Classical Graffiti [Import]

The Planets | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B00006J9O7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,251 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rodrigo (after Joaquín Rodrigo's En Aranjuez con tu amor)

2. Carmen Caprice (after Bizet)

3. Grassland Theme

4. Classical Graffiti

5. Love In Slow Motion

6. Brandenburg Variation (after Bach)

7. The Journey of a Fool

8. Clair de Lune (after Debussy)

9. He Moved Through the Fair

10. Contradanza, for violin

11. A Letter From New England

12. Bolero Fantasy (after Ravel)

13. A One Minute Silence (after Cage)

14. Carmen Caprice (after Bizet)

15. Brandenburg Variation (after Bach)

16. Bolero Fantasy (after Ravel)

17. Christmas Thingy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Has potential, but lacks direction, July 16, 2003

By 

louis917 (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Graffiti (Audio CD)

The CD opens with a fantastic adaption of Rodrigo but goes downhill from there. Too many of the tracks have a generic, slow, elevator music sound to them, something I would not have expected from a CD produced and arranged by Mike Batt. Other tracks lack direction and come off as poor imitations of Vanessa-Mae. The Planets' rendition of Contradanza, a piece composed by Mike Batt originally for Vanessa-Mae, makes my ears bleed.

If you're a fan of classical crossover (as I am), this CD is still worthwhile to own. "Rodrigo" and "Classical Graffiti" show the potential of this group if they can develop more of a style and tackle some tougher material. Buy it with the caveat that you're not going to find the same creativity or dynamism as with the early albums from Vanessa-Mae or Bond.

If you're looking for more of an introduction to good classical crossover music, pick up Vanessa-Mae's "The Violin Player" and Bond's "Born" instead.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Cross Over, December 30, 2004

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Classical Graffiti (Audio CD)

One can hear and appreciate the classical training of these fine musicians, and this attempt to cross over into more hip crowd. I appreciate that their attempts to do this with classical pieces did not venture too far out, e.g. Rodrigo is my least favorite piece. I do enjoy the Carmen Caprice pieces and the Brandenburg Varaitions are well done.

The pieces unfamiliar to me are quite good: The Journey of A Fool, He Moved Through the Fair, A Letter from New England.

The Christmas Trilogy is nice ending, with its swirling, winding version of What Child Is This, Holly & Ivy and In Dulce Jubilo.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous new young British group, June 4, 2002

By 

Marleen Varner (Sewanee, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Graffiti (Audio CD)

This promising young group of 8, four men and four women ages 22-28 have produced a popular easy listening CD, following highly successful debut in London last fall. EMI is so impressed that there is more to come, following a £3 million contract. Some easy listening classical, Spanish, etc. We love it!