Artist: Various Artists

Some unbridled genius mixed with a few goofs, 2008-01-01
Call me weird but I'm a bit of a sucker for the Chipmunk's style of music, their high pitch and close harmonies work for me. When I saw the movie was coming out I was terrified they were going to make it a hip-hop extravaganza due to their "street" versions of their traditional outfits on the movie posters. Luckily this isn't (totally) the case.

The first song is a great version of a hit that had previously become a little wearing and relentless under Daniel Powter. I love this version and it's a full version of what the Chipmunks are singing at the start of the movie. It works really well, though given the great performance it's a travesty that the a capella version from the movie isn't included on this CD.

Another favourite of mine is the interpretation of a song previously recorded by The Chipmunks, "Witch Doctor". The hip hop elements can get a little intrusive at times but in the context of the movie it's plain to see why they put them in and the quality of the rest of the song more than makes up for it. In a way though, it brings me to the point on why I haven't rated any higher than three stars for this album, and this is generous as it is.

Apart from Bad Day and the "Watch out, 'cos here we come!" cartoon theme tune (not on this cd), I don't like every single part of the songs. I love the witch doctor, but parts of it are spoiled by DJ/MC declarations (think "yeah, munks in the hizzle on the M.I.C.!" etc.) and a lack of organic instruments as opposed to sampled beatz. Nor is every song on the album particularly good, and there's at least one rap track. Not including the movie version of Bad Day and including "classic" versions of witch doctor and the Christmas Song is just poor in my opinion.

In all it suffers due to the context of the movie. The movie deals with record companies and producers and making songs that are primarily commercially minded and that means including (as many songs do today) guest rap vocals or musical elements in a track which would be better as a straight rock/pop effort, and The Chipmunks were supposed to be a rock band anyway.

Artist: Bob Dylan

Best Christmas album of all times, 2010-02-22
This is the best Christmas album ever - or maybe it's an album ABOUT Christmas. Anyway Bob's enthusiasm is so genuine its only parallel would be Elvis grinning hysterically on the famous live version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight", which of course could not be labelled intentional, when speaking of emotion coming through on vinyl/CD. Arrangements straight out of the 1950's incl. wonderful male and female choruses plus steel guitar although sometimes slightly more modern guitar riffs mingle effortlessly. A masterpiece of musicality and good will towards Mankind.

Artist: Frank Sinatra

Excellent, the best collection of Sinatra's music, 2010-03-07
This is what I would consider a proper collection of Frank Sinatra's work. If you're looking for My Way, New York New York, and Strangers In The Night - then it's recommended you also buy the collection 'My Way'.

As for this CD, this is Frank Sinatra at his prime, and it's more listenable for the very reason that it contains less-played songs from his career. The problem with the CD 'My Way' is that we've heard it all before, it's like The Beatles - by all means get the Greatest Hits, but eventually you'll get fed up of Love Me Do and want to check out 'Abbey Road' or 'The White Album.'

Buy this and 'My Way' and you've got a fantastic introduction to Sinatra. This compilation is an essential part of any Swing music lover's record collection.

Artist: Hayley Westenra

Loved it once they had sent my the right cd, 2010-04-16
Just love it I got this for Christmas last year and still listen to it now just wish they had sent me the right CD in the first place :D

Artist: Andrea Bocelli

WONDERFUL MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS, 2010-03-19

If you love this vocalist you will love this music to add to your Christmas collection and will enjoy for many years to come....

Artist: Sting

Sting always surprising..., 2010-04-29
One of the things I love from Sting is that he always surprises me. He changes from CD to CD, searching for new ways, without never been different from he himself, at the same time.

This record, absolutely acoustical (the previous one had much electronics), has a very special and calm feeling, and a folkish quality that makes it so lovely... It became one of my favourites!

Artist: Enya

Enya seventh studio album, And Winter Came can be enjoyed in two ways. With songs like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Journey Of The Angels”, the children’s song “Toy Soldier” and a Gaelic version of “Silent Night”, (“Oiche Chiuin”) it is, at least half of the time, a celebration of Christmas, flush with joyful, traditional festive cheer (and those haunting, floating vocals). But other songs here are less overtly religious. The ambient title track, the ethereal “Last Time By Moonlight” and the chugging, rhythmic “Trains And Winter Rains”, although equally emotive, conjure up slightly different imagery--namely, landscapes of ice-covered forests and star-strewn nightscapes. Of course all the songs somehow together to create a coherent winter tapestry that’s broken only by the surprisingly poppy "My! My! Time Flies!”--an upbeat number that features, believe it or not, some adroit blues guitar. Perhaps on Enya’s next album we’ll see more of her pop side let loose; but for now this is as “adult contemporary” as it gets. --Danny McKenna
Enya "And Winter Came", 2010-08-17
Another great CD from Enya - She really is one of my most favourite artists - Highly recommended.

Artist: Various Artists

disney xmas cd, 2010-06-10
A great Cd, a change to the usual Christmas music, and perfect for my 10 year old daughter who loves the stars from the Disney channel.

MAYBE THE BEST TENOR OF 2OTH. CENTURY, 2010-05-29
Mario Lanza: The Ultimate Collection

This recording is truly great, showing of the great Lanza's remarkable command of the operatic and more modern genre of singing.

Poor Mario, he was exploited badly by the Holywood star mincing machine and never really believed that he had the luck to have this wonderful voice and a truly marvellous voice it was.

I was about eleven years old, I think (I am now sixty-six) when I first heard him on the radio and remember being totally and wholly fascinated that such a voice could issue from a human throat. He was compared to the great Caruso and his voice was, in fact, mistakenly thought to be Caruso's on more than one occasion.

He chose (or more likely was coerced) to go into films rather than onto the operatic stage and, who knows, if he had taken the other course, he may have lived longer and would have been able to leave us more of his wonderful gift? I do believe that, because Mario was of a naturally robust build, which incidentally made for his better singing, the pressure of Holywood forcing him to diet to look slimmer for his films, caused a lot of his health problems. He actually died from a pulmonary embolism at the very young age of thirty-seven, which could have resulted from his constant dieting having a dilatory effect on his circulation.

I remember when I heard that he had died ( I was fifteen) I felt quite devastated and found it hardly believable. What a tragedy and an unnecessary waste.

The Three Tenors, Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras have all said that he was their idol when they first came into the operatic world; for these three greats to say this, says a great deal about Mario's heart-breaking voice, doesn't it?

Buy this recording and his others as they are all wonderful and in a lot of cases heart-rending with the sweetness of his articulation and delivery. In my opinion they have never been bettered even by Pavarotti and that's saying a lot in my book.

Artist: Thea Gilmore

The spirit of Christmas, 2010-01-14
Purchased after seeing Thea live on her Christmas 09 Tour - the album featured heavily in the show - 'That'll be Christmas' is the stand out perfect Chrimbo 'pop' tune - although 'Old December' was the song I [as an old man with grey hair] was whisteling after listening to the CD - 'Sol Invictus' was a grower I didn't like at first - 11 tracks including bonus version of ' That'll be Christmas' - can't fault it - made my Christmas!