Alpha - CX Audio IE

Advantages: Diverse sampler for some of Vangelis' extensive discography.
Disadvantages: Lacks context, and ignores much classic material.

...a little bit from the others, or at least I would have thought so. To add to this insanity, 'Odyssey' isn't even the most recent of these carbon copies, although it remains the last to be officially endorsed. It seems that Universal's goal is merely to fill an accessible 'greatest hits' spot on HMV shelves for eternity, while drawing in the hardcore fans by adding one or two rare and previously unreleased tracks completely out of context. Context is indeed the major factor lacking here, though this is something that plagues all compilations for all bands. As partially ambient electronic works, Vangelis' individual tracks appear almost always to be crafted with the rest of the album's companion pieces in mind. To take examples from this collection, 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha' may have been the strongest picks from 1976's 'Albedo 0.39' LP, but removed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Accurately replicates the summer of love
Disadvantages: Accurately replicates the summer of love

...). The band clearly wear their references on their sleeves (early Beatles, earlier Stones, Love, The Animals and a host of others). For me, when listening to this album I get snatches of Saint Etienne (circa Foxbase Alpha) and Dodgy (though don't let that put you off). Also a more restrained The Coral (i.e. the tuneful stuff). Obviously you'll have heard it all before. There is nothing new here, but then sometimes you want to hear new things, and other times you want albums that are like comfortable shirts. This is a rather nice, tie-dyed, cozy shirt. I can see this being on my stereo quite frequently over the summer (assuming we get a summer). It's that type of album. The Bees have set out to create a warm, festival friendly album (by the way this album is from 2004, but I'm sure it'll be rereleased on the back of the Sure advert) and have... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: gives you a choice of experiencing the concert through audio or video
Disadvantages: I wanted it to carry on after it had finished

...'Wake me up...' when the crowds are swaying and you can see Billie Joe's eyes watering up. If for some reason you think watching a concert for over an hour will be boring, you have a break after every song where we follow members of the band around while they were in the UK, either talking about songs, or just being american idiots. (like what i did there?) If you were at the concert and feel that watching it on a TV screen wont compare to the real thing, well unless you are there it wont get more real than this, the atmosphere is captured perfectly. If you don't want to watch the concert, or can't be bothered to listen to the extras between songs, the audio version is a cut-down version of the concert (i.e. the songs without the bits in between). This CD is a must buy for a Green Day fan whether you're old or new, if not for your favourite... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful