Classical Ambience V.2 [Import]

Track Listings
1. Serenade For Strings 1st Movement    
2. Nocturne Op.9 No.2    
3. Die Moldau (Excerpt)    
4. Piano Concerto 2nd Movement    
5. Cantabile    
6. Clair De Lune    
7. Andante Cantabile    
8. Berceuse (From The Firebird Suite)    
9. Haba Era From Carmen    
10. Paino Concerto No.21 2nd Movement    
11. Waltz From Swan Lake    
12. Prelude From Les Sylphides    
13. Morning From Peer Gynt Suite    
14. Largo From Xerxes    
15. Valse From Symphony No.5 (3rd Movement)    
16. New World Symphony (Excerpt)    

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
A Collection of Over 75 Minutes of Beautifully Calming Music, Performed by Some of the World's Favourite Orchestras. Kick off Your Shoes, Turn On, Tune in and Chill Out.

Classical Ambience V.2, Music, Various Artists, Classical, Classical Artists
Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Paul Potts [United Kingdom]: One Chance

    Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000SKO0OY
    Release Date: 2007-07-30

    Tracks:

    1. Nessun Dorma
    2. Con Te Partiro (Time To Say Goodbye)
    3. Nella Fantasia
    4. Caruso
    5. Jerusalem
    6. Music Of The Night
    7. Maria
    8. Cavatina
    9. Amapola
    10. Por Ti Sere (You Raise Me Up)
    11. A Mi Manera (My Way)
    12. Ognuno Soffre (Everybody Hurts)

    Product Description

    This Unassuming Man, a 36 Year Old Phone Salesman from South Wales and Amateur Opera Singer, Stepped Up to the Microphone on Simon Cowell's British Itv Show "Britain's Got Talent" and Literally Stole the Show. Many Anticipated Another William Hung, but Instead Got a Caruso! the Performance Brought the Entire Audience to their Feet, Even Winning High Praise from Cowell Himself. Potts Went on to Resoundingly Win the Competition! his is a Real Rags to Riches Tale, Having Been £30,000 in Debt and Suffering Years of Bullying and Recovering from a Serious Motorbike Accident. His Winning the Competition Got Him Signed to a Lucrative Recording Contract and He Gained Considerable Media Exposure all Over the World. This Debut Album Naturally features the Piece He Auditioned with (Puccini's "Nessun Dorma") as Well as his Heart Stopping Version of "Con Te Partiro/Time to Say Goodbye", the Song He Sang in the Finals, Originally Made Famous by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.
    Music for Compline
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Gorgeous
    • Great Premiere from Stile Antico!
    • Music for Compline
    		 Music for Compline

    Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi USA
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Byrd, WilliamByrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by SheppardAll Works by Sheppard | Sheppard, John | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by TallisAll Works by Tallis | Tallis, Thomas | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by WhiteAll Works by White | White, Robert | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B000LPRNSG
    Release Date: 2007-01-16

    Tracks:

    1. Libera nos. I & II (John Sheppard)
    2. Salva nos, Domine (plainchant)
    3. Christe, qui lux es et dies (William Byrd)
    4. In pace in idipsum (John Sheppard)
    5. In manus tuas (Thomas Tallis)
    6. Jesu, salvator saeculi, verbum (John Sheppard)
    7. In manus tuas I (John Sheppard)
    8. In manus tuas II (John Sheppard)
    9. Miserere mihi, Domine (plainchant)
    10. Miserere nostri, Domine (Thomas Tallis0
    11. Misere mihi, Domine (William Byrd)
    12. In pace in idipsum (Thomas Tallis)
    13. Christe, qui lux es et dies (Robert White)
    14. Veni, Domine (plainchant)
    15. Nunc dimittis Gradulia I (William Byrd)
    16. Te lucis ante terminum festal (Thomas Tallis)
    17. Gaude, virgo mater Christi (Hugh Aston)

    From the label:

    On its spectacular debut recording, the exciting young British vocal group stile antico presents a program of English Renaissance music associated with the office of Compline, the service that ends the monastic liturgical day. A who's-who of 16th-century British composers--including Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and John Sheppard--is represented here by hymns, antiphons, responsories, motets, and psalms: the occasion not only for music of intimacy, elegance, and reflection, but for flights of breathtaking canonic and contrapuntal invention and harmonic daring.

    Stile Antico is an ensemble of young British singers, fast gaining recognition as one of the most original and exciting new voices in its field. In 2005 the group won the inaugural Audience Prize at the Early Music Network International Young Artists' Competition, drawing critical praise for its `wonderfully vivid singing' and `perfectly focused and ideally balanced voices.' Since this success, Stile Antico has appeared throughout the UK, including at the City of London, Lake District Summer Music and Beverley and East Riding Festivals; engagements for 2007 include the York Early Music Festival. The group has also collaborated with Sting on tour in his project Songs from the Labyrinth, performing lute songs by John Dowland.

    Working without a conductor, the members of Stile Antico rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing artistically to the musical result. Their repertoire ranges from the glorious legacy of the English Tudor composers to the works of the Flemish and Spanish schools and the music of the early Baroque. They are passionate about the need to communicate with their audiences, combining thoughtful programming with direct, expressive performances. They are also committed to developing their educational work, for which they have received generous funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous.......2007-03-05

    The English Tudor choral composers such as Byrd and Tallis composed some glorious music. Sit and listen in a darkened room and you will be transported back to another time and place. Wonderfully atmospheric and moving. The masters of this repertoire are Peter Phillips's Tallis Scholars, but this CD makes me think that they have some serious competition.

    5 out of 5 stars Great Premiere from Stile Antico!.......2007-02-27

    I got an e-mail from amazon recently to the effect of, "We've noticed that you've rated so-and-so, so we thought you'd be interested in the new release Music for Compline." I usually ignore such e-mails, but I thought I'd check it out. I was intrigued by the audio samples and so downloaded the album on iTunes.

    I don't know how a group of young upstarts from Britain without a conductor were able to produce such a sound, but they did. "Music for Compline" focuses on music from composers in England during the transition from Catholicism to Protestantism- Byrd, Sheppard, Tallis, etc.- and as the title implies, it's music that would have been used during a compline service at the time. Compline, for those of you not familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours, is the last prayer service in the liturgical day. As such, the music is serene, contemplative, and prayerful.

    The way Stile Antico has gelled as a group is amazing, especially considering they have no conductor. (Although they surely have at least a de-facto rehearsal leader) Their sound is clear and beautiful, and they display exquisite musicianship without being overly technical or icy. They are able to share their fresh (though informed) perspectives on early music with each other to create an organic sound, so not having a conductor actually turns out to be an asset for these young musicians.

    Fans of the Tallis Scholars will love this CD. Arguably, Stile Antico is better than the Tallis Scholars in some ways. To elaborate, the Tallis Scholars, as good as they are, can come across as technical and icy, whereas Stile Antico never does, at least not to my ears. On the contrary, they have a warm, authentic sound. Not that I have anything against the Tallis Scholars.

    In conclusion, for everyone who loves sacred choral music, or beautiful music in general, "Music for Compline" is a must-have. The musical serenity will be a refuge from stress, and will uplift your spirits.

    5 out of 5 stars Music for Compline.......2007-02-05

    One is somewhat spoilt for choice these days when it comes to recordings of specialist 'early music' vocal ensembles. In Britain alone, 'brand' names such as 'The Sixteen' and 'The Tallis Scholars', however different their respective approach, have become equally synonymous with excellence in ensemble, intonation, balance and blend. On this basis alone, one might be forgiven for mistaking this CD for another release from one of these fine, long-established choirs. However, this debut recording from 'Stile Antico' has something rather distinctive and individual to offer the listener. Working as a vocal consort without conductor, these are performances born out of an internal commitment and universal understanding within the group, together with an obvious love for this repertoire which they perform so admirably. It is deeply refreshing, in a professional environment where 'time is money', to hear an ensemble who have so noticeably spent a great deal of time 'living' with the music, no doubt both as individuals and collectively as a group. This crucial element of music-making, so often over-looked, is perhaps above all what makes this recording stand out. In fairness, the result is not necessarily superior to that of a conducted ensemble, where a different style of direction in the performances can be attained. But whatever one's preferences - 'Stile Antico' have certainly achieved a winning combination - communicative performances which are simultaneously meditative and emotionally uplifting.

    Impeccable ensemble is evident throughout the disc, and this is especially impressive when accomplished within various well-judged slow tempi. Highlights in this regard include a wonderfully ethereal and sonorous performance of Tallis' rarely heard seven-part 'Miserere nostri', and Sheppard's intoxicating 'Libera nos I & II' whose marvellous longing dissonances are given just the right amount of time to register. Byrd's 'Miserere mihi' also receives a fine performance, and the same composer's exquisite homophonic setting of 'Christe lux es et dies' serves to demonstrate these singers' aptitude for naturally shaped phrasing and beautifully paced cadences.

    The programming is cohesive throughout, combining familiar, celebrated settings with some rare gems, notably Hugh Aston's giant antiphon 'Gaude, virgo mater Christi', of which this is the first recording made available on CD.

    Congratulations are also due to Harmonia Mundi for their superb recording quality, which captures splendidly not only the clarity of the voices, but also the magnificent acoustics of All Hallow's, Gospel Oak. Beautiful packaging together with intelligent, informative programme notes completes this excellent debut release.
    Rodrigo y Gabriela (with Bonus DVD)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • good flamenco guitar music
    • Gets the kid grooving
    • TERRIFIC!
    • I'll go 4.5 stars
    • Rodrigo and Gabriela rock!
    		 Rodrigo y Gabriela (with Bonus DVD)
    Rodrigo y Gabriela
    Manufacturer: ATO Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000HKDEE2
    Release Date: 2006-10-03

    Tracks:

    1. Tamacu
    2. Diablo Rojo
    3. Vikingman
    4. Satori
    5. Ixtapa
    6. Stairway To Heaven
    7. Orion
    8. Juan Loco
    9. PPA

    Amazon.com

    How did two Mexican-born heavy-metal enthusiasts end up at the top of the Irish charts? The story begins back in their homeland, where Rodrigo Sanchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm and guitar-top hand percussion) met as teenagers. Following years of fruitless struggle, they settled in Dublin, working as street entertainers, eventually wandering as far afield as Denmark and Spain. But over time, their virtuoso duo-guitar instrumentals garnered them a following, which in turn led to indoor engagements where they no longer had to freeze their hands off. And no wonder -- their eruptive mixture of Central and South American folkways, with its propulsive rock rhythms, plus grooves reminiscent of The Gipsy Kings' crowd-pleasing Catalan rumbas, is incredibly infectious. Yes, their frisky yet spot-on covers of "Stairway To Heaven" and "Orion" may goad some listeners into purchasing the album, but believe it or not, the original tunes are even more mesmerizing. "Ixapa," in which the pair are joined by noted Hungarian Roma (Gypsy) fiddler Roby Lakatos, has a wicked, pan-European swing, while the impossibly fleet "Juan Loco" should delight all comers -- once they catch their collective breaths! Produced by John Leckie (Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Muse), the USA release includes a DVD containing interviews, live performances and other extras. --Christina Roden

    Album Description

    The sleeve photo of a crocodile's eye with a faint image of Rodrigo and Gabriela superimposed, suits the artists' desire for something which didn't shout "Mexican guitarists" or "Couples." "It reminded us of Tamacun, the famous Mexican eccentric who is in Ixtapa where we lived for a while".

    Tamacun -"Tamacun's message is to teach kids to respect nature." He handles crocodiles, and tourists come to photograph him.

    Diablo Rojo - Inspired by a wild rollercoaster called 'Red Devil' at a theme park in Copenhagen, Denmark. Three rides in a row, each.

    Viking Man - Another Danish inspired piece. The Viking Man was a homeless guy who encouraged Rod & Gab to tough it out on the streets, busking in minus zero conditions at Christmastime. John Leckie adds radio static.

    Satori - Experiencing self doubt shortly after arriving in Ireland, Rodrigo y Gabriela were at a low ebb. No money, poor English and a deep sense of uncertainty. Only an unshakeable faith in perseverance kept them going. Satori describes the Zen - like moment of enlightenment they felt when they came through the storm.

    Ixtapa - "Ixtapa is a very beautiful, very Mexican town." Roby Lakatos' wildly soaring violin solo is a perfect counterpoint to the melodic and percussive guitars.

    Stairway to Heaven - "Ixtapa was our very own Stairway to Heaven!" Rod & Gab's take was initially inspired by Stanley Jordan's interpretation of the Led Zep warhorse. Growing from snippets in their live show, their unique version is at once both respectful and innovative.

    Orion - This epic reworking of the Metallica song is the second time Rodrigo y Gabriela have covered Messrs Hetfield, Ulrich & Co: "A tribute to the style of music we love, it's what kept us playing the guitar through all those Spinal Tap years"

    Juan Loco - The first attempt at recording this album in Mexico in Summer 2005 resulted in three weeks of sunbathing, beer drinking and power cuts. Enter Mr John Leckie, legendary producer of Radiohead, The Stone Roses and Muse, to name but a few; to midwife Rod & Gab's musical vision into what you hear today. 'Juan Loco' ('Mad John') is their Mexican nickname for Mr Leckie.

    PPA - "The first P of PPA stands for Pinche, a Mexican term meaning f**king asshole. This is for all the people in the music business who think they know what's going on but actually don't have a clue".

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars good flamenco guitar music.......2007-07-11

    I had recently fell in love with flamenco dancing and music after seeing a performance in Santa Fe, NM. This cd is all music, there are no vocals, but it is very enjoyable. It runs the gamut from high energy spanish guitar to quieter guitar melodies. I am really enjoying it.

    5 out of 5 stars Gets the kid grooving.......2007-07-07

    I'm submitting this review on behalf of my 7-year-old autistic son. He's been playing this disk over and over since we first got it a month ago. It just lights the little guy up and gets him grooving, so here's his 5 stars for it. (By the way, I'd give it a 5 myself).

    5 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC!.......2007-07-05

    I'd been looking a long time for a great instrumental guitar cd before I saw these guys on Jay Leno. They are fantastic musicians and I can't wait until their next album

    4 out of 5 stars I'll go 4.5 stars.......2007-06-30

    If you at all like acoustic guitar, buy this disk! The pair is simply amazing. Song-by-song, their work is unbelievable. The only thing that held me back from 5 stars is that it gets a bit repetitive. But when put in a tray with a few other disks and set to random, this CD is outstanding! The DVD is short, but great. They are really fun to see live. At $11, it is a steal!

    5 out of 5 stars Rodrigo and Gabriela rock!.......2007-06-26

    "Rodrigo y Gabriela" isn't your usual Mexican guitar duo. They don't play Tejano or mariachi music, but flamenco with an edge. Their music is at once vibrant, passionate, and thoughtful. It's also an unusual album since it's purely instrumental.

    The opening, "Tamacun",evokes a Mexican paradise in its serenity. "Diablo Rojo",with its percussive guitar style, conjures the clicking of an old wooden roller coaster. "Satori",which is the Japanese Zen term for enlightenment/nirvana,is of more a Eastern flavor. "Ixtapa" blends flamenco with gipsy violin;it sounds like a folk song. Rodrigo and Gabriela's covers of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and Metallica's "Orion" are celestial. It's at once edgy flamenco and heavy metal with a gentler sound.

    "Rodrigo y Gabriela" is an amazing instrumental album! Their best is yet to come. I look forward to listening to more of their music.
    Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Vibe shift
    • Gorgeous, pure and unexpected
    • Soul music
    • An Elizabethan Sting
    • Labyrinth
    		 Songs from the Labyrinth (Music by John Dowland)

    Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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    ASIN: B000HXDESU
    Release Date: 2006-10-10

    Tracks:

    1. Walsingham
    2. Can she excuse my wrongs?
    3. Ryght honorable: as I have bin most bounde unto your honor Â…
    4. Flow my tears
    5. Have you seen the bright lily grow
    6. Then in time passing on Mr. Johnson diedÂ…
    7. The Most High and Mighty Christianus the Fourth, King of Denmark
    8. The lowest trees have tops
    9. And accordinge as I desired ther cam a letterÂ…
    10. Fine knacks for ladies
    11. From thenc I went to the Landgrave of HessenÂ…
    12. Fantasy
    13. Come, heavy sleep
    14. Forlorn Hope Fancy
    15. And from thence I had great desire to see ItalyÂ…
    16. Come again
    17. Wilt thou unkind thus reave me
    18. After my departure I caled to mynde our conferenceÂ…
    19. Weep you no more, sad fountains
    20. My Lord WilloughbyÂ’s Welcome Home
    21. Clear or cloudy
    22. Men say that the Kinge of Spain is making gret preparationÂ…
    23. In darkness let me dwell

    Amazon.com

    In choosing to cover the music of John Dowland (1563-1626), who is known as the "melancholy madrigalist" from his output of cheerful ditties like "Flow My Tears," Police bandleader Sting has entered into a whole new realm of austere eeriness. Originally inspired by the gift of a lute, the rock superstar and activist sings the songs, deliciously sweet and tender or spirited by turn, accompanying himself, with Edin Karamazov sitting on lute and archlute. For listeners accustomed to hearing material of this period interpreted by rigorously trained early music stylists, especially countertenors and the like, Sting's sometimes tight-jawed, chest-heavy vocals may seem amateurish. It's undeniable that in four-part harmonies, the singer, tightly overdubbed, comes across like a combination of the Swingle Singers and Queen (meaning Freddy Mercury and crew, NOT the first Elizabeth). But it's important to remember that music of this period was routinely heard as a casual diversion in private homes, even more often than at Court. It was considered a crucial social skill to be able to join in with an adequate degree of skill, but not everyone was able to negotiate the perilous melodic twists and turns typical of the era's music. With this in mind, the overall effect is of a candle-lit, postprandial entertainment in the home of an English gentleman. Muttered readings from Dowland's letters and brief snippets of sampled birdsong aside, it is a courageous effort, displaying heartfelt admiration for the composer and a considerable degree of earnest charm. --Christina Roden

    Album Description

    StingÂ's Songs From The Labyrinth is an album of 17th century music composed by John Dowland and performed on the lute, an ancient acoustic guitar. After being given a lute nearly two years ago as a gift, Sting became fascinated and immersed himself with the instrument and the history of lute music. Reminded of his almost 25 year long enthrallment with the works of John Dowland, the Elizabethan composer who wrote songs for the lute, Sting has recorded a new album of vocal and lute music. All songs were composed by Dowland in the 17th century, but have been given new life in these fresh new recordings by Sting. Sting not only sings all the songs (accompanied by leading lutenist Edin Karamasov, who appears on two Andreas Scholl albums), but also plays lute on two instrumental duets with Edin and reads short extracts from a fascinating autobiographical letter by Dowland. Sting has also written a brilliant account of the album's genesis, along with notes on the individual tracks, which serves as the CD booklet.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Vibe shift.......2007-07-10

    Why bother? Still would like to say i love the 'shift' it takes to get into this music and how i (and my home) feel when i've enter this rather rarified realm of listening.

    5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous, pure and unexpected.......2007-07-06

    This music is so pure, so clean, so well performed by two excellent musicians, Edin Karamasov, and Sting, that it put shivers up my spine. Edin is an excellent classical lutenist and Sting's tenor voice is perfect for the music. It was a surprise hearing a rock musician perform this music, but Sting always surprises, continuing to develop as a musican. I will hear this one in my sleep, echoing.

    5 out of 5 stars Soul music.......2007-07-05

    Have you ever walked a labryinth? Let Sting walk with you either if you are new or an ole' timer at it. This is music for and from the soul.

    4 out of 5 stars An Elizabethan Sting.......2007-06-27

    A very interesting compilation with a pop star singing music from a high period of Elizabethan music with feeling .style and effectiveness.

    2 out of 5 stars Labyrinth.......2007-06-09

    What a waste of good talent! About the worst album I've ever heard.
    Awake
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • A total disappointment
    • Groban CD
    • Josh is branching out...
    • One of his best
    • Amazing, as always
    		 Awake
    Josh Groban
    Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000I5X81K
    Release Date: 2006-11-07

    Tracks:

    1. Mai
    2. You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)
    3. Un Dia Llegara
    4. February Song
    5. L'Ultima Notte
    6. So She Dances
    7. In Her Eyes
    8. Solo Por Ti
    9. Now Or Never
    10. Un Giorno Per Noi
    11. Lullaby -- w/ Ladysmith Black Mambazo
    12. Weeping -- w/ Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Vusi Mahlasela
    13. Machine -- w/ Herbie Hancock

    Amazon.com

    Josh Groban is making it hard for anybody who can't say "classical crossover" without smirking to maintain an acceptable level of snobbery. Awake, his third studio disc and arguably his most personal--he co-wrote four tracks and favors his native English over Italian--boasts as many bold names as any tricked-out hip-hop disc: Dave Matthews, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Imogen Heap, and Herbie Hancock contribute in various capacities, and a slew of behind-the-scenes collaborators best known for their work in mainstream pop circles deepen the dimensions of a style widely considered claustrophobic. For all the studio doors that got opened to create Awake, though, Groban's signature sound never once slipped out to take the air; "the voice"--that hypnotic, spun-silk wonder of an instrument--is as concentrated as ever, and Awake, in addition to showing off its many splendors, serves as a vehicle for parading its versatility around. While "Un Giorno Per Noi," the deeply romantic theme to the 1968 film Romeo E Giulietta, delivers the Groban that fueled the sale of 16 million previous discs to soft-hearted fans, "Machine," with Hancock, gives up a new form of funk: dignified, classy, and surprisingly unstiff. --Tammy La Gorce

    Album Description

    The Josh Groban phenomenon continues with Awake, his third studio album. Both of the extraordinary singer's first two studio discs have been certified five times platinum, with his most recent, 2003's Closer, charting #1 pop. His uplifting music rises ever higher on Awake.

    More Josh Groban

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    Closer
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    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars A total disappointment.......2007-07-04

    I loved Josh Groban's first two studio albums. I thought the music was both spiritually uplifting and emotionally moving. Josh's third studio album "Awake" was a total let down for me. No matter how many times I have listened to "Awake", I found the album nothing like its predecssors. The songs lacked the beauty and charm that made me fall in love with Josh's music several years ago. The songs were totally devoid of a good pop melody. The material was weak and less than spectacular. I think the worst song on the album has to be "Machine". Bombastic and no melody. There was only one song on the album that really stood out with me and it was Josh's cover of Qkumba Zoo's ballad "Weeping", a collaboration he did with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Vusi Mahlasela. Other than that song, every other song on the album was flat and lifeless and lacked the beauty of his first two albums. Maybe it is my evolving taste in music that has changed my outlook on Josh's music but then again I still love his self-titled cd and "Closer". What a disappointment "Awake" turned out to be.

    4 out of 5 stars Groban CD.......2007-06-27

    Not as good as his Josh Groban CD, but a must listen for a Josh fan!

    5 out of 5 stars Josh is branching out..........2007-06-26

    I'll admit, when I first heard this CD, I wasn't immediately sure what to make of it, but upon repeated listenings, I began to love it. Josh was asserting himself: he was taking chances and testing new areas. Quite frankly, with a voice like his, he can't go wrong. I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert this past March at Madison Square Garden, and while I was a wee bit disappointed that he didn't do a few more of the "older" songs, he did do practically the entire "Awake" album, and let me tell you, the man sounds exactly the same in person as he does on CD and he made converts out of the people around me who were still on the fence about the album. And when Ladysmith Black Mambazo came out to do "Lullaby" and "Weeping," the roof was practically blasted off the place! There are many entertainers who don't quite sound live like they do on their recordings (Madonna comes to mind), but Josh is not one of them. This album is certainly a departure from his first two, but I think he was right to take the chance. He proved he can sing anything. My favorites off the album are "In Her Eyes" (one of the best things he's ever done), "Mai," "Weeping," and "You Are Loved." This album is fresh and interesting. Besides, it's Josh. He could sing the phone book and have you begging for more, right?

    5 out of 5 stars One of his best.......2007-06-15

    I bought this CD after hearing some clips on Amazon and, as a Josh Groban fan, thought it sounded good. When I got it, I popped it into my computer and listened while working. I was thoroughly enjoying it but when it got to Un Giorno Per Noi, I was enthralled! I had to stop what I was doing as I was fully immersed in the joy of the musical experience brought to me by Josh Groban's rendition of the Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet. This song alone is reason for 5 stars but the rest of the CD also lives up to the excellence we have come to expect from a performer of the caliber of Josh Groban. I highly recommend this CD!

    5 out of 5 stars Amazing, as always.......2007-06-12

    There's nothing about Josh Groban I don't like. His voice is enough to captivate even the hardest of audiences, and his songs are interesting enough to keep that interest going.

    His newest album is no different in that, even if it is different in style. At first it was slightly disconcerting, but after a few times through the CD I was won over. Kudos to Josh for expanding without losing his signature sound that we all love him for!
    Eternelle: The Best Of
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful Compilation of Edith Piaf
    • Eternelle
    • Mesmerizing and enchanting...
    • The definitive single CD
    		 Eternelle: The Best Of
    Edith Piaf
    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
    2. Edith Piaf: Her Greatest Recordings 1935-1943
    3. Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
    4. Aznavour: Ses Plus Grands Succes
    5. La Vie en Rose: La Mome

    ASIN: B000050ZM2
    Release Date: 2002-01-29

    Tracks:

    1. La Vie En Rose
    2. Hymne A L'amour
    3. Padam... Padam
    4. Johnny Tu N'es Pas Un Ange
    5. La Goualante Du Pauvre Jean
    6. Sous Le Ciel De Paris
    7. L'homme A La Moto
    8. Mon Manege A Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tete)
    9. Non Je Ne Regrette Rien
    10. Milord
    11. Les Flonflons Du Bal
    12. Les Mots D'amour
    13. Fallait-il?
    14. La Foule
    15. Tiens V'la Un Marin
    16. Le Droit D'aimer
    17. A Quoi Ca Sert L'amour?
    18. L'accordeoniste

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Compilation of Edith Piaf.......2007-03-09

    Such a pleasure to hear so many songs that Ms. Piaf made famous especially, "Milord", "La Vie En Rose", and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien". A great compilation! I only wish a word booklet had been included, but you can't have everything. Ms. Piaf's voice is more than enough!

    5 out of 5 stars Eternelle.......2007-02-17

    The songs are wonderful, Edith Piaf has a beautiful voice. The songs are sung in French, a masterpiece.

    5 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing and enchanting..........2002-03-26

    I love this collection. It has all of my favorite songs of Edith Piaf. This one is truly a classic. You won't be dissatisfied.

    5 out of 5 stars The definitive single CD.......2002-02-11

    EMI did a nice job of remastering these tracks, so that they are cleaner and more dynamic than ever before. This is significant since there is so much Piaf product out there from second-generation tapes/old records/etc. Including the most well-known of Piaf's songs this, then, has become the definitive single CD of her work. Highly recommended.
    Shanghai
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • An unusual treat
    		 Shanghai
    12 Girls Band
    Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. 12 Girls Band: Live from Shanghai
    2. Eastern Energy (Bonus DVD)
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    4. Romantic Energy
    5. Twelve Girls of Christmas

    ASIN: B000PC1QLA
    Release Date: 2007-06-25

    Tracks:

    1. Glory
    2. Shining Energy
    3. Fragile
    4. Carnival
    5. Bach Tribute: Concerto For Violin In A Minor (1st Mvt.)
    6. My Heart Will Go On (Theme From Titanic)
    7. Loulan Girl
    8. Flowers And Juveniles
    9. Take Five
    10. High Mountain And Floating Water
    11. Handel's Music For Royal Fireworks
    12. Nessun Dorma
    13. The Great Canyon
    14. Freedom

    Amazon.com

    12 Girls Band began as a series of auditions held throughout China, seeking thirteen attractive and versatile young female instrumentalists (although only twelve appear onstage at any time). After taking Japan by storm, their debut US release, Eastern Energy (2004), created a sensation, crowning Billboard's World Music chart. Since then, the group has become a firm favorite at PBS and NPR, with several prestigious international concert bookings on the horizon. For the present recording, the ensemble ranges between local folk songs, newly composed tunes and works by Sting ("Fragile"), J.S. Bach (an excerpt from Concerto For Violin in A Minor), G. Puccini ("Nessun Dorma" from Turandot), and James Horner ("My Heart Will Go On," the love theme from Titanic). Arranged by Bob Belden and Liang Jianfeng, who leads the ensemble's backing guitar combo, the overall effect is not unlike an Eastern equivalent of Celtic Woman, minus the vocals but every bit as energetic, polished, and astutely marketed. Musically, the tunes are tightly conceptualized and performed, marred only by overuse of a 4/4 snare backbeat and the fact that certain Chinese instruments, although breathtakingly lovely in a more traditional setting, are not always ideally suited to the material at hand. But even so, it's a charming, graceful and high-spirited enterprise; as good-will ambassadors, these ladies can't fail to please. --Christina Roden

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars An unusual treat.......2007-07-05

    This group is tops for musicianship and you get the treat of hearing unfamiliar instruments play old favorites. Everyone that I've loaned this to has fallen for this group and their music.
    The Very Best of Beverly Sills
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Beverly Sills - The Best
    • Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!
    • THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR
    • EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute
    • Glad To Be The First Review- Beverly Sills Treasury Of Arias
    		 The Very Best of Beverly Sills

    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Sills, BeverlySills, Beverly | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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    Similar Items:
    1. The Great Recordings
    2. Art of Beverly
    3. Beverly Sills: Made in America
    4. Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation)
    5. Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato

    ASIN: B0006VYELE
    Release Date: 2005-04-26

    Tracks:

    1. Una Voce Poco Fa - Sherrill Milnes
    2. Dunque Io Son - Sherrill Milnes
    3. Contro Un Cor - Sherrill Milnes
    4. Ah, Qual Colpo Inaspetatto! - Sherrill Milnes
    5. E Il Sol Dell'anima... Addio! Speranza Ed Anima - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    6. Gualtier Malde... Caro Nome - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    7. Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio... Compiuto Pur Quanto... Si, Vendetta - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    8. V'ho Ingannato... Lassu In Cielo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    9. Quel Guardo Il Cavaliere... So Anch'io La Virtu Magica - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    10. Pronta Io Son... Vado, Corro - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    11. Via, Caro Sposino - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    12. Tornami A Dir Che M'ami - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
    13. La Morale In Tutto Questo - Ambrosian Opera Chorus

    Tracks:

    1. Vilia - Beverly Sills
    2. Ah! Je Suis Seule... Dis-Moi Que Je Suis Belle - Beverly Sills
    3. Cielo! Che Diverro?... Si, ferite... Dal Soggiorno... Ah! Che Spiegar - Beverly Sills
    4. Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici - John Alldis Choir
    5. Un Di Felice, Eterea - John Alldis Choir
    6. E Strano... Ah, Fors'e Lui... Follie! Follie!... Sempre Libera - John Alldis Choir
    7. Pura Siccome Un Angelo... Ah! Dite Alla Giovine - John Alldis Choir
    8. Che Fai? - John Alldis Choir
    9. Addio Del Passato - John Alldis Choir
    10. Parigi, O Cara - John Alldis Choir

    Amazon.com

    Beverly Sills hardly needs an introduction. She sang on the radio as a child and on the operatic stage as a teenager; her meteoric international career was launched by appearances in several virtually unknown bel canto operas at the New York City Opera. This compilation of arias and ensembles from some of her signature roles, recorded in the 1970s, with splendid partners like Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, and Sherrill Milnes, displays her unique vocal and dramatic artistry at its peak. Her voice, effortlessly produced over an enormous range, is bright, pure, infinitely variable in color, inflection and intensity. Her intonation is impeccable even in huge leaps, and her breath is endless. The coloratura roulades are like strings of perfect, luminous pearls, clearly articulated in seamless legato. But this stunning technique (whose only flaw is a sometimes wide, wobbly vibrato) is never used for show; every note has life and expression, serving the music and the dramatic situation. Indeed, her characters are flesh-and-blood human beings, whose thoughts, emotions and interactions, from inwardness to ecstasy, from lamentation to overflowing joy, she projects with riveting concentration. Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville is a charming, mischievous minx who succumbs to delighted tenderness; Pamira's great scene from his Siege of Corinth shows clearly why her Metropolitan Opera debut in that role was a sensation. In Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilda's hopeful innocence turns into hopeless despair: she dies, palpably, on a floating, celestial pianissimo. In his La traviata, Violetta's initial cool, hesitant restraint gradually melts as she opens herself (and her voice) to Alfredo's ardor and the bliss of love. The vocal balance in their final duet is uncanny; its tremulous tenderness in the shadow of death breaks the heart, as does her duet with Germont. Massenet's Thais is sensuous; Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Lehár's The Merry Widow provide comic relief. --Edith Eisler

    Album Description

    Details TBA. EMI. 2005.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Beverly Sills - The Best.......2007-04-01

    What a voice. No coloratura can compare, and she makes it seem so easy.

    5 out of 5 stars Beverly Sills' highs are breathtaking!.......2006-09-18

    Adio del Passato is incredible! Beverly's high, floating coloratura is no less than ethereal which takes you to another world. Her voice has given me so much joy that it is hard to say one recording is better than another because I love her Mozart album equally with her Bellini/Donizetti. It is so wonderful to have these recordings captured on CD! Enjoy!

    5 out of 5 stars THE 2005 OPERA CD OF THE YEAR.......2006-08-19

    THIS CD WAS THE BEST OPERA CD ISSUED LAST YEAR, AND HAS CAUGHT THE WORLD'S EAR IN NO TIME. I WAS BUSY WRITING IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, WHILE THE STATEOWNED FM RADIOSTATION, DEDICATED TO CULTURE, WAS SOFTLY PLAYING OPERA ARIAS IN THE BACKGROUND. SUDDENLY I HEARD THE MOST FANTASTIC RENDERING OF "SEMPRE LIBERA" FROM "LA TRAVIATA". I GOT UP, SAT BY THE RADIO AND WAITED TO KNOW WHO WAS SINGING... THEN GOT BACK TO THE COMPUTER TO ORDER THIS CD FROM AMAZON! INCREDIBLE: ONLY 17 BUCKS FOR THIS, WHILE QUITE A BIT OF TRASH IS SOLD FOR 30.40 AND MORE...
    A LADY FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME SHE COULD NOT LISTEN TO THE DUET IN "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" WITH MIRELLA FRENI AND LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (RECORDED IN 1974, BY VON KARAJAN) WITHOUT CRYING. WELL, YOU CANNOT LISTEN TO SILLS IN "LA TRAVIATA" DRY-EYED, NO MATTER WHO THE TENOR IS. SHE PROJECTS THE SAME DRAMATIC FEELING OF "LA DIVINA" CALLAS WITHOUT THOSE SHRIEKED HIGHNOTES; SHE OFFERS THE SAME COLORATURA VOCAL GYMNASTICS AS "LA STUPENDA" SUTHERLAND BUT WITH WARMTH... WHEN BEVERLY SANG, AS IN EVERYTHING ELSE SHE DID, SHE ALWAYS GAVE HER UTMOST. SHE WAS "LA GENEROSA" TO BE SURE.
    DON'T JUST SIT THERE READING WHAT OTHERS THINK.
    ORDER THIS CD NOW AND MARVEL AT HOW THIS GREAT AMERICAN LADY, IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS, ALSO COULD SING!

    5 out of 5 stars EMI Does It Again: Beverly Sills - A Tribute.......2005-07-22

    EMI's "Very Best Of" series are perfect introductions to operatic singers of the 20th century. Once you hear these artist tribute albums (much like The Singers series) you will get hooked on the singer and seek out their full-length studio recordings. Beverly Sills was the first truly famous American opera star. One may argue that she was not, that she was merely a continued tradition of American divas such as Mary Garden and Lily Pons and which still continues today with Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral and Susan Graham. Beverly was raised in New York City, which is still her home, and which is the home of the New York City Opera and the Met, opera houses which rocketed her to fame. Her first success (not featured in this recording...UH WHY ?) was Cleopatra of Handel's Julius Caesar, a performance she sang opposite the illustrious baritone Norman Treigle. Those performances were legendary because coincidentally at the same time the Met was opening its new theatre and season with what became a disastrous Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra starring Leontyne Price in an overblown, big-budget, epic fiasco. The great roles that followed the 1965 Cleopatra were Manon, Queen Elizabeth I in Roberto Deveraux, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in the Donizetti Tudor Queen operas, Pamira in The Siege of Corinth (which were Sill's La Scala and belated Met debut. None of the Queens are featured in this recording, though its supposedly the Very Best Of. An aria from Rossini's Siege of Corinth is featured here however. What we are treated to however are fine lyric roles- Beverly Sills shone brightly and acted convincingly as Gilda in Rigoletto (the final scene is featured here) as Violetta in La Traviata, Thais, The Merry Widow (the beautiful Vilja is featured here)and the ingenue role of Norina in Don Pasquale is also showcased here. To each of these roles, Beverly Sills delivered an authenticity and dramatic interpretation, not ot mention beautiful, sweet tone. I love her pianissimos, her high notes, her chest register. It was the voice of Beverly Sills who first hooked me into opera. For a recording that should showcase her best work, Manon is not featured nor any of her prized French heroines- Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment and the heroines in Tales of Hoffman. Also not in here is the role that was her first success- the Broadway opera Ballad of Baby Doe. Even as such, the arias here are gorgeous. The Barber of Seville is in here and as Rosina she is playful and charming. Sills was a modern singer, with a voice that was beautiful but willing to sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic content. When Sills was once asked what she thought of the supposed rivalry with Joan Sutherland (which was never real and only gossip from partisan fans) Beverly said something to this effect -Joan and I are apples and oranges in our take on opera, we are Picasso and Monet. She would do anything for the effect of beauty and tone, I'd sacrifice beauty for the sake of dramatic text. Even as such, I see no ugliness to any of the roles here. All of them are beautiful to hear, full of rich floating celestial tones. It would have been nice to hear the roles that did call for Sills to step up the tense drama - Norma, will her recording ever be reissued by EMI ? Also, few people know that Beverly Sills sung role most would consider dangerous for her voice (though she sang them long before her career even took off)- Aida and Carmen!!

    5 out of 5 stars Glad To Be The First Review- Beverly Sills Treasury Of Arias.......2005-04-29

    At last EMI's "The Very Best Of" series has issued some of the finer recorded documented arias of the incomparable soprano Beverly Sills. Fans of this down-to-earth, warm patron of music and the most unique lyric-coloratura-dramatic soprano, will be in Heaven. Sure, this is only some of the arias in only a small number of the many operas Sills performed. To be truthful, this is not what I'd personally regard as the best of Beverly Sills. Other albums of hers do use greater vocal masterpieces she sang- the best being "The Singers" Series, and another EMI edition called The Art of Beverly Sills Volume 2 and then there's the rare and brilliant "Sillsiana". Nevertheless, this album has its charm and appeal. Beverly Sills sings arias from Rossini's Barber of Seville, Verdi's Rigoletto and Traviata. This recording seems to highlight mostly her mastership of the bel canto repertoire and Verdi. Gilda and Violetta were roles she sang with supreme dramatic integrity and sweetness and purity of vocal line. Yet, it is hardly "the best of". Where are scenes from the masterful interpretations of Donizetti, truly Sills strongest suit- Lucia Di Lammermoor, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereaux, where is Sills' Manon, which even she hails as her best ? And when will her recorded Norma ever see the light of day ? Sills also excelled in the French repertoire- Faust, Thais, La Fille Du Regiment, The Tales of Hoffman and she was an incredible Queen Shemakha in Korsakov's Coq D'Or. True, Sills had a light, girlish, delicate voice, bright and small, but this worked in her favor in tragic roles. Dramatically, she could get into character as passionately and convincingly as Maria Callas. When she could darken her voice and use her chest voice for dramatic effect it was often thrilling. This is the latest recording in a number of recordings that are coming out, further promoting a great singer of the past. Beverly Sills. She was the working man's soprano. She worked hard to get to the top. She was the reigning singer of the NYC Opera where she starred in such great operas as Handel's Giulio Ceare Sills as Cleopatra (also not on this recording) and Tales of Hoffman singing opposite the great but underrated bass Norman Treigle. Sills is a wonderful human being and she has a beautiful voice that I cannot get out of my mind. She will always be the greatest to me. She got me hooked into opera.
    Andrea Bocelli - Amore
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Amore
    • I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english
    • Very romantic
    • Beautiful music
    • Intoxicating Italian music
    		 Andrea Bocelli - Amore
    Andrea Bocelli
    Manufacturer: Sugar
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Romanza
    2. Ancora
    3. Andrea
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    5. Duets: An American Classic

    ASIN: B000CC1TGA
    Release Date: 2006-01-31

    Tracks:

    1. Amapola
    2. Besame Mucho
    3. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
    4. Mi Manchi - featuring Kenny G
    5. Somos Novios (It's Impossible) - Duet with Christina Aguilera
    6. Solamente Una Vez
    7. Jurame
    8. Pero Te Extrano
    9. Canzoni Stonate - Featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and vocals
    10. L'Appuntamento
    11. Cuando Me Enamoro
    12. Can't Help Falling In Love - Live At Lake Las Vegas
    13. Because We Believe
    14. Ama Credi E Vai (Because We Believe)

    Product Description

    Romance. Passion. Emotion. These words are synonymous with the voice of Andrea Bocelli. Almost ten years ago he exploded onto the international music scene with Romanza, and has since sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide. Amore--released amongst the glamor of the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy (where he will perform at the closing ceremony) and the romance of Valentine's Day--finds Bocelli straying from the carefully groomed classical ground in which he is most familiar. The concept of the album came from famed producer and longtime Bocelli fan David Foster along with co-producers Humberto Gatica and Tony Renis, who posed the question: Why not take the most beautiful love songs in the world and pair them with the most romantic voice in the world? The result is a beautiful album of pop standards that Foster has publicly claimed is "one of the most beautiful records I have ever been part of."

    Embarking on a new era, Amore unveils a fresh sensuous sound that gently moves Bocelli into new territory. Spanish guitars flourish, traditional Latin percussion seductively keeps the tempo, accordions and harmonicas provide charming melodies, while sometimes Bocelli shares the spotlight with just a grand piano. Recorded late in the summer at Bocelli's Tuscan home studio overlooking the coast, the album exudes the natural beauty and breathtaking surroundings evident in Italy. Amore marks the only album David Foster has made outside of his Californian studio complex in two decades. This was also most musically gratifying for Bocelli: "I've been presented with opportunities I once could only dream of, challenges I longed to confront and experiences I will cherish forever, but while recording this album I realized that now is the perfect moment to arrive at an album of this repertoire, with the perfect producers, the perfect musicians and the perfect selection of songs."

    More CDs from Andrea Bocelli


    The Storyteller


    Romanza


    Cieli di Toscana


    Verdi


    La Bohème


    Sacred Arias

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Amore.......2007-06-13

    Molto buon! Andrea Bocelli has gone over the top on this album. l'amora della mia vita.

    2 out of 5 stars I just can't get into it, maby if it was in english.......2007-06-08

    I heard andrea bocelli on a sarah brightman CD and it was amazing, but some of it was in english and the song was a great one, I just can't get into this CD maby if it were in english I'd enjoy it. It could be the songs but since it's not in english I can't say for sure.

    5 out of 5 stars Very romantic.......2007-05-24

    This cd is a very good mix of all the best romantic songs that Andrea Bocelli could sing. His voice is so perfect for the lyrics that makes the original singers not to sing so good. A must have, specially if you have your loved one closer with a bottle of wine in a perfect romantic place.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautiful music.......2007-05-08

    I ordered this CD after seeing him perform on a PBS program. The music has a relaxing energy I haven't found in any other music. I can listen to it day after day.

    5 out of 5 stars Intoxicating Italian music.......2007-05-07

    This is Andrea Bocelli's best CD to date - whether you are listening in the car, taking a walk or entertaining for a party this CD covers it all. Bocelli's voice is amazing and his duet with Christina Aguilera will blow you away. This is a must to purchase with many hours of listening pleasure.
    Closer
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Happy listening
    • fantastic voice
    • CLOSER-JOSH GROBIN
    • HOT! HOT! HOT!
    • Closer
    		 Closer
    Josh Groban
    Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    5. Josh Groban Live at The Greek (CD/DVD)

    ASIN: B0000CFW87
    Release Date: 2003-11-11

    Tracks:

    1. Oceano
    2. My Confession
    3. Il Postino (Mi Mancherai)
    4. Si Volvieras a Mi
    5. When You Say You Love Me
    6. Per Te
    7. All Improvviso Amore
    8. Broken Vow
    9. Caruso
    10. Remember When It Rained
    11. Hymne a l'Amour
    12. You Raise Me Up
    13. Never Let Go

    Amazon.com

    Thanks to a fortuitous intersection of talent and fate, 22-year-old Josh Groban hasn't finished his senior year in performing arts school but has already released his sophomore effort on a major major label. Fans of the young vocal phenom's debut will find much to enthrall them here, even if it nudges the singer closer to the center of producer/mentor David Foster's MOR pop sensibilities. Eschewing much of its predecessor's more overt classic-lite pretensions and pop-rock covers for a slate of dramatic, Eurocentric ballads that serve as a showcase for the singer's inviting baritone, Groban shrewdly positions himself as the American alternative to the Bocelli-Watson crossover axis. "Caruso" may find the singer falling short of its operatic inspiration, but "Oceano" and "My Confession" quickly showcase his true dramatic range (which seems to all but yearn for a bona fide Broadway musical challenge), while a vocal take of Bacalov's graceful "Il Postino" theme uses classical virtuoso Joshua Bell's violin flourishes to good effect. To his credit, Groban displays some promising efforts at songwriting collaboration on the bittersweet "Per Te" and "Remember When It Rains," while the ambient/ethnic soundscape of Deep Forest's "Never Let Go" offers a teasing alternative to the record's otherwise melodramatic production formula. Groban has found commercial triumph via Foster's mentoring, but there remains a nagging sense here that he hasn't truly pushed himself as an artist--yet. --Jerry McCulley

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Happy listening.......2007-06-27

    A wonderful music CD with one of the best voices in the world today.The bonus "you raise me up"makes it a must have CD.

    5 out of 5 stars fantastic voice.......2007-06-01

    Wow. What a voice. This is a great cd. I would definitely buy it again.

    5 out of 5 stars CLOSER-JOSH GROBIN.......2007-05-14

    THIS YOUNG MAN HAS A VOICE EQUAL TO ANDREA BOCELLI AND IS A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG SINGERS TODAY.

    5 out of 5 stars HOT! HOT! HOT!.......2007-05-10

    THIS CD IS FANTASTIC. THE VOCALS ARE SO STRONG IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT THEY ARE IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH, AND ITALIAN. THE PASSION COMES THRU LOUD AND CLEAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAITED SO LONG TO GET THIS. IT'S PLAYED NEARLY EVERY DAY. EVEN MY 4 AND 7 Y/O SING TO IT.

    5 out of 5 stars Closer.......2007-04-29

    This was the first Josh Groban album that I bought. I heard his Live at the Greek album in a friend's vehicle and decided I needed some of his work. I have since bought all of his available albums. This is still probably my favorite. It is an excellent example of his talent and the music is beautiful! I definitely recommend it to any music fan.

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