Apartment 12 - Karen Pernick

Advantages: Karen's Voice
Disadvantages: Bit Slushy

...What can I say; she has to be one of the most beautiful voices of our time – and if it hadn’t been for the press criticizing her weight in their early years as a band she still might be around today. Unfortunately, Anorexia Nervosa took Karen Carpenters looks and her life. Karen Carpenter sang with a golden voice, which was and still is intoxicating to the listener. A strong, beautiful voice and one which no one comes close to today. Her brother Richard Carpenter was the writer behind many of their hits and also the producer of them. These two known as "The Carpenters" found success on a scale that not many singers today find. Their longevity proves they were unique and special in the world of popular music. They arrived on the music scene back in 1970 - the year I was born - and at first they weren’t received particularly... Read review

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Advantages: poetry in motion , songs for lovers it true.
Disadvantages: set such a high standard , none can equal

...‘Only Yesterday’ - The Carpenters First , a brief history...> Many of you who read this op , will have read other music ops of mine , concentrating on groups I really love , eg Queen , Fleletwood Mac and Erasure . All have been very well received via the ratings given , which is always good news . Many have said you also like the same groups . But why is it when I say I love anything to do with The Carpenters , that I get quite a few quips and knock backs ? Ask anyone with a fairly decent knowledge of music , to name a female singer with abosolute pitch perfect voice , and one answer that will always surface is that of Karen Carpenter , who with brother Richard , made up The Carpenters . Formed as the Carpenters in 1968 , their big break came from the A in A&M Records , Herb Alpert , who upon hearing Karens voice , signed... Read review

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Advantages: cracking pop/rock slightly goth music.
Disadvantages: slightly dated 1985 sound

...Peter Murphy was the face and the voice of Goth pioneers Bauhaus. When they split in 1983 Murphy embarked on a solo career of which Should The World Fail To Fall Apart was the first of many excellent solo albums. But it's not all plain sailing - there are signs that Murphy was still finding his feet on this record. The resolutely 80's production doesn't help either and the overall impression is that this album was completed on a shoestring. Having said that it sounds good, the songs are strong and Murphy's idiosyncratic vocals are marvellous. Top tunes include the hugely commercial "Blue Heart" another smash flop single for PM, a great cover of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" and a number of slower songs such as the atmospherically spooky "Confessions" and the lovely opener "Canvas Beauty". Most of the songs are quite a distance away from... Read review

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