Piano Man - Earl 'Fatha' Hines

Advantages: Different styles of music - powerful voice
Disadvantages: For myself - none

...slightly more opera-like so it doesn’t actually SOUND more cheerful. Some lovely piano work here as Hayley sings to the River Of Dreams to take her away and whisper it’s secrets too her. Joined once again by the choir towards the end, this sounds like one of those big numbers sung in huge halls where people wear glitzy dresses and tux’s... though not both at the same time... though you could if you wanted to. Just might be a bit warm. Big song, big finish - real skin tingler! BENEDICTUS (from The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace) ~ 3.49 Benedictus: Blessed. Highly, highly sung. Big, big choir of angels accompanying the angel that’s singing. Play loud. Very loud. Religious song, I’m not a fan of those but hey, you can’t fight this girl. It’s magnificent. HINE E HINE (Maiden O Maiden) ~ 5.05 Once again sung in another language. (Don’t ask me... Read review

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Advantages: Sublime, soulful songs by Schubert
Disadvantages: Sung in German

...The Music This is the first of two albums of Schubert’s Lieder composed for piano and voice. Schubert composed the music to the work of such classical poets including, Goethe, Collins and Shakespeare. Each Lied tells a story of its own. The lyrics are sung in German but a translation is included in the cover. I won't give a track by track listing of the CD as this is easily available but will mention some of my personal favourites. 1. Lieder: Die Forelle: The Trout (Schubert) A playful a cheerful tale of a trout's journey through a stream. Most people will know and love Schubert's piano quintet also entitled The Trout. 5. Lieder: Heidenröslein: Wild Rose (Goethe) A serious ode to the beauty of the wild rose. 6. Lieder: Wandrers Nachtlied II: Wanderers Night song (Goethe) A tranquil tale of a man wandering through the deserted and quiet... Read review

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Advantages: Giving country a well deserved facelift
Disadvantages: -

...The term country these days has achieved the same status as the term folk when applied to music, derision, beligerance and dismissal. One envokes images of cowboys and linedancing, the latter beards, pipes and arran sweaters. Well for those that dig deep enough in the fringes of these genres there are some unexpected rewards to be found, and none moreso than Steve Earle. Earle seems to have grown up back to front, most artists begin as boistorus young tearaways full of angst and calm down to a quieter period in there later years. What you have with this man is an artist who has become more pushy and rebellious with age, to the point where by the time of Copperhead Roadthe young country guitarist had been replaced by the Harley riding, leatherclad, tattooed troubadour. Image aside, what do you get for your money. Well the style... Read review

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