 |
|
|
Artist:
Luther Vandross
Rather than a do a rehash of many of the obvious traditional tunes that fill special holiday albums by contemporary performers, maestro Luther Vandross opted for the task of creating no fewer than 7 of the 10 tracks included on his 1995 Christmas release. The result is an album that demonstrates why Vandross is still considered the preeminent black male vocalist of close to two decades: as on typical Vandross recordings, the production is crisp and strong and the vocals are flawless. As usual, he employs the cream of musicians and background vocalists (including the inimitable Cissy Houston and Darlene Love, who is featured on the Motown-like duet "I Listen to the Bells")--the perfect backdrop for Vandross's distinctive sound, exemplified on the standout title track. "The Mistle Toe Jam" has the party-like feel of Vandross sides like "Bad Boy" and the more recent "Nights in Harlem," while "Every Year, Every Christmas" (cowritten with Richard Marx) is a soulful slow jam. A surprising reading of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "My Favorite Things" shows that if Vandross ever chose to, he could easily do a fine album of jazz standards, while "O Come All Ye Faithful" (featuring an ...
List Price: $6.99 |
Our Price: $3.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers calls the band’s first new album in four years, Stadium Arcadium, the most-anticipated album of the spring, "the best thing that we’ve ever done…. There’s this weird kind of sublime, subliminal undercurrent that is suggestive, in a spirited way, of our earliest records." Exuding all the passion, energy and funked-up rock that have made the Red Hot Chili Peppers one of the most popular bands in history, the 2-CD Stadium Arcadium, simply put, will knock your socks off.
List Price: $21.98 |
Our Price: $8.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Whitney Houston
List Price: $13.98 |
Our Price: $6.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
*NSYNC
Home is the last place these pop-aholics will be at Christmas: 'N Sync were on such a tight touring schedule in 1998, it's a wonder they even had time to record this disc in time for the holidays. The standard carols--"The First Noël," and "The Christmas Song"--aren't nearly as much fun as the original tracks here, but the a cappella version of "O Holy Night" is by far the masterpiece, and proof that the boys are more than just hyper-pretty faces. In fact, their superbly blended harmonies save what could have been ill-fated attempts to put a '90s R&B spin on songs like "In Love on Christmas" and the title track. "The Only Gift" and "Under My Tree" are addictive despite being overly cute, and you'll have a hard time getting "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" out of your head. Keep in mind that Christmas CDs belong in the background, let go of your anti-pop prejudices for just one day, and you'll be bopping along with the boys in no time. --Rebecca Wallwork
List Price: $9.98 |
Our Price: $4.95 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Johnny Mathis
List Price: $13.98 |
Our Price: $6.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Various Artists - Soundtracks
For those of us who grew up in the '70s, this drive-in compilation of '50s and '60s rock and doo-wop, complete with Wolfman Jack introductions, was our introduction to this music. There are 41 jukebox hits here, and every one of them is a classic of its time (although two tracks--"At the Hop" and "She's so Fine" are covers by the revival band Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids). In his 1973 movie, director George Lucas used the music (and the presence of mysterious deejay Wolfman) as the AM-radio soundtrack to one night in suburban California, 1962. The idea was to capture and sustain an end-of-summer, end-of-innocence mood that's in the air throughout the picture-- not as a shortcut to establishing a period (as in Robert Zemeckis'Forrest Gump). There's an awful lot of spontaneous energy in these tunes--from Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, to the Platters and the Clovers and the Del-Vikings, to the Crests and the Beach Boys--and also just a hint of melancholy that goes down very nicely with a burger, shake, and fries. --Jim Emerson
List Price: $31.98 |
Our Price: $19.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Pink
Asian exclusive limited edition pressing of her sophomore album includes one bonus track, 'Catch 22', along with a bonus CD sized spiral bound 40 page 'Dear Diary' note pad that's housed together with the CD in a special slipcase. Enhanced with photo ogallery and lyrics page. 15 tracks in all. 2002.
List Price: $16.97 |
Our Price: $5.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
John Legend
It takes guts, if not outright egomania, to abandon your given surname and adopt a loaded one like Legend, but the former John Stephens must have sensed that loftiness would one day be his calling card: Once Again, the follow-up to the Grammy-gobbling, platinum pile-on that was Get Lifted, surpasses expectations. Not that it bears much relation to its predecessor. Again again trots out a stable of talented, modern-minded producers--Raphael Saadiq, Legend comrade Kanye West, and the unsinkable will.i.am--but it's nowhere near as self-conscious about embracing the old-school as the knowing, R&B edge-skimming Lifted. Don't expect a derivative mash of smudgy, nostalgia-filching sounds, though, because despite its retro leanings, what's in store somehow crackles with currency. Call it neo-retro if you must, but never call it unimaginative: first single "Save Room" coasts, drifts, and floats along a ponderous path spiked by a cool keyboard-y crescendo; second single "Heaven" busts out a big, busy beat over a slow seduction; and a couple of selections--"Each Day Gets Better" and "PDA"--are so bright and twirly they seem custom-made for dizzy love scenes or jaun...
List Price: $18.97 |
Our Price: $7.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Mary J Blige
Geffen Records superstar and hit-making songwriter Mary J. Blige, is set to follow-up the most successful album of her career, the triple platinum The Breakthrough, with her eighth (8th) studio CD Growing Pains. Growing Pains includes the single "Just Fine" which has become an instant favorite on radio and on MTV, BET and VH-1. The second single from Growing Pains, "Work That," is currently featured in an Apple I-Pod commercial. After selling over 40 million CDs and garnering six Grammy Awards during her phenomenal 15-year career, Mary is confident that her fans will not be disappointed with Growing Pains. "They're going to get a sense of what my state of mind is and how I view the world," she says. "And hopefully, most of all, they're going to hear just the sincere honesty and love that I have for them." She adds, "Growing Pains represents accepting that there's pain that goes along with growing and change. No pain, no gain." Growing Pains, with Mary co-writing most of the songs on the album, features guest appearances by Ludacris and Usher and production by The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, Johnta Austin, Neyo, Stargate, Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre and Vidal, Tricky, Dre...
List Price: $13.98 |
Our Price: $3.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist:
Brian McKnight
Christmas cheer runneth over with McKnight's first true holiday collection featuring all of your favorite Christmas classics and three new McKnight holiday originals - presented in that smokey R&B mold that McKnight does so well; McKnight's famed vocal prowess will definitely make this the most wonderful time of the year! As an extra special bonus, Josh Groban, Rascal Flatts and Babyface also make guest appearances on the album! McKnight's visibility will be growing around the holiday season and into 2009. Already a household as a result of his hits, a stint in Chicago on Broadway, and his own radio show (KTWV the Wave /LA, McKnight is also the host of his very own video countdown Soul Sessions with Brian McKnight on BET .
List Price: $18.98 |
Our Price: $12.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
