Eric Clapton - Me And Mr. Johnson (Mp3 Download)

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine @ allmusic.com

Ten years after his first all-blues album, From the Cradle, Eric Clapton released Me and Mr. Johnson, an album-length tribute to his hero, the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. Not that this is the first time Clapton has paid tribute to Johnson. Throughout his career, Clapton has not only drawn on Johnson for inspiration, but he has covered his songs at pivotal moments: "Ramblin' on My Mind" on his classic album with John Mayall, Bluesbreakers; "Four Until Late" on the first Cream album; and, most memorably, the rampaging cover of "Crossroads" on Wheels of Fire that became his anthem and arguably his defining moment. Considering this long history, perhaps a full-length tribute was inevitable, yet Me and Mr. Johnson still is welcome, in part because it's been a long time since this guitarist has sounded so comfortable and relaxed, as if he was having fun making music. With the possible exception of the spotty yet charming B.B. King duet album Riding With the King, this is simply the most enjoyable record he's made since From the Cradle, and in some respects it's a better blues album than that since it never sounds as doggedly serious as that guitar-heavy affair. Given the somber, sometimes chilling lyrics Johnson wrote -- Clapton admits that "At first [his music] scared me in its intensity," an accurate summary of the haunting nature of those 29 sides the bluesman cut in the '30s -- it's a little ironic that this tribute winds up being fun, not somber, but the light touch makes for a better album. That lightness comes from the deep love Clapton holds for this music, since the enthusiasm and enjoyment he and his band -- all the old regulars like Andy Fairweather-Low plus Billy Preston on keyboards -- give the performance results in the album's light, infectious feel. While that does result in versions of "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day" and "Hell Hound on My Trail" that sound anything but haunted, they do sound nicely next to the up-tempo rave-ups of "They're Red Hot," "Last Fair Deal Gone Down," and "Stop Breaking Down Blues" since all of them sound like Clapton is having a hell of a good time. Some might take issue with this, and others may find the album too slickly produced -- admittedly, blues albums should never boast a credit for Pro Tools, as this does -- but this is a heartfelt tribute that's among Clapton's most purely enjoyable albums.

Track Lists
01. When You Got A Good Friend
02. Little Queen Of Spades
03. They're Red Hot
04. Me And The Devil Blues
05. Traveling Riverside Blues
06. Last Fair Deal Gone Down
07. Stop Breakin' Down Blues
08. Milkcow's Calf Blues
09. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
10. Come On In My Kitchen
11. If I Had Possesion Over Judgement Day
12. Love In Vain
13. 32-20 Blues
14. Hell Hound On My Trail

Carlos Santana - Playin' With Carlos (Mp3 Download)

Review by Richie Unterberger @ allmusic.com

At the time of this 2005 compilation, Carlos Santana had appeared on a lot of records by other artists -- around 60, according to the liner notes of this release. A multi-disc anthology of these guest appearances would be impractical, and not especially desirable. Playin' with Carlos does offer 15 tracks Santana guested on between 1969 and 1997, though licensing obstacles prevented the inclusion of some of his most high-profile contributions, such as the ones he made to recordings by Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, and Lauryn Hill. Though this CD does contain cuts by some big or fairly big names (John McLaughlin, Stanley Clarke, McCoy Tyner, Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper), it's a bit of a ragtag batch of odds and ends that doesn't make for especially good listening. The jump between fusion, pop, world music, new age, and Latin rock styles is a bumpy ride, but a greater problem is the blandness of much of the material, particularly when Santana is stepping outside of his trademark, fiery jazz-blues-Latin rock blend and just adding some spice to unremarkable records. Certainly for Santana fans, at times the only moments of interest here are his guitar parts, and while these have his trademark sound, they aren't often especially memorable. Exceptions are Clyde Criner's "Behind the Sun," where Santana unleashes a searing solo near the end, and Giants' "Fried Neckbones and Home Fries" (which Santana, the band, did in their early days), where Carlos suddenly seems at home and in his element, peeling off some real burning lines.

Track Lists
01. Friendship
02. Too Late Too Late
03. Straight To Top
04. Man With The Cooper Fingers
05. Hannibal
06. Samba Pa Ti
07. Silver Sword
08. First Love
09. Human Revolution
10. Virgen Morena
11. Little Mama
12. Fried Neckbones And Home Fries
13. Sonny Bo Williamson
14. Psalms
15. Behind The Sun

The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (Mp3 Download)

Review by John Bush @ allmusic.com

Apparently, success has spoiled Mike Skinner. It's a common problem among artists who are also working-class social critics; if they become successful, it's increasingly difficult to go back to the well when everything they've used for material changes drastically -- friends and lovers, home life, work life and social life. The wallflower who could study his subjects for hours suddenly lacks for good material when he's the center of attention. Instead of attempting the charade of being a working-class chronicle, he's moved on to the types of problems that come with celebrity, including trashed hotel rooms ("I make these crap rap rhythms to pay the hotel bills that fund my passion"), isolation and loneliness ("I got nothing in my life away from the studio"), fake Streets hats ("Fake Streets Hats"), and the other vagaries of fame ("Camera phones -- how the hell am I supposed to be able to do a line in front of complete strangers, when I know they've all got cameras?"). So, are these Skinner's sincere reflections on his surroundings, an artistic statement he's proud of, or are they the result of a parodic persona he's assumed, with its requisite shroud of satire? Parody or not (and Skinner assures us he's sincere), The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living is barely worth hearing, aside from curiosity. Most listeners won't care to follow this particular rabbit down the hole because of the bracing cynicism, paranoia, misanthropy, and betrayal they'll hear at every turn on this record. Humility has been replaced by arrogance, reflection by anger, and humor by sullenness. On "War of the Sexes," he offers crass commentary on love and often delivers it in a brutish, nasal bark (including this classic: "Hammered people don't get to nail!"). Non-Anglo listeners will have no interest in discovering what pranging out means, what Skinner has to say about America ("Two Nations"), or that the fake Streets hats on the eponymous track were actually manufactured by his label. The lead single here, "When You Wasn't Famous," is a step down in quality from "Fit But You Know It," the lead single from A Grand Don't Come for Free, just as that track was a clear step down from the top singles on Original Pirate Material. The production has changed little from the last record -- hard-hitting, synth-based productions with minimalist melodies and tough, clanging percussion, except for the occasional piano-based ballad. Skinner's lyrics are striking and distinctive as before, but it's difficult to believe this is the same artist who confronted a stereotypical lager lout named Terry on a track from his first album, titled "The Irony of It All." The irony here is that Skinner sounds more like the lout.

Track Lists
01. Prangin Out
02. War Of The Sexes
03. The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
04. All Goes Out The Window
05. Memento Mori
06. Can't Con An Honest Jon
07. When You Wasn't Famous
08. Never Went To Church
09. Hotel Expressionism
10. Two Nations
11. Fake Streets Hats

David Arnold - Casino Royale [Soundtrack] (Mp3 Download)

Review by James Christopher Monger @ allmusic.com

Director Martin Campbell and new 007 Daniel Craig brought an earthy tenacity to the increasingly showy and predictable James Bond franchise with Casino Royale, by taking the martini-slamming secret agent back to his roots, or more specifically, his very first mission. This afforded Tomorrow Never Dies and the World Is Not Enough tunesmith David Arnold the perfect opportunity to reinvent the dated spy music (sappy love themes, endless orchestral bursts accompanying a speeding boat or snowmobile, the inevitable three-note guitar motif that has become more effective in television commercials and parody films than in the real thing) that has long been associated with the character, an opportunity that now awaits the next composer in line.

Track Lists
01. African Rundown
02. Nothing Sinister
03. Unauthorized Acces
04. Blunt Instrument
05. CCTV
06. Solange
07. Trip Aces
08. Miami International
09. I'm The Money
10. Aston Montenegro
11. Dinner Jackets
12. The Tell
13. Stairwell Fight
14. Vesper
15. Bond Loses It All
16. Dirty Martini
17. Bond Winds It All
18. The End Of An Aston Martin
19. The Bad Die Young
20. City Of Lovers
21. The Switch
22. Fall Of A House In Venice
23. Death of Vesper
24. The Bitch Is Dead
25. The Names Bond...James Bond

London After Midnight - Selected Scenes From The End Of The World (wma Download)

Review by John Bush @ allmusic.com

London After Midnight play a fresh version of goth-rock, but with more of an emphasis on melodies.

Track Lists
01. Revenge
02. Nightmare
03. Spider And The Fly
04. Claire's Horrors
05. Sacrifice
06. This Paradise
07. The Black Cat
08. Your Best Nightmare

The Veronicas - The Secret Life Of The Veronicas (Mp3 Download)

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine @ allmusic.com

The Veronicas sound like a marketer's dream: impossibly cute Australian twin sisters who sound as if Hilary Duff and Avril Lavigne formed a band. If image is everything, this duo has a look that rivals that of t.A.T.u., and it's far less sleazy, too. But good images don't necessarily make for good records, and that's the real surprise behind their debut album, The Secret Life Of...: it's a terrific little pop record. True, their bold, brightly colored pop may not be everybody's cup of tea, but for those who have found the teen pop of the mid-2000s to be a serious drag, The Secret Life Of... is an unexpected gift, a slick, tuneful set of pure sugarcoated fun. While the Veronicas don't exactly break from the post-Avril punky pop that's been the blueprint of teen pop from Ashlee Simpson to Good Charlotte, there's a greater sense of song and studio craft on their record, whether it's coming from veteran teen popster Max Martin (the man behind Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys) or the sisters themselves. And make no mistake, for as polished as this album is, the Veronicas come across as a genuine band, not a prefabricated pop novelty. Not only do Jess and Lisa Orgliasso have a hand in writing eight of the 12 songs on The Secret Life Of..., but there's a kinetic chemistry to their performances that gives this album both a center of gravity and a broader appeal: like Kelly Clarkson, they don't seem like cookie-cutter pop tarts, they seem real. Of course, they're packaged and presented as a creation, but that's why The Secret Life Of... is such a good record: it plays by the rules of punky teen pop, and by doing so, it reveals how dull and formulaic the rest of the genre is. Here, melody runs through both the verses and choruses, the hooks dig deeper, not just on the tracks helmed by Martin, but on the Orgliasso sisters' songs, too. The Veronicas are sassy and sexy, not trashy, and they show humor and heartbreak here, which helps elevate their debut to the top ranks of 2000s teen pop.

Track Lists
01. 4ever
02. Everything I'm Not
03. When It All Falls Apart
04. Revolution
05. Secret
06. Mouth Shout
07. Leave Me Alone
08. Speechless
09. Heavily Broken
10. I Could Get Used To This
11. Nobody Wins
12. Mother Mother

Blackmore's Night - Under A Violet Moon (Mp3 Download)

Review by Bret Adams @ allmusic.com

Under a Violet Moon is the second album by Blackmore's Night, and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had a very clear idea of what he wanted for the sophomore release by the Renaissance-oriented world and new age music outfit. The former Deep Purple and Rainbow six-stringer and vocalist Candice Night wanted to take Blackmore's Night on an extensive tour, so they made a conscious effort to record a more up-tempo album, making the music more conducive to live performance than much of the relaxed material on their debut, Shadow of the Moon. Countless guest musicians contribute to this album, which was co-produced by Blackmore, Jeff Glixman (best known for his work with Kansas), and Roy McDonald. A variety of sonic textures are found on the album, but the faster numbers do dominate the proceedings and therefore fulfill Blackmore and Night's musical desires. "Under a Violet Moon" is propelled by Blackmore's darkly rich acoustic guitar lines, Night's urgent vocals, and the driving handclaps and tambourine. "Past Time With Good Company," a traditional melody attributed to Henry VIII, utilizes appropriately regal-sounding horns. Rolling rhythms and swirling melodies illuminate the superb "Morning Star." Bassist John Ford shares singing duties with Night on "Wind in the Willows." Blackmore breaks out the electric guitar for some soloing on "Gone With the Wind." The cosmic instrumental "Beyond the Sunset" has a soothing, new age dreaminess to it. "March the Heroes Home" has a sparse arrangement at first, but as each instrument comes in the dramatic feel is heightened. Blackmore's lightning-fast acoustic guitar runs are matched by the violin on "Spanish Nights (I Remember it Well)." The guitarist dips into his past for a rearranged version of "Self Portrait," which first appeared on 1975's Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.

Track Lists
01. Under A Violet Moon
02. Castles And Dreams
03. Past Time With Good Company
04. Morning Star
05. Avalon
06. Possum Goes To Prague
07. Wind In The Willows
08. Gone With The Wind
09. Beyond The Sunset
10. March The Heroes Home
11. Spanish Nights (I Remember It Well)
12. Catherine Howards Fate
13. Fool's Gold
14. Duch Den Wald Zum Bach Haus
15. Now And Then
16. Self Portrait

Various Artists - Ace Combat 5 : The Unsung War [Soundtrack] (Mp3 Download)

Maybe you wondering why this site named razgriz-aces, well... it was taken from this game actually, where razgriz is the name of the lead character's squadron. Ace Combat 5 : The Unsung War is a followup from Ace Combat Series and I am a die hard fan of this game. now here I brought you the soundtrack of this game, enjoy....

Track Lists
01. Menu
02. Briefing 1
03. Briefing 2
04. Hangar 1
05. Hangar 2
06. Shorebirds
07. Open War
08. Wardog
09. Naval Bloackade
10. First Flight
11. Rendezvous
12. Ballistic Missile
13. White Birds, Part I
14. Front Line
15. Scinfaxi
16. Mother Goose 1
17. Lit Fuse
18. Blind Spot
19. 8492
20. Chain Reaction
21. Reprisal
22. Powder Keg
23. Four Horsemen
24. Demons Of Razgriz
25. Hrimfaxi
26. Ice Cage
27. White Noise
28. Desert Arrow
29. Desert Lightning
30. Super Circus
31. Into The Dusk
32. Fortress
33. Mask
34. Final Option
35. Ancient Walls
36. Solitaire
37. Closure
38. Ghosts Of Razgriz
39. White Birds, Part II
40. Heartbreak One
41. Grabacr
42. Sea Of Chaos
43. Wings Of Unity
44. Winter Storm
45. The Unsung War
46. Result
47. Shop
48. Game Over
49. Tutorial Main
50. Tutorial Menu
51. Tutorial Result

John Williams - Jurassic Park [Soundtrack] (Mp3 Download) Review by William Ruhlmann @ allmusic.com John Williams' score for what has become the most successful movie of all time is similar to his scores for other popular Steven Spielberg films. He remains firmly in the tradition of the lush, heavily orchestrated score. This is the first horror movie he and Spielberg have collaborated on since Jaws, but there is nothing like the threatening theme that helped define that monster movie here. Instead, there is a lot of quiet music, a much more subtle touch, and a wistful theme that runs throughout, although things do come to a boil now and then.

Track Lists
01. Opening Titles
02. Theme From Jurassic Park
03. Incident At Isla Nublar
04. Journey To The Island
05. The Raptor Attack
06. Hatching Baby Raptor
07. Welcome To Jurassic Park
08. My Friend The Brachiosaurus
09. Dennis Steal The Embryo
10. A Tree For My Bed
11. High Wire Stunts
12. Remembering Petticoat
13. Jurassic Park Gate
14. Eye To Eye
15. T-Rex Rescue And Finale
16. End Credits

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble (Mp3 Download)

Review by Heather Phares @ allmusic.com

Epic's The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble gathers two discs' worth of the late blues guitarist's work, including many live performances and a few tracks with the Vaughan Brothers. The collection presents Vaughan's material in roughly chronological order, from the 1980 live recording "Shake for Me" to 1989's "Life by the Drop." It also touches on most of Vaughan's definitive songs and performances, including "Tightrope," "Wall of Denial," "Couldn't Stand the Weather," and "Cold Shot," and live versions of "The Sky Is Crying," "Superstition," and "Rude Mood/Hide Away." Though this album doesn't offer anything that hasn't already been released in some form or another, it does go into slightly more depth than several of the other Stevie Ray Vaughan retrospectives by presenting both his greatest studio hits and some of his best live work.

Track Lists
Disc 1 :
01. Shake For Me [Live]
02. Rude Mood, Hide Away [Live]
03. Love Struck Baby
04. Pride And Joy
05. Texas Flood
06. Mary Had A Little Lamb
07. Lenny
08. Scuttle Buttin'
09. Couldn't Stand The Weather
10. The Things (That) I Used To Do
11. Cold Shot
12. Tin Pan Alley (Roughest Place In Town)
13. Give Me Back My Wig
14. Empty Arms
15. The Sky Is Crying [Live]
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) [Live]

Disc 2 :
01. Say What!
02. Look At Little Sister
03. Change It
04. Come On, Part 3
05. Life Without You
06. Little Wing
07. Willie The Wimp [Live]
08. Superstition [Live]
09. Leave My Girl Alone [Live]
10. The House Is Rockin'
11. Crossfire
12. Tightrope
13. Wall Of Denial
14. Riviera Paradise
15. Telephone Song
16. The Long Way From Home
17. Life By The Drop

John Mayer - Continuum (Mp3 Download)

Review by Matt Collar @ allmusic.com

Anybody who was initially confused by singer/songwriter John Mayer's foray into blues with 2005's Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert could only have been further confounded upon listening to the album and coming to the realization that it was actually good. And not just kinda good, especially for guy who had been largely labeled as a Dave Matthews clone, but really, truthfully, organically good as a blues album in its own right. However, for longtime fans who had been keeping tabs on Mayer, the turn might not have been so unexpected. Soon after the release of his 2003 sophomore album, the laid-back, assuredly melodic Heavier Things, Mayer began appearing on albums by such iconic blues and jazz artists as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Herbie Hancock. And not just singing, but playing guitar next to musicians legendary on the instrument. In short, he was seeking out these artists in an attempt to delve into the roots of the blues, a music he obviously has a deep affection for.

Rather than his blues trio being a one-off side project completely disconnected to his past work, it is clear now that it was the next step in his musical development. And truthfully, while Try! certainly showcases Mayer's deft improvisational blues chops, it's more of a blues/soul album in the tradition of such electric blues legends as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and features songs by Mayer that perfectly marry his melodic songcraft and his blues-slinger inclinations. In fact, what seemed at the time a nod to his largely female fan base (the inclusion of "Daughters" and "Something's Missing" off Heavier Things), was actually a hint that he was bridging his sound for his listeners, showing them where he was going.

That said, nothing he did up until the excellent, expansive Try! could have prepared you for the monumental creative leap forward that is Mayer's 2006 studio effort Continuum. Working with his blues trio/rhythm section of bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, along with guest spots by trumpeter Roy Hargrove and guitarist Ben Harper, Mayer brings all of his recent musical explorations and increasing talents as a singer/songwriter to bear on Continuum. Produced solely by Mayer and Jordan, the album is a devastatingly accomplished, fully realized effort that in every way exceeds expectations and positions Mayer as one of the most relevant artists of his generation.

Adding weight to the notion that Mayer's blues trio is more than just a creative indulgence, he has carried over two tracks from the live album in "Vultures" and the deeply metaphorical soul ballad "Gravity." These are gut-wrenchingly poignant songs that give voice to a generation of kids raised on TRL teen stars and CNN sound bytes who've found themselves all grown up and fighting a war of "beliefs." Grappling with a handful of topics -- social and political, romantic and sexual, pointedly personal and yet always universal in scope -- Mayer's Continuum here earns a legitimate comparison to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On?. Nobody -- not a single one of Mayer's contemporaries -- has come up with anything resembling a worthwhile anti-war anthem that is as good and speaks for their generation as much as his "Waiting on the World to Change" -- and he goes and hangs the whole album on it as the first single.

It's a bold statement of purpose that is carried throughout the album, not just in sentiment, but also tone. Continuum is a gorgeously produced, brilliantly stripped-to-basics album that incorporates blues, soft funk, R&B, folk and pop in a sound that is totally owned by Mayer. It's no stretch when trying to describe the sound of Continuum to color it in the light of work by such legends as Sting, Eric Clapton, Sade, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Steve Winwood. In fact, the sustained adult contemporary tone of the album, which could easily have become turgid, boring, or dated never does, and brings to mind such classic late-'80s albums as Sting's Nothing Like the Sun, Clapton's Journeyman, and Vaughan's In Step.

At every turn, Continuum finds Mayer to be a mature, thoughtful, and gifted musician who fully grasps his place not just in the record industry, but in life.

Track Lists
01. Waiting On The World To Change
02. I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)
03. Belief
04. Gravity
05. The Heart Of Life
06. Vultures
07. Stop This Train
08. Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
09. Bold As Love
10. Dreaming With A Broken Heart
11. In Repair
12. Im Gonna Find Another You

Mark Knopfler - Sailing To Philadelphia (Mp3 Download)

Review by William Ruhlmann @ allmusic.com
Mark Knopfler's second solo album might as well be called Dire Straits' eighth studio album, though Knopfler abandoned the group name back in 1996, dispensing with hefty sales in the process. There was never much doubt that the fame and lifestyle coincident with platinum sales made him uncomfortable, and discontinuing the Dire Straits billing was a means of walking away from all that. It also allowed him to indulge his love for various musical genres more, and that process continues on Sailing to Philadelphia. True, Knopfler's basic approach remains the same -- as a guitarist, he is still enamored of the minor-key finger-picking style of J.J. Cale, and as a singer/songwriter, he remains enthralled with Bob Dylan. But in one song after another on this album, you get the feeling that he started out playing some familiar song in a specific genre and eventually extrapolated upon it enough to call it an original. Knopfler has grafted his own lyrical concerns to these songs, often playing up the lives of humble people (especially musicians), and putting down powerful people (especially rock stars). There are also story-songs on wide-ranging subjects, but the theme of life on the road and the dichotomy between the rich and famous (what Knopfler is) and the poor and powerless (those he identifies with) predominate. Working with a two-guitars, two-keyboards, bass and drums band (like Dire Straits), Knopfler brings in a variety of sympathetic guests, notably James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Squeeze leaders Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. These guest stars provide pleasant contrast to Knopfler's modest vocal talents, but they never steal the spotlight from the leader. (Well, okay, Morrison does.) His ability to hold his own is some indication that, however self-effacing he may be, he remains a star. [In 2005 Sailing to Philadelphia was reissued with a bonus DVD that featured "behind the scenes" footage" as well as interviews with Knopfler and his band.]
Track Lists
01. What It Is
02. Sailing To Philadelphia
03. Who's Your Baby Now
04. Baloney Again
05. The Last Laugh
06. Silvertown Blues
07. El Macho
08. Prairie Wedding
09. Wanderlust
10. Speedway At Nazareth
11. Junkie Doll
12. Sands Of Nevada
13. One More Matinee

Loituma - Things Of Beauty (Mp3 Download)

Review by Steven McDonald @ allmusic.com

First released in Finland in a slightly different form, Things of Beauty is the initial release from this Finnish quartet. Their specialty is the kantele, a Finnish harp, and they use this both in instrumental pieces and multi-layered vocal arrangements. The music ranges from the lively interpretations of Finnish folk music to haunting pieces about mysterious marshland. A light, sweet album that well deserves the attention NorthSide is providing.

Track Lists
01. My Kantele
02. There Is My Lover
03. The Very Last
04. Minuet And Polska
05. Missing Him
06. Valamo Cloister Bells
07. Oh, Oh, It Hurts Again
08. Marshland
09. Three Things Of Beauty
10. Lava's Polka

Judas Priest - British Steel (Mp3 Download)

Review by Steve Huey @ allmusic.com

With Hell Bent for Leather, Judas Priest had begun the task of developing their image for increased mainstream attention, reveling in leather-and-motorcycle trappings while beginning to simplify and streamline their sound. British Steel brings that process full circle, offering the band's catchiest, most accessible set of tunes yet, while retaining the precision guitar assault and quasi-operatic vocals that had come to define their sound. It was the simplest music Priest had yet attempted, but thanks to the (mostly) top-notch songwriting and AC/DC-like willingness to allow the songs' grooves room to breathe, the record is a smashing success overall, with maybe one or two subpar tracks. There are a couple of trends beginning here that would take their toll later on -- the lyrics are a bit more juvenile, and the music seems to prize commercialism over complexity -- but in this context, neither really matters, as Priest display a real penchant for stadium-ready anthems. "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" became genuine hit singles in the U.K., and deservedly so, while the album became their first to reach the U.S. Top 40, going platinum in the process.

Track Lists
01. Rapid Fire
02. Metal Gods
03. Breaking The Law
04. Grinder
05. United
06. You Don't Have To Be Wise
07. Living After Midnight
08. The Rage
09. Steeler
10. Red, White and Blue [Bonus Track]
11. Grinder (Live) [Bonus Track]

The Distillers - Coral Fang (Mp3 Download)

Review by Heather Phares @ allmusic.com

By far the most ambitious album yet to bear the Distillers name, Coral Fang is by turns darker, more polished, and more poppy than any of the band's previous work. The history of Brody Dalle -- now back to her maiden name after separating from Tim Armstrong -- precedes her and certainly informs this album, but it's not necessary to know to appreciate Coral Fang's themes of losing and finding love and dealing with a difficult past. Considering her troubled early years, her relationships with rock stars, and most importantly, the music she makes, it would be easy to call her the new Courtney Love. But the comparison is more than a little apt, and Coral Fang delivers the kind of vicarious, drama-queen punk rock thrills that haven't been around since Live Through This. However, even with their lineup switches, the Distillers have always sounded more like a band than any incarnation of Hole ever did; Dalle's voice might be even more desperate-sounding than Love at her most vitriolic; and, arguably, the Distillers' best songs sound more genuine. Direct comparisons aside, Coral Fang does feature some of the best jagged punk-pop in recent memory in "Drain the Blood," where Dalle sings, "I never met a pearl like you/Who could shimmer and rot the same time through" and the nasty breakup song "Hall of Mirrors." "The Hunger" is among the best songs the Distillers have ever written, mixing pretty, yearning verses with firebomb choruses. "The Gallow Is God" is another standout, a heavy, lurching, In Utero-esque catharsis that makes up for its lack of originality with its quality. "Oh my heart it sings suicide," the song begins, and along with titles like "Die on a Rope," it conveys the drama of the album's first half. This drama bleeds into melodrama more often than it should, lending an obviousness that detracts from the Distillers' power. The cover art for both versions of Coral Fang reflects the band's ham-fisted tendencies: the regular artwork features woodcut-like illustrations of bleeding, nude, and scantily-clad women, often pregnant, with razorblades for heads (if they have any at all). The so-called "clean" artwork -- which features the same music as the regular version -- announces its status as a "SAFE COVER" in capital letters and features a sunny vista of cute 'n' cuddly animals (save for a few subversive-looking raccoons, weasels, and skunks skulking in the foreground). Gil Norton's shiny production also makes songs such as "Dismantle Me" sound emptier than they actually are and turns the band into a machine that sounds a little too well-oiled, though it's impossible to totally defang Dalle's vocals and personality. Coral Fang's second half is less dramatic than its gut-wrenching first half, which is both a relief and a letdown. Still, "Beat Your Heart Out" is poppy enough to make Avril Lavigne watch her back, and "Tonight You're Only Here to Know" is another bruised ballad that suggests the Distillers might hit harder with their softer songs. "Death Sex," the aptly named, noisy 11-minute grind that closes the album, is at the very least out of place with the more neatly packaged music here and could be seen as a misguided attempt to inject the album with some more punk sensibility. Strangely, while The Distillers and Sing Sing Death House recalled the punk of the '70s and '80s, this album sounds like a throwback to mid-'90s alternative rock without actually sounding dated. Coral Fang has its fair share of flaws, but it's impassioned enough to have plenty of bite despite them.

Track Lists
01. Drain The Blood
02. Dismantle Me
03. Die On The Rope
04. The Gallow Is God
05. Coral Fang
06. The Hunger
07. Hall Of Mirrors
08. Best Your Heart Is Out
09. Love Is Paranoid
10. For Tonight You're Only Here To Know
11. Death Sex

Madonna - Erotica (Mp3 Download)

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine @ allmusic.com

While it didn't set the charts on fire like her previous albums, the ambitious Erotica contains some of Madonna's best and most accomplished music (including the hit singles "Deeper and Deeper" and "Rain"), even if it runs a bit long.

Track Lists
01. Erotica
02. Fever
03. Bye Bye Baby
04. Deeper And Deeper
05. Where Life Begins
06. Bad Girl
07. Waiting
08. Thief Of Hearts
09. Words
10. Rain
11. Why's It So Hard
12. In This Life
13. Did You Do It
14. Secret Garden