalist who didn't create another hip-hop album or a whiny alternative album (you know, the ones where every single song is directed to some guy).
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £5.99
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Artist:
Bette Midler
A classic Bette selection, 2008-09-23
Another classic album from the Divine Miss M. Bette Midler has always been one to mix up her repotoir a bit, and record different styles such as ballads, rock and roll, boogie woogie and even Disney. It's this collection that heaves all these styles together on one volume. Like her other Greatest Hits albums, released in 1993, and again later on in 1996, The Best Bette has the Bette Midler standards the world knows and loves her for (Wind Beneath My Wings, The Rose and From a Distance). The album also contains other Bette standards from her earlier career (From The Divine Miss M : Hello in There, Do You Wanna Dance?, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Friends)which she still performs today. There is also a rare, never released track witten by the great lady herself , "Something Your Heart Has Been Telling Me". My only problem is that I think more songs could have been included, such as "To Deserve You" from Bette of Roses and "Favourite Waste of Time" from No Frills, which both appeared on the 1996 release of Experience The Divine. But all in all, a great collection of one of the greatest artists on earth, and a BEST BETTE for any fan of Bette, or just great music in general!! :D
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £7.89
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Artist:
Katherine Jenkins
Sacred Arias is Katherine Jenkins' last album in her deal for Universal before she moves to Warner for another six-album deal, and she has decided to go out with a bang--albeit a quiet one. While her previous outing, Rejoice, saw the Welsh mezzo-soprano striking out more than ever towards the world of pop, Sacred Arias, as the title suggests, sees her return to her religious-classical roots with comfortably familiar tunes like "Abide with Me", "Ave Maria", "Pie Jesu" and even "Silent Night". The mood on Sacred Arias is as refined and peaceful as you'd expect given the title, and though there's an abundance of well known material here, Jenkins also offers us the more obscure charms of "Missa Criolla", a dreamy version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and a soulful take on "Down in the River to Pray". Other classical pieces include "Panis Angelicus" and Barber's haunting vocal piece "Agnus Dei", which help make this a triumphant final flourish for both her and Universal. --Danny McKenna
SIMPLEMENTE GRANDIOSA Y ENCANTADORA, 2008-10-31
Katherine Jenkins es una de mis artistas preferidas en lo clasico, y con este album "La Diva" demuestra una vez mas su bellisima versatilidad con una serie de temas que son de corte religioso y muy inclinadas a la reflexion y la meditacion; su voz siempre impecable, dulce y deliciosa; muy hermosa la version de "HALLELUJAH" (me recuerda la de Shrek, tambien muy digna); melodias muy inspiradoras como PIE JESU (linda invitacion a la meditacion), ABIDE WITH ME (muy bella) y DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY (recuerda mucho al "Gospel" de los 50's); me fascino el toque tan delicioso y contagioso de IN PARADISUM, la solemnidad mistica tan profunda de MISA CRIOLLA e incluso SILENT NIGHT, cuya magia me hace evocar la epoca navideña...Para mi, digan lo que digan, Katherine Jenkins sigue siendo mi cantante clasica favorita, y este album muy digno de una gran trayectoria artistica en el mundo clasico.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.49
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Artist:
AC/DC
Such are the near-generational gaps between latter-day AC/DC albums that it's always tempting to hail the arrival of a new one as a return to form. Black Ice arrives a whopping eight years after the band's last offering, Stiff Upper Lip, but one chorus into "Rock N Roll Train", the wise man would conclude that any evolution here is as slow and incremental as, well, evolution. A punchy, straightforward opener that finds Angus Young in good riff and Brian Johnson preaching a familiar gospel of schoolgirls and schoolboys, fantasy and ecstasy, it's familiar in the best possible way. A little deeper into Black Ice, however, and there's evidence of a slightly altered approach. Producer Brendan O'Brien softens and fleshes out the stripped-down, electric blues sound AC/DC rediscovered on 1995's Ballbreaker, and in places the band follow suit--take "Anything Goes", a poppy stomp that recalls O'Brien's other recent charge, Bruce Springsteen. Elsewhere, "Stormy May Day" and "Money Made" find Young taking up the slide for a few Zeppelin-flavoured licks. A few new paths, then, but all in all, the destination is pretty much the same: another solid late-period AC/DC album that, while unlikely to dislodge Back in Black from the fan's pedestal, finds its makers rocking into ripe old age. --Louis Pattison
Album review, 2008-11-28
Some may think the aged aussie hard rockers would now probably be concentrating on other things in life, like bus passes? Long sensible walks in the country? Collecting food vouchers maybe? NO WAY!
The best band to ever emerge from Aus are back touring round the world spreading the word of the rock gospel to many.
OK, it was always going to be difficult to top their back catalogue standards of such immensely tremendous and popular albums. I think its safe to say that 'Back in Black' seems to be the most highly regarded and iconic album by AC/DC, but 'Black Ice' has still got its mark to leave and its Pretty Damn Good! It's exactly what you'd expect from AC/DC.
After giving 'Black Ice' a whirl on the hi-fi I can now tell you expect nothing less than a classic rock CD full of upbeat songs about the typical AC/DC subject matter. ROCK N ROLL!
The no nonsense fifteen track album is in your typical AC/DC style, simple yet awesome Angus riffs accompanied by Brian Johnson's screaming vocals under a flat cap.
All fifteen songs are top-class typical AC/DC songs. Track one 'Rock n Roll Train' is a complete belter of a song to start off the new album, just leaving you wanting more.
Shrewd shredding and heavy backing vocals throughout then leads to track five, 'War machine' a slightly new slant for AC/DC with a heavier feel.
Enough of being critical, if you're an AC/DC rock fan reading this review with the purpose of deciding weather or not to buy the album, you don't need all the technical stuff of past album sales, the quality of songwriting in previous albums, the history of the band and various name dropping...
All you want to know is whether the album is worth a bloody good head banging session when you're alone in the house to let loose. Well, the album is in fact brilliant; it's a fist pumping, extremely energetic exciting compilation of fifteen AC/DC songs you haven't heard before.
Though the band may now fit into the coffin dodger category concerning their ever increasing age along with the Stones, Sabbath etc, here's one of the classic acts from the past that are still proving, The oldens are the best!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £5.98
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Artist:
Il Divo
Excellent CD a must have for any ID fan, 2008-11-19
This is the best CD that Il Divo has ever done. Some of the tracks such as "Power of Love, La Promessa, L'alba Del Mondo are just excellent. Their cover of the song Hallelujah there is no words to describe it, simply excellent comes to mind. The song choice on the album is very diverse. It is a must have CD for any fan.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.27
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Artist:
Duffy
Rockferry, the Welsh singer's lovingly constructed debut album, has already succeeded beyond expectations, and although Duffy may not quite be the ingénue portrayed by a clever press campaign (she nearly won a local television talent show a few years back while a single credited to Aimee Duffy is still available on iTunes) she is surely the most appealing of the current flood of young soul sirens. The astonishing title track, co-written by Bernard Butler, sounded like a lost transmission that had taken decades to get through as soon as it hit radio last year. But the gently rolling soul ballad "Stepping Stone", that strapping, inescapable monster hit "Mercy", the ice cool "Serious" (the one time she really does channel the spirit of Dusty Springfield) and the wistful, elegant "Warwick Avenue" are similarly effective. Suggestions by some that Rockferry is little more than sixties pastiche are churlish. Butler's previous work with David McAlmont (featured here as a backing singer) showed his skill at writing and arranging the dramatic, while her other collaborators such as Steve Booker and the team of Jimmy Hogarth and Eg White are hardly lightweights. But despite some wonderful orchestral settings, it's Duffy's terrific voice that makes this so satisfying, even overpowering Butler's exquisitely underplayed guitar work on "Rockferry" itself. Growling the blues on "Syrup & Honey" or belting it out over his lovingly arranged wall of sound on "Distant Dreamer", she sets the tone throughout, several of her songs dealing with escape, both physical and romantic. The sound of someone singing herself to stardom, Rockferry is at times genuinely amazing. Steve Jelbert
Simply stunning, 2008-11-01
I bought this album as a chance puchase based upon a magazine article that I had read about her. I was unaware of the hype and as they don't play very many of her songs on Classic FM and Radio 4, was also unaware of her music!! The melodies are soulful and her voice mature beyond her years. I just love this album: sad but uplifting - how's that for an oxymoron. Yes it took me back to my childhood in the 60s. I would love for her to cover "Ferry 'cross the Mersey". Comparisons to other artists such as Dusty Springfield are understandable but unfair. To me she sounds like ... well Duffy
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.29
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Artist:
Script
FANTASTIC!, 2008-10-30
I got this album 2 days ago and have not stopped playing it. There is not 1 track on there that I don't like. Danny's voice is amazing especially in the beautiful 'I'm Yours', I found that track so moving. I highly recommend that you buy this album. I don't think you'll be disappointed as I absolutely love it!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.98
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Artist:
Will Young
Still driving people mad around seven years--yes, seven!--after his landmark Pop Idol win (it's almost enough to make you dewy-eyed for the early days of the Simon Cowell TV talent franchise), mainly by refusing to be typecast as a one, or two, or three (etc.) hit wonder and continuing to be so alarmingly consistent, Will Young returns with Let It Go, his fourth--yes, fourth!--album. Of course he's never quite so bold as to actually be alarming; it's easy listening, wholesome, modern soul-lite pop all the way from the former politics graduate, kind of like George Michael without the underlying tension, clawing requirement to prove himself or mind-boggling tabloid scandals. Any of that would just serve to muddy Will's waters unnecessarily, there's purity here like a ripple on the surface of a crystal lake that rebounds languidly to and fro across these 13 tracks, one that is reflected in and a necessary backdrop for his suave, mildly textured and famously powerful voice. There is the sense that he still might not be using it to its full potential as he sounds so comfortable throughout. --James Berry
Simply beautiful!, 2008-11-24
Beautiful, just beautiful. Can't wait to see Will perform these songs live next weekend.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.98
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Artist:
Various Artists
A must buy!!, 2008-11-24
Wow - is it really 25 years since the first Now album came out?!
This is a brilliant collection which covers the last 25 years of Now and there is sure to be something on here for every fanatic out there.
A great album!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £10.94
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Artist:
Only Men Aloud
Beautiful, 2008-11-28
The singing is a joy- full of Welsh hywl but technically excellent too. Absolutely love it. Special request Tim- please some more traditional Welsh hymns in the next album....please. Where can I buy the Christmas single being released in Dec from???
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.90
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