2007 - Joe Bonamassa - Sloe Gin !!

In the liner notes of Sloe Gin, emerging guitar great Joe Bonamassa explains that one of his objectives is to experiment with acoustic elements he first encountered while listening to Rod Stewart's earliest work. "I think the heavy blues and acoustic mix well together," he writes, and the inviting variety of the disc's 11 tracks--from the rousing electric rave-up of the title track to the closing, tabla-propelled acoustic instrumental--persuasively underscores his point. Bonamassa is a major talent with a growing following, and as his fan base inevitably expands it may become difficult for him to keep everyone happy. Hardcore blues devotees no doubt will yearn for Bonamassa to stay perpetually plugged in, but in the long term that would be a disservice to his broad range of skills. Bonamassa rocks formidably and convincingly on "Dirt in My Pocket" (a bristling original composition), the title track (well suited for air guitar), and his Claptonesque rendering of John Mayall's "Another Kind of Love." Yet his softer works suggest that he sounds a little more comfortable and natural--vocally, at least--on the acoustic tracks. His retooled version of "Around the Bend" (his first take on this original composition is found on an earlier release) is an engaging, pastoral gem, and his paean to his upstate New York home ("Richmond") is perhaps this disc's most memorable selection. Bonamassa knows the blues (at the time of this release, he was the youngest member on the board of the Blues Foundation), but he also knows how to rock and how to sagaciously, artfully ease off the gas.

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2008 - Mike Oldfield - Music Of The Spheres !!

From the Artist
Music Of The Spheres By Mike Oldfield

In this world, everything has a pulse or a vibration. This sound is unique to each living or non living thing and in itself creates a music that no-one can hear. I believe that this has a very powerful resonance with, and a deep effect, on our lives. What would happen if we took this further and apply this to bigger things , more powerful things ; like an entire solar system or galaxy say, what would that sound like?

Musica Universalis is the ancient theory that every celestial body, the sun, the moon and the stars has an inner music. This is a harmonic and mathematical concept derived from the movements of the planets in the solar system. The music created is inaudible to the human ear.

Music of the Spheres is my interpretation of this theory. Every planet and every star; even the whole universe has music within it that no-one can hear, this is what it would sound like if it was set free. This is Music of the Spheres.

Mike Oldfield.

Releases March 9, 2008 in stores. See comments below for link !

2007 - Keiko Matsui - Moyo !!

Pianist Keiko Matsui, a favorite among smooth jazz and crossover fans for her elegant melodic style, breaks new ground on several fronts with Moyo. Having split with her husband Kazu Matsui, who produced her previous albums, she produced it herself, for a new label (Shout Factory), and recorded much of it in South Africa (as well as Japan, New York, California, and Colorado). Moyo has a high special-guest quotient: trumpeter Hugh Masekela, saxophonists Paul Taylor and Gerald Albright, and singer-bassist Richard Bona are featured. But the clean and sometimes spare arrangements allow the personal nature of the writing to come through. When Matsui trusts in the forceful lyricism of her playing, as on the title track (Swahili for "Heart and Soul"), she makes the strongest impression. But even when she employs synthesizer and soprano sax sweetening, the songs maintain their honest expression. The rhythmic thrust of South African-derived songs such as "After the Rain" may well open her up to a new audience.

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2007 - Evanescence - In The Shadows !!

For fans, In The Shadows is an unofficial CD of the gothic rock band Evanescence made in 2007. The CD contains demos of 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002, ancient, ep´s outtakes, bonus tracks, acoustics versions and little-known songs from the band .

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2007 - Keane - The Night Sky !!

UK CD pressing of the British band's exclusive 2007 single, released to raise money for the UN Award winning charity War Child. ‘The Night Sky’, produced by Keane and Andy Green, is written from a child's perspective about the war-torn devastation around them. Keane became patrons of War Child in 2006 to help raise money for children caught up in conflict and post conflict areas. Their work continues with the release of this exclusive single, and also marks the beginning of a campaign to raise money for War Child’s plight to help future generations affected by war. Features 'The Night Sky' plus 'Under Pressure' and 'Put It Behind You' (Fiasco Mix).

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2007 - Kenny Loggins - How About Now !!

Features 11 original songs infused with Loggins' signature rock/country sound; The album includes standouts "A Love Song" and the moving new song "How About Now"

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2007 - David Gray - Greatest Hits !!

David Gray s Greatest Hits, includes two brand new tracks produced by legendary Pink Floyd/Sex Pistols producer Chris Thomas. You re The World To Me and Destroyer mark the acclaimed singer-songwriter s first studio recordings since 2005 s Life In Slow Motion. The compilation is the first to feature songs from Gray s entire recording career, a period that encompasses seven albums, numerous record labels and in excess of 11 million albums sold worldwide.

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2007 - Dane Cook - Rough Around The Edges !

His third full-length, following the amazing showing of his first two CDs, "Harmful If Swallowed" and "Retaliation", which have sold over 1.2 million copies each and are still going strong. This double digipak contains a full-length CD of Cook's best new material, as well as a DVD of the live show, recorded in front of tens of thousands of adoring fans at MSG. Hands down the most energetic comedian today, Dane is best served with both audio and video components.

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2005 - Dane Cook - Retaliation !!

Following Cook's debut CD/DVD "Harmful if Swallowed", is this double CD of over 100 minutes of new material plus a companion DVD of some of his best Comedy Central appearances from "Crank Yankers" to "Shorties Watchin'" to "Unedited Bar Mitzvah Bash". Dane is one of the top stand-up comedians working today, headlining sold out shows coast to coast. He's had his own top-rated Comedy Central special, and performed countless times on Letterman, Leno, Kimmel, and "Comics Come Home" hosted by Denis Leary.

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2003 - Dane Cook - Harmful If Swallowed !

Dane Cook is one of the top stand-up comedians working today, headlining many of the nation's most prestigious comedy clubs. Dane has his own top-rated Comedy Central(r) special. He has also appeared on Crank Yankers, Comics Come Home hosted by Denis Leary, and a countless variety of late night talk shows

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2007 - One Two - Instead !!

Long awaited debut album from this Electro-Pop duo featuring Claudia Brucken (Propaganda / Act,) and Paul Humphreys (OMD/Listening Pool). The album is a lush collection of sleek, dark Pop songs that enchants the listener on the first spin. It is immaculately produced, pristine modern Electronic music full of warmth and maturity. It is not retro, but contains enough musical references to their previous output that will delight their legions of loyal fans and lovers of Electronic music in general. The album is packaged in glossy digipak, with artwork by Paul Morley (who was responsible for most of the eye-catching artwork for ZTT Records). 13 tracks including 'Sequential', 'Signals' and 'Home (Tonight)'.

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2007 - Seal - System !!

The first studio album in four years from Seal, System, with it's shimmering melodies, layers of synths and acoustic guitar, and electronic beats, is a return to my roots says the singer-songwriter. To help him deliver a more dance oriented album, what he calls a quintessential Seal album, Seal turned to Stuart Price(Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor and Grammy-winning remixes for No Doubt and Coldplay).

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2007 - Colbie Caillat - Coco !!

Even without MySpace, singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat is sure to have found an audience, but her oft-accessed page accelerated the process, mostly on the strength of the effervescent "Bubbly." On her first full-length album, the California native conjures up clear skies and warm breezes. Not that the lyrics revolve around her stomping grounds of Malibu and Ventura County, but her mellow melodies sound like products of those places (co-writer Jason Reeves' ukulele playing reinforces the beach music impression). Instead, Caillat sings about love in all its guises, as on "Capri," a tribute to a mother-to-be. The daughter of audio engineer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac's Rumours), who provides production assistance, Colbie combines acoustic pop, light jazz, and blue-eyed soul on Coco. Despite her young age--22 at the time of its release--the record seems likely to attract an older audience, although her sunny singing manages to sound centered and spirited at the same time. Coco doesn't offer anything startlingly new, but its relaxing vibe is hard to resist.

