Complete Specialty Recordings, The - Sam Cooke/Soul Stirrers (The)

Advantages: Absolutely fantastic, there's no other word to describe it
Disadvantages: Silly rubber DVD nob and price can be hefty

...the Ring changes hands or makes some important progress in its journey. First presented in the "Prologue," the theme will be extensively heard in the cues "Keep it Secret, Keep it Safe," "A Conspiracy Unmasked," the end of "The Fighting Uruk-Hai" and "Parth Galen." The thing about the original album that had always left me somewhat peeved was that this theme only made one single appearance on the entire album, in the track "The Great River," and even then it was a gigantic brass fanfare instead of the usual string arrangement. That was such a huge omission that it left a somewhat sour taste in my mouth. Fortunately the Complete Recording now fills out that transgression. The "Seduction of the Ring" theme is another major Ring theme as it highlights the Ring's alluring power. Sung by a boy's chorus, there is a sense of innocence in the theme... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: superb songs, lyrics and vocals
Disadvantages: takes a few listens

...Here it was. The long anticipated second album after the world wide smash of their debut album, Hot Fuss. Released in the UK in October 2006 on the Lizard King label the critics were sharpening their knives in anticipation due to Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, describing the album as "one of the best albums in the past twenty years" and that it would be "the album that keeps rock & roll afloat." The amazing success of Hot Fuss, hype surrounding the second album release and claims of grandeur by Flowers made for a heady mix of both excitement and trepidation when Sam's Town was released. The album takes its name from the Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, a hotel-casino in Las Vegas, the hometown of the band. Sam's Town is nothing like I was expecting. Whereas Hot Fuss was influenced by 80's New Wave with the end result being... Read review

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Advantages: Unparalleled playing, Unbelievably good bargain for 6 CDs!
Disadvantages: Um, paper sleeves? No, seriously, it's great

...This box set comprises recordings from 1985-89, when Horowitz was 81 years old! In 1986 Horowitz returned to Russia after 60 years away to give his monumental Moscow recital of which the live recording is included in this set. I personally find this performance of Liszt's Sonetto 104 del Petrarca to be the finest ever recorded. Alongside this is Scarlatti, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Schumann, Chopin, Moszkowski, and Schubert. Accompanying this recital is 5 other discs of outstandingly unique playing. As he got older, Horowitz's playing became a sort of caricature of itself in the nicest possible way. By this I mean, his dynamics became more extreme, he became more expressive than ever, and his sense of style was heightened to new levels. Horowitz's Mozart playing has been criticized for being too free and not in Mozart... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful