Arrebol - Aline De Lima

Advantages: A few really good tracks, some De La Soul tunes you have never heard before
Disadvantages: The album has no flow, a few weak remixes

...***Warning*** This review does contain some edited adult language and themes. The words have been changed but the meaning is plain. In the stacks of wax you can find the De La Mix: Remixes, Rarities & Classics, De La Soul's 2004 release on Tommy Boy/ Rhino. This is not so much a greatest hits as it is a revisiting in an alternate universe. Both commercial and critical successes are treated to a fresh dusting off, live performance or remix on this disk. Laying down the Knowledge For those of you that don't already know, De La Soul has been around since rap was just rap. Hip hop was just starting to take root as a music genre. There was just rap. When the boys from Long Island hit the scene there was the rap that played on the radio and the rap we listened to when our parents were out of ear shot. De La dropped 3 Feet High... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lots of lovely versions of some Porter Classics
Disadvantages: A couple of bad notes, and if you don't like Porter, you won't want this album

...It is the rare occasion that finds me buying a movie soundtrack. The main reason for this is that many have some silly background music tracks added to them that frankly, aren't all that fantastic musically, and were probably added just to have enough sound-bites to justify putting out an album. Oh, sure, the soundtrack for "Good Morning Vietnam" is one exception - but who doesn't enjoy hearing Robin Williams doing his run-off-at-the-mouth shtick in addition to some great Rock & Roll? Another exception is this CD - the soundtrack for De-Lovely. You see, from the moment I saw this movie, I knew I was going to buy the soundtrack. I've always loved Cole Porter songs, and this was a way to get a nice collection while also getting an interesting combination of artists performing them. Here's what I think of this CD. First of all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Fast, lively, talented, rare sounds
Disadvantages: None that I can think of except it might be difficult to understand lyrics

...Firstly a little bit about the band as I notice there is a distinct lack of reviews about them. Taraf de Haidouks are the Buena Vista Social Club of Europe, they're unbelievably talented musicians from a small village in Romania. The band line-up changes and they are forever willing to experiment with other musicians. Having been to a few live concerts of them myself, I can say that they are very open, friendly, talented and create a vigour and excitement about the crowd that can rarely be compared. Now on to the album - Band of Gypsies was recorded in Bucharest in the year 2000, it was the 4th album put out by Taraf De Haidouks, looking to integrate other Balkan styles they invited Kocani Orkestar (from Macedonia), Filip Simeonov a clarinet player from Bulgaria and percussionist Tarik Tuysuzoglu from Turkey to play alongside them... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful