21 Grams - Gustavo Santaolalla

Advantages: Intelligent and thoughtful that grows on you with intoxicating results
Disadvantages: Restrained and very calm throughout that will lull the unwary to sleep

...also be enjoyed as calming background music. There is nothing incredibly demanding here, but for those wishing to hear intelligent music, or just enjoy more restrained material, there is not much you can go wrong with this album. Released by Sony Classical, the album runs for 60 minutes and offers a nicely balanced listening experience, one that lures for repeat listenings. Of all the scores released in 2005, Memoirs of a Geisha stands as one of the best, and its Oscar nomination came as no surprise, particularly after winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Score. However, as it so often happens, the Academy once again made the most unfathomable decision of giving the award to Gustavo Santaolalla's extremely simplistic and unashamedly manipulative 15-minute play-it-in-a-loop score for Brokeback Mountain (personally I think the theme... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Interesting Musical Metamorphosis of very good songs
Disadvantages: none in particular

...The actual title of this album is "Reversiones/Siempre es Hoy" (or "Remixes/Siempre Es Hoy"). It is a double album of remixes from Gustavo Cerati's previous album, entitled "Siempre Es Hoy" (It's Always Today), which I will review separately when my product suggestion comes through. I find it surprising that this particular album of the fantastic artist that is Gustavo Cerati is one of the easiest to find in the UK and on many websites, indeed it is often the only one that you will find on some sites, but I have come to understand why this may be. I purchased my copy in Argentina, but amazon.co.uk sell it for £11.99 new or from £6.95 for a used copy. ************************************ Gustavo Cerati is an Argentinean and one of the most famous living artists to come out of Latin America. Although he is seen as a "Rock" artist... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A beautiful marriage between a fantastic voice and an amazing symphonic orchestra
Disadvantages: none

...First of all, may I point out that the title of this album is "11 Episodios Sinfónicos" (11 Symphonic Episodes) and not "Sinfónicas". Gustavo Cerati is one of the biggest names in Latin American rock music, a huge name indeed, and as such, this album surprised a lot of people when it first came out, or rather, before it even came out. It was a live recording of a show, which originally, was not meant to turn into a CD. But its quality, originality and success led to the decision of releasing it as both a CD and DVD (of the same title). Cerati is renowned for experimenting with new rhythms, instruments and styles, but "11 Episodios Sinfónicos" was totally different, as it was recorded (after extreme rehearsals) with an entire symphonic orchestra, and consisted of a set of 11 songs in total: 4 from his career as a solo artist... Read review

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