America - John Fahey

Advantages: Skilled musicianship, unique interpretations
Disadvantages: None, if you like the genre

.... THE MAN: The 55-year-old Kottke is not a new name on the music scene. But despite a modicum of commercial success he remains somewhat of a cult figure. Like so many of his inspirations and mentors, Kottke seems content to have contributed to a uniquely American musical repository. Most of his early recordings, including this one on the now-defunct "roots" label Takoma, eschew any attempt at mass sales. Nonetheless, though Takoma has ceased to exist, Kottke’s early recordings including this one are easy to find on the likes of amazon.com, CD Now, half.com, etc. A self-taught guitarist who started on the trombone, Kottke has drawn heavily on the likes of Leadbelly, Robbie Basho, Ralph Towner, Joe Pass, and, of course, his true mentor, the inimitable John Fahey, founder of Takoma in a Washington, DC suburb in 1959. But Kottke has also drawn... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: FANTATSIC
Disadvantages: NONE

...ELTON JOHN WELL HE JUST DOES NOT COMPARE TO OTHERS DOES HE. HERE IS A MAN WHO CAN ENTERAIN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WHO LIKE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC. THIS ALBUM IS RECORDED FROM HIS PERFORMANCE IN AMERICA AND INCLUDES THE AUDIENCES REACTIONS WHICH HELPS TO SHOW THE LIKENESS AND THE ENJOYMENT OF THE MUSIC, THE ALBUM CONTAINS ALL OF THE CLASSICS SUCH AS CANDLE IN THE WIND AND ALSO CONTAINS MANY DUETS WITH SUCH PEOPLE AS ANASTACIA AND RONAN KEATING. THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL WHICH CAN BE FALTED ON THE ALBUM. ELTON JOHN IN MY OPINIO IS THE BEST AND AS THIS ALBUM SHOWS ALL OF THE BEST TRACKS HE HAS DONE IT REALLY IS ELTON AT HIS HIGHEST... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent lyrics, good instumental
Disadvantages: If you're not a fan of the genre than this won't change your mind

...Like most people, I first heard about Five For Fighting (a solo singer by the name of John Ondrasik; not a band like the title suggests) when his song "Superman" appeared on Smallville I loved it and decided to hunt down the album. I really brought the album for that one song so it came as a great suprise when pretty much every song is as strong as "Superman" - pun intended. Writing great lyrics is what John does best and they really make a strong album, imfact, Superman is so great it actually adds depth to the character never before seen in any previous reincarnations. I don't know you or what John is singing about in "The Last Great American" but it's a beautiful song. Things take a strange turn halfway through the album when he starts singing about wanting to be Michael Jordan but it fits well with the rest of his clever... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful