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Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer

Picking up where Buena Vista Social Club left off, BVSC Presents Ibrahim Ferrer soothes with the hushed romanticism of Cuba's yesteryear while boasting the talents of one of its greatest singers, Ibrahim Ferrer. Again there's an all-star lineup of musicians led by pianist Rubén González and singer Omara Portuondo creating music at the renowned Egrem studios, whose live room brings the slow lucidity and intense vigor of the Cuban classics to life. --Karen K. Hugg

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Customer Review:

wonderful

I wasn't a Ry Cooder fan but I've discovered respect for him after these associations. Previous posters seem to think that Ry Cooder was the only guitarist, which would be a surprise to Manuel Galban. Ibrahim's voice is as amazing as his story. BVSC the film is basically a film of the sessions for this album. I think Ry deserves 'props' for bringing this music to a much wider audience than was expected. I'm sure people will read that as a 'whiter' audience as well. Lighten up, shake off the ghost and dance.
I would also like to mention that the production on this and the other BVSC is incredible, much better than other productions of modern latin music.

Ry Cooder's awful

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Would you dare to try picante sauce and garlic on your favorite ice cream?

That awful are Ry Cooder's annoying "musical" intrusions in the beautiful Cuban music recorded on these CDs. Ry's distasteful interventions are few and far in between, but the damage he caused disproportionately stands out, loud and clear. Ry Cooder's total lack of knowledge or feeling for this wonderful music is only equaled by his tactlessness in trying to be part of an art which is way beyond his understanding, sensibility and abilities.

I do not know whether the recordings can be digitally cleaned to get rid of Ry's garbage, but that would be a great service that most Cuban music lovers and collectors would truly appreciate.

I give these CDs only four stars on account of Ry's grotesque interventions, otherwise I would give them 5 stars, because this is very polished music, music that only highly refined musical spirits can compose and interpret, accomplished musicians with traits and inspiration way above Ry Cooder's distorted, unpolished, primitive musical perception and abilities.

(...)

Such a shame Ry Cooder felt he had to

Stunning vocals by Ibrahim mingled with aweful, fumbling guitar by Ry Cooder. What was Ray thinking, especially on track 2? I agree with some of the other reviews on the "hawaiian" feel to Ry's playing... Thankfully, his input isn't apparent on all tracks, although this album is not as polished as the original buena vista. I'm dying to bring this CD with me on my next visit to Cuba and ask the local Cubans what they think. Incidentally, it is worth mentioning that it isn't too difficult to find musicians of equal caliber playing all around Cuba, pretty much any night of the week. If you love the music and are from any other country than America, go there for the ultimate musical experience.

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Keywords: Bolero; Cuba; Cuban; Cuban Jazz; Int'l & World Music; Latin Jazz; Pop; Son;

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Celtic Woman, Vol. 2

Although featuring some of the same singers who made Celtic Woman, vol. 1 so memorable (notably, Rita Connolly, Marian Bradfield, and Áine Furey), the overall tone of this second volume is at once more amorphous and less positive. New Age wall-of-sound close harmonies abound, and there are occasional nods to the Celtic electronica scene. But the tracks that make the strongest impressions are still those where the voice reigns supreme. Among the latter is The Fallen Angels' stunning a cappella version of She Moved Through The Fair, a tale of thwarted love that is surely Ireland's most chilling ghost story. Altan, led by Mairéad ni Mhaonaigh's girlish soprano, tells how easily an idealistic lover can become a embittered rake. Áine Uí Cheallaigh, accompanied only by a bodhrán, is uncommonly eloquent despite adhering to an old-style lack of histrionics. On the opposite extreme, Capercaillie's Scottish beats-and-puirt-a-beul (mouth music)-laced Hebridean Hale-Bopp is a jaunty, cutting-edge treat. --Christina Roden

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Customer Review:

Wonderful Music

I bought this cd for my husband for his birhtday. We really like celtic and irish music. This cd is very good. We would buy another one in this series.

Not the quality of the first

I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of this CD, it took three weeks between the order and the time it arrived. Was it worth the wait? Yes, but I was still a little disappointed. It wasn't the CD that I was expecting. Celtic Women 1 was an amazing CD. This was still good, but not great.

Still, the CD features some return visitors from the first and a few great songs amongst them. Aine Furey makes a triumphant return with the song Vanities child, which highlights her haunting voice. I anxiously await the release of her band, Bohinta's new CD.

Highlights are:
Rita Connolly - Valparaiso
Fiona Joyce - Lifting the veil
Aine Furey - Vanity Child

If you don't have the first one, buy it first. Followed by the Faire Celts CD which is another tremendous display of the female Celtic voice.

worth the coin

skip vol. 1 and buy this 2nd volume. It will keep you interested for more than one spin.

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Keywords: British Folk; Celtic; Celtic Fusion; Celtic New Age; Celtic/Irish; Contemporary Celtic; Int'l & World Music; Irish Folk; Pop; Traditional Celtic;

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Halo 2, Vol. 1

Further proof that the 15-year-old male is the nexus of contemporary popular entertainment, this anthology of music from and "inspired by" the sequel to the earth-conquering Halo saga also showcases how capably the video game industry can trump even Hollywood's vaunted production values. The original synth-heavy underscore by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori is filled with enough brooding, mock-Goth atmospherics, and pulsing exotica of indeterminate ethnicity to give the Hans Zimmer stable a run for their money, while a slate of (mostly) worthy rock star guest turns give it a welcome edge. Legendary axe-slinger Steve Vai's sinewy riffing punches up the reworked main theme and "Never Surrender," while alt.metal contenders Breaking Benjamin serve up the suitably dramatic inspired-by cut "Blow Me Away." But it's Incubus' four-part "Odyssey" suite that's the centerpiece, bridging 1970s prog and modern rock with its moody aura and evocative musical dramatics. --Jerry McCulley

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Futures

Soundtrack;

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Customer Review:

Attention, HALO fans. Grab this item immediately.

It's as good as the first soundtrack except for some rock content which i like less. But if you are a fan of HALO and ROCK treat your self with this amazing HALO 2 Soundtrack.

Pretty Bomb Diggity

Yeah i recived this cd recently it is kinda nice to relax to becuase there are no words that distract you from what you are thinking about so you can just sit there and think and relax this cd is a nice mix and while listining to it it reminds me of the many endless hours i spend playing the game when the 2nd one came out.... yeah i reccomend it

Better than Halo 1 Soundtrack

If you are a fan of game music, this is one to own. This is an area where the production quality of the old Bungie still shines though the MS haze.

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Keywords: Film; Film Music; Miscellaneous; Miscellaneous Music; Original Score; Pop; Soundtracks; Soundtracks & Film Scores; Video Game Music; Video Game Soundtrack; Vocal; Vocal Music;

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Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

If the commercial constraints of genre and chronic Hollywood sequelitis threaten to musically straitjacket even a legend like John Williams, the veteran playfully rebuffs such cynicism in his rich, mirthful score for this third chapter of the Harry Potter cycle. Whether inspired by a willful desire not to repeat himself, the continued reinvention of his jazz roots that brightened his scores for Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal, or the story's requirement for a handful of fresh themes, Williams informs his work here with an often dizzying range. The warm mysticism of "Hedwig's Theme" and classical farrago of "Aunt Marge's Waltz" can scarcely prepare one for the swinging, off-kilter "Knight Bus," a romp that suggests a head-on collision between the big-band bombast of1941 and the loopy, Cantina Band kitsch of Star Wars. From there Williams skips back a half-millennium or so for inspiration, conjuring the ancient children's chorus "Double Trouble" (its text adapted from no less than MacBeth), a medieval theme that becomes one of the score's inspirational foundations. Those with a taste for the composer's patent orchestral thunder won't be disappointed either, as the Herrmann-influenced percussion/brass bombast of "Buckbeat's Flight" and "The Whomping Willow.." attest with rousing zeal. It's arguably Williams' best Potter score to date, a soundtrack whose inspirations sprawl across six centuries -- and as many disparate musical styles. Enhanced CD features include a photo gallery and exclusive computer wallpaper and screensaver files. -- Jerry McCulley

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Futures

Enhanced;

Soundtrack;

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Customer Review:

Casting A Spell

I really enjoy this sound track. I would like to have all three of them one day but right now I just have the third one. However, I can't really complain. I personally think that it suits the book very well and of course the movie.

HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie soundtrack review

I really loved this soundtrack. It made me think of parts of the movie,and it all sounded so magical, the way Harry Potter should be! My personal favorites were; A Window to the Past, The Knight Bus, and Buckbeaks Flight.BUY THIS SOUNDTRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dark, Relaxing, and Exciting-all in one!

This CD is awesome to anyone, not just to HP fans like me. "The Sorceror's Stone Soundtrack" is nothing compared to this. "A Window to the Past" and "Lumos!" is relaxing. "Buckbeak's Flight" and many others are Exciting, and they're all dark and deep. I love this Soundtrack, 5 stars, definetly!

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Keywords: Film; Film Music; Original Score; Pop; Soundtrack; Soundtracks & Film Scores;

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