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2007 - James Blunt - All The Lost Souls !!

In 2005, James Blunt was everybody's favorite overnight success story. In 2007, he's the guy who's making rock meaningful again. All the Lost Souls,, the sophomore effort from the Brit responsible for restoring the seriousness of "beautiful" as a compliment, brims with big build-ups, epic-sounding ballads, and lyrics to lose yourself in. The vibe, laid out neatly on first single and opening track "1973," is clear-eyed and heavy-hearted; in anybody over 35, it'll produce nostalgia tempered by hopefulness--here's a set that suggests rock has got its head screwed on straight again, that the path to real feelings need not necessarily be led by Norah Jones. In anybody younger, it'll cause the unsinkable suspicion that a lot of modern balladeers should be digging deeper. But in both cases it will satisfy. Compared with David Gray and Damien Rice last time out, this time Blunt seems to owe a debt to Barry Gibb--his voice quavers as sweetly and with the same delicate reach. Stand-outs on a brief but dud-less set include "I Really Want You," in which the sound of Blunt's breaking heart is set sparely and elegantly to something approximating the chirp of a cricket, the poignant and desperate "Give Me Some Love", and the VH-1 ready "Same Mistakes."

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2007 - Celine Dion - Taking Chances !!

Taking Chances is not without its daring moments--we'll get to those--but the first order of business in any review of this much-hyped record, on which Celine Dion is said to have slunk away from her songbird instincts in favor of embracing her inner rock & roll wild child, should be fan reassurance. Therefore: fear not. Taking Chances has its share of poignant, pretty ballads (both "A Song for You" and "Right Next to the Right One" are goosebump-raisers) and love songs (the hopeful, heartfelt title track, which unfolds into an anthemic power ballad midway through, may be the best one). As far as standard Celine fare goes, in fact, Chances is likely her strongest non-French outing since 2002's A New Day Has Come; nobody unfolds a lyric with more care or nuance. And, as the subtle "My Love" deftly proves, any early-career instincts to over-sing have gone poof along with her '90s-era, sweet-natured-kook persona. Because it's a generous 16 songs long, it may even be possible to ignore the non-Celine-like moments on Taking Chances and just enjoy the more fan-faithful tracks. But that wouldn't be any fun, would it? There are songs here--"Can't Fight the Feelin'," "Fade Away," "That's Just the Woman In Me"--that will astound diehards and make fans of those who've dissed her for more than a decade. If you didn't think the diva behind Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" had it in her to screech from the bottom of her soul, a la Janis Joplin, flip to track 15 and guess again.

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2007 - Angels and Airwaves - I-Empire !!

Angels & Airwaves first single "Everything's Magic," is a synth-rock anthem that resonates with a refreshing spirit and inspired energy. "Just sit back and hold on tight," sings Tom DeLonge in the song, offering sound advice for the entire album.

Angels & Airwaves is former blink-182 & Box Car Racer guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, Offspring drummer Atom Willard, David Kennedy notably from Hazen Street and Box Car Racer and now former 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Matt Wachter. (Bassist Ryan Sinn, formerly of The Distillers, departed from the band earlier this year).

I-Empire, Angels & Airwaves second album was written and produced by Tom DeLonge.

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2007 - Nestor Torres - The Very Best Of Nestor Torres !!

The Very Best of Nestor Torres collects tracks off various studio albums flautist Nestor Torres recorded beginning with his third album 1994's Burning Whispers. These are energetic, passionate and often lushly arranged Latin-jazz and crossover cuts that make the most of Torres knack for jazz improvisation, hummable melodies and rhythmic interplay. Included are such tracks as the danceable "Cafe Cubano," the funky "Velvet Nights," the flamenco ballad "Treasures Of The Heart" and others.

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