Mail Order Knife Set - Reprisal

Advantages: Gorgeous sultry tango music for late-night listening.
Disadvantages: Only about 40 minutes of music, not to everyone's taste.

...was originally written for a dance-theatre production, story based on two tales written by Jean Luis Borges which depicted "a brief and tragic mirror of the character of those hard-bitten men living on the edge of Buenos Aires before the turn of the century". Many of the tunes had lyrics written to go with them; they are not on this recording, and it certainly doesn't feel like anything is lacking (I had to read the small print on the CD inlay to even find out that it was a theatre production!) 1. Prologue (Tango Apasionado) 2. Milonga for Three 3. Street Tango 4. Milonga Picaresque 5. Knife Fight 6. Leonora's Song 7. Prelude to the Cyclical Night (Part One) 8. Butcher's Death 9. Leijia's Game 10. Milonga for Three (Reprise) 11. Bailongo 12. Leonora's Love Theme 13. Finale (Tango Apasionado) 14. Prelude to the Cyclical Night (Part Two) (Total... Read review

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Advantages: A unique album in its genre
Disadvantages: Perhaps not for everyone

...I was surprised to find that this album had been shelved by the band's previous record company, Reprise, as on first hearing it I was hooked. Fortunately it was released by Nonesuch, another offshoot or Warner Music (as Reprise), and so as frontman Jeff Tweedy was quoted "If Warners look through their accounts, they'll find they paid for this record twice!" Anyway, on to the music. People who have heard Wilco before this album may have been expecting alt-country in the style of Ryan Adams for example, but the first track breaks from this idea immediately. Whereas the singing is mostly lo-fi it ends with squalling electronic feedback. This sets the tone for the album in general, far more experimental than anythin they have done before, which in my mind is a good thing. Particular favourites of mine include the lush Jesus, etc... Read review

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Advantages: Humorous lyrics delivered with real panache
Disadvantages: You might prefer to have seen the stage show first

...lyrics include: I'll sing it in your face While we both embrace And then We change The key I can't believe there's more It's far too long, I'm sure That's the trouble with this song It goes on and on and on For this is our song that is too long! 9. He Is Not Dead Yet - Playoff Short drill instructor-style chant with a lovely nod towards the Lumberjack Song. 10. All For One This starts with a short scene-setting by the historian and goes into a song by Arthur and the knights about how they are there for each other. Musically it is a cross between "Underneath The Arches" and "One More Angel In Heaven". 11. Knights Of The Round Table/The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise) For those of you who know Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this song features all of the lyrics plus some Vegas style instrumental and dance breaks. The song segues... Read review

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