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Product: Audio CD
Title: Defying Gravity
Label: Pamplin Music
Artist: John Elefante
Rating: 5/5
Customer rating - 5 out of 5
Defying "Windows.." and "Corridors"

This is by far John's best solo album. The best song without a doubt--"The Truth, The Life". This album is unique in that it captures the difinative Elefante/Kansas sound and at the same time introduces us to a sound unlike any other Elefante effort---a little country. 2 of the songs on the album, "The Way That You Love Me" and "Pass The Flame" have elements of an unfamiliar country blend I have never heard Elefante do--but he does it well. The typical pop sounds of "Home With A View" and "Give It All Away" and the power of "The Stream" make this album a MUST in your collection of anything having to do with Elefante or the true Kansas fan. Think he no longer sounds like he did when he was with Kansas?? Listen to the title track. It could have been taken right off of "Vinyl Confessions" or "Drastic Measures"!! His BEST album!!!!

Product: Audio CD
Title: Love Doesn't Ask
Label: Siren Song
Artist: John Hall
Rating: 4/5
Customer rating - 4 out of 5
This album deserves to be heard!

I'm a fan of John Hall from his Orleans days. I also love his out-of-print 1979 solo album, 'Power', and hope it gets re-released some day (on CD). 'Power' got virtually no air play, and I'm afraid 'Love Doesn't Ask' faces the same unfair fate. Not that it isn't catchy. In fact, it grows on you with each listening. If you like Jackson Browne or James Taylor, you'll like John Hall. Buy 'Love Doesn't Ask' to get yourself a great album, while encouraging John to keep putting out his finely crafted songs.

Product: Audio CD
Title: Measure of a Man
Label: Rca
Artist: Clay Aiken
Rating: 2/5
Customer rating - 2 out of 5
Barry Manilow meets Neal Diamond

This is a huge diappointment. The producers of this CD should be publicly flogged. Clay's fans love his strong, booming voice and ability to pound out ballads. You'll hear NONE of that on this CD. I am amazed that producers with decades of experience wouldn't understand that fans want to hear the full range of Clay's voice. Instead, what you will hear are a bunch of sappy, run of the mill pop tunes that will uninspire. Save your money and buy some old Barry Manilow cd's. At least you'll get what you are paying for. Let's hope, on his next CD, that Clay is allowed to sing the way we all know that he can.

Product: Audio CD
Title: Dig Your Own Hole
Label: Astralwerks
Artist: Chemical Brothers
Rating: 4/5
Customer rating - 4 out of 5
I just got it...

I am beginning to understand why this is so good. I've had this CD for a while now and have listened to it many times in different settings and moods. While I know the tunes, I didn't quite get it. It's definitely got a style all its own but it seemed to lack the flow that Exit Planet Dust did. EPD blew my socks off. It's still fantastic.
Block Rockin' Beats will test the mettle of your bass, so too the next several minutes on the album. The bass is what makes the album so much fun. However, the album seemed to hover around making a point, never really transcending itself. It just seemed a bit choppy and too busy.
But just today I found these songs bouncing around in my head. And it really sounded good. The more I listen, the more I like. It's taken me a while but this album really is different and it really is good.
I am surprised that it is this album that is considered to be the one that brought these guys such recognition. I thought EPD did that. It sounds so clearn and so clean and precise. Perhaps that's the point -- beauty in chaos -- and thus the innovativeness of Dig Your Own Hole. It definitely surpasses the oversimplified grooves that is labeled 'techno' today.
I still don't get how it is labeled (or criticized) as more 'pop' and 'mainstream' than EPD but it seems that what is considered 'pop' is changing. What was radical years ago is tame today. Definitely a must have.