Adams: Grand Pianola Music; Reich: Eight Lines

Advantages: strong songs
Disadvantages: could have been more varied

...Bryan Adams has been making albums for an age now and you worry if anything he releases will represent anything significantly different to warrant a purchase. This album is certainly more of the same from Adams, and as such nothing really stands out but all the songs are good and easy to listen to. The very familiar soft rock style is evident throughout, but Adams does add a greater element of pop making a lot of the tunes that more catchier for example in the excellent ?When You?re Gone? with Mel C. There are also a fair number of slower moving ballads in line with Adams previous work such as ?Cloud Number Nine? and the soothing ?Inside Out.? This is another good album from Adams, not outstanding, but he shows that he still knows how to make music.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Great songs, great riffs, great vocals
Disadvantages: A few average tracks

...This greatest hits collection shows what a versatile, original and underrated band Queensryche are. Opening with the heavy Queen of the Reich, followed by the melodic The Lady Wore Black, you know straght away that Queensryche are capable of more than just standard heavy metal riffing. Jet City Woman has an incredible bass introduction, fantastic vocals and an anthemic chorus, putting Queensryche above most other bands for power, while also showing a more subtle side to their music. This is also evident on bonus track Someone Else which has some haunting saxophone lines, again elevating Queensryche above the competition. A final mention must go to the incredible vocals of Geoff Tate, who stands alongside Rob Halford of Judas Priest as one of the best rock/metal singers around. Of course, not every track is a classic, but it's definitely... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A good range of music is presented here
Disadvantages: Not so good for new Reich fans

...The main piece on this CD is Triple Quartet, a work written as recently as 1999. It has a strident and pungent sound but features Reich's famous driving, pulsing rhythms that are really captivating. Unlike his earlier works, the harmonies are stronger and less lush and there is a constant sense of drama and a surprisingly high level of passion. It took me some time to warm to the piece but now it is very high on my list. The slow movement is particlarly beautiful. Next up is a reworking of Violin Phase for electric guitar. An odd concept but it does work. However i prefer the original, its hard edge tone may not be to everybodys liking. Music for a large ensemble follows next and flows along at fast pace with interlocking patterns. There were moments when the mix seems to lose its way, and some of the textures seem to collide a little... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful