(The) Merson String Quartet plays 50 Yars of American Music

Advantages: it's pretty
Disadvantages: it's pretty cheesy

...faster though. Still, it's the songification of Christmas. ********The packaging The cover of this cd bears much resemblance to the last one - four men in black and white suits. But they look more relaxed on the cover here, more smiles, more assured of their knicker-filled futures no doubt. Inside there are pictures of each of them and another group shot (all still black and white) as well as the lyrics of the songs, which is great if you're multi-lingual - only two of the songs (I believe in you, and O Holy Night) are in English. ********Price I got mine for £9.97 at Woolworths. Now that price won't last long, but it seemed fair to me. It's £8.47 at Amazon (plus shipping), and £8.99 at play.com (free shipping) but I couldn't wait :) ********Overall My music reviews also tend to not do as well as, say snack-type products, but I... Read review

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Advantages: Fun songs, great cast
Disadvantages: Not for children or the easily offended

..., parts of it are inspired by the type of sketch and song that can be seen on Sesame Street, only instead of teaching numbers, colours and letters, we get taught about the word 'Schadenfreude'. And instead of being told that it's good to share, we get told about the ways in which 'Everyone's a Little Bit Racist'. By now you should be seeing the tone of the show (and hence the CD)... The cast is divided into two parts. First we have the trio of actors who play one, human role throughout the show (like the kindly adults who appear on Sesame Street). These are Brian (played by Jordan Gelber), an out-of-work and happy-go-lucky man, Christmas Eve (Ann Harada), his Japanese fiancé who is a social worker, and Gary Coleman (the child actor all grown up, here played by a woman, Natalie Venetia Belcon), who runs the building where most... Read review

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Advantages: Haunting, passionate music to get lost in.
Disadvantages: It's classical and this puts people off before they even try it.

.... Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that he had around the time of composing it played the Viola in Beethoven’s string quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826) of which Wagner has commented, “a soul in distress”, followed by pleasant visions, a new yearning for life, beauty, gentleness, yearning, love, whims, humour, hilarity” and then “transition to resignation and painful renunciation” – one man’s reaction and sure proof of the music’s ability to evoke both strong emotion and powerful imagery.” This music sent Schubert “into such transports of delight and enthusiasm that all feared for him”. Beethoven had died the previous year (1827) and Schubert had not only visited him shortly before his death but was also a torchbearer at his funeral. I am no authority on music, I can... Read review

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