Artist: David Bowie

Where was that all those years?!, 2009-12-14
(asked the no-bootleg man...).

Being a long-life Bowie fan, I tend to purchase all his new releases. As soon as this came out, I grabbed it. My, oh my - this is a tremendous Ziggy live performance that makes the original Ziggy Stardust live sound like a rehearsal! I simply couldn't believe my ears.

Admittedly, the sound quality is not top. But it still is perfectly audible - don't think for a moment that it will spoil the experience.

The band is at its absolute absolute top. Ronson's guitar playing is sublime, Mick Woodmansey's drumming is insane and Bowie sings his heart out. And the true bonus: on stage, Mike Garson is playing the piano!

I get the feeling the band were quite enjoying this performance, it's got a lot of spark that I at least hadn't heard before.

True gem, worth every penny.

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: Andrea Bocelli

Fantastic Disc, 2010-02-18
This disc stayed in the car player for eight weeks. Great listening tracks 5 and 6 are perfect Boccelli. May have to change it soon. Well worth the purchase.

Artist: Sting

Sting Christmas Music, 2010-03-05
One of the best Sting works yet. Perfect for those cold winter nights by the fire. Ideal to listen to or just have as background music. When the Christmas Tree is decorated, the lights are low and a glass of mulled wine in hand you are transported back to a time long, long ago

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
Another beauty!, 2010-01-09
Having listened to this album for a year, even during the summer months, and then reading the reviews by others, I found myself agreeing, particularly, with two of my fellow reviewers. As Lee Kaay said, "other reviewers have missed the point." Remember, "this is Enya, not different Enya". If you REALLY like Enya, why would you want something different? Me, I don't want anything different, I want her, in all of her glory - and this is a glorious album. In fact, this album is probably second only to Watermark, if not THE best.

Then, there is Julia Gemstone. I am not a stressed parent (my two lads have flown the nest), but I agree entirely with her when she says she loves Enya and find her music soothing. I find great peacefulness in her music. Strangely, I am not a fan of Christmas, but do like Christmas music; but I think this album, as the title states, goes beyond Christmas and goes into the whole winter season.

I find the whole album has great warmth and a variety of textures. It also feels like an album accessible to all - the children would like "One Toy Soldier", those who like a bit of tempo in their music have "My! My! Time Flies!" and "Trains and Winter Rains" to listen to, whilst those who want a hymnal slant can have the beauty that is "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and the fantastic new, Chorale version of "Oiche Chiuin" (Silent Night in gaelic). For us romantics, I think the highlights of this album, and tracks I just can not stop playing are "Dreams Are More Precious" and "Last Time By Moonlight" - in my opinion, the two best tracks I have ever heard from Enya. The first has such beauty in the lyrics and are wonderfully sung as a single voice; the second, as with other tracks on this album, has a whole choir of Enya and is just the most magically romantic song - I get goosebumps listening to it.

Yes, I know it's all subjective and it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find this to be a beautifully produced album, with stunning music, singing and instrumentation. The CD booklet is even a masterpiece, in snow white, with great pictures of our heroine and containing Roma Ryan's lyrics.

For me, this is sheer bliss - New Age music at its very best. Thank you, Enya. Some may have doubted whether you, Roma and Nicky Ryan, still had the ability to come up with another great album, but you've done so here with something bordering on superlative. What I want now is a DVD of all the tracks....or is that one request too far?

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!

Artist: Pet Shop Boys

Love it !, 2010-02-14
It is Xmas time and PSB is fun. It's wonderful that this pop duo is producing such wonderful songs after so many many years. Just enjoy this trip. Every song is a jewel and IT DOESN'T OFTEN SNOW AT CHRISTMAS is the best Xmas song ever. Thank you boys!

Artist: Ronan Keating

Marian Rhodes, 2010-01-19
Beautiful album. My favourite track being "Scars". Just listen to the lyrics, they are what we all have. You cannot go through life without your own scars, very touching. I also loved "Homward bound" by Simon Garfunkel originally, but Ronan does it his way and it's great.

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.

thoroughly enjoyed the CD, 2009-12-15
I am not an expert in any shape or form about classical music or a collector of huge number of CDs but Handel's Messiah has always been been my favourite. So I bought this set based on the recommendation of reviews and it did not disappoint. With the good price and famous orchestra and conductor, it's unlikely to go wrong.