Customer Reviews

Classical Graffiti

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

This is a great example of "modernised" classical music.
Many great tracks, but the one that is closest to my heart has to be "A One Minute Silence". An absolutely breathtaking and thought provoking conceptual piece, which sometimes I listen to on repeat over and over. It is a far superior piece to John Cage's 4:33, which pales in comparison

This is a great example of "modernised" classical music.
Many great tracks, but the one that is closest to my heart has to be "A One Minute Silence". An absolutely breathtaking and thought-provoking conceptual piece, which sometimes I listen to on repeat over and over. It is a far superior piece to John Cage's 4:33, which pales in comparison.

-Klep

This CD is great. If you love Bond, you'll love this. They are very talented musicians and even my hard-rock friends enjoy this CD. It gives a new look to classical, baroque, and romantic era music. Buy it.

OK, so the other review was less than favorable. Here's the other side of the coin: If you like this genre of music (Vanessa Mae, Bond etc.), you should love this CD. Spearheaded by Michael Batt (again, Vanessa Mae and Bond), The Planets offer a far better version of this genre of music than Bond's second album, or Vanessa's most recent CD. Bond's latest is FLAT and uninspired- they're more interested in selling their "look" than creating interesting music. The Planets' music is fresh, with a great deal of dimensionality- exiciting- classical, jazz, rock, West Side Story, Jethro Tull, Carmen (etc.); there's a little of all of them in there. I've listened to this CD over and over again and still thrill to it (while Bond sits on the shelf). I think The Planets know EXACTLY what they are, and I hope to hear a lot more from them in the future.

As a music teacher I found this album delightful. They seem to blend pop and classical in an interesting way. My general music students, many modern pop or rap fans really enjoyed the selections. It is generally very difficult to sneak in good quality music and have it appreciated. High school students do not listen to very much that is musical these days. After only a few tracks they kept asking to hear more. This is quite an accomplishment. I thoroughly enjoyed their reactions. I hope The Planets will record again.

I did not expect too much on this CD when I borrowed it from the library. Now I decide to purchase my own copy. The arrangements are very creative. The cello,violin and flute playing are the first class.

I prefer Carmen Caprice, Brandenburg Variation and Bolero Fantasy. Especially Bolero Fantasy, it brings out so many essence in the original music and give it the new life.

It is not just another cross-over for the persons new to the classical music. This CD gives these music new lifes. Great!

It is obvious that they have a lot of talent. The first song has a lot of energy and is quite good. But after that, the tempo of all the songs is moderato at the fastest. Most of the songs that were chosen were just to slow of songs. It does not match up to the caliber of Bond, where I thought it would have.