Customer Reviews

Lounge Story 2

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

 

 

I was rather impressed with the collection of groovy, mellow, and even jumping at times, tracks on this CD. A Must-have? Sure.

The opening track, "Lament No. 1," was one that I recognized as Mr. Scruff (didn't know that until I found that song on radio) brilliantly interpolated that song into "Get A Move On" which I heard in the infamous Lincoln commercials before I even knew who made it and before I realized that it was actually a song and not some jingle the automaker came up with. I really enjoyed Patchworks' rendition of "Summertime" even with its midi-sounding quality, it was still something to nod your head to. "High Jazz" has to be THE high point of the album, and Nicola Conte and the Truby Trio did an excellent job in mixing simple vocals with a stunning piano/sax bit and electrifying percussion, all while throwing a bit of electronica into the mix. This song, if you ask me, is what Lounge is all about or should be about.

Other songs that were enjoyable were "Channel Zero" with its poeticism and a nice beat, "Heaven and Earth", especially toward the end where the bass is so different from the first half that you wonder whether it's the same song but it's all woven together rather nicely, "Shihab's Habit" with its staccato-style piano and hard-hitting percussion score, and "Pascalito's Theme" which has a very nice fast but soothing tempo...gotta love that keyboard..."I Am With You" was cool, too...albeit I can't understand the lyrics, half of it is in another language (or languages, I can't tell)!

And who can forget "Mannix" by Klement Julienne, what a song! THAT is how music should sound! Smooth, vibrant, rhythmic, with a kickin' percussion bit, a catchy chorus line, beautiful guitar and brass compositions, and a very mixed range of scores, if you wanna get technical.

The low points, however, included "I Want to Be With You" (and maybe it's because I'm not high on vocals or something) and "B. Erotica" (again, vocals). But the other songs that have vocals, like Channel Zero were actually pleasing.
Overall, great album, a great collection...

I would also pick up "The Best of Cookin'" for a great two-disc compilation or jazz from the West Coast, including a few of DJ Greyboy's hits, such as "Grey's Groove" which has a very upbeat jazzy feel with its mellow piano and the fluent sounds of a dancing flute and a bass line with a hip-hop style percussion (even though it's a drum loop), a truly eclectic but enjoyable mix.

This is a great collection from start to finish. It's not too techno, the remixes are truly brilliant arrangements of the material. I bought this CD after I heard "summertime" on an internet radio station (Groove Salad, look for it in iTunes Radio). Just hearing that one track made me purchase the album, after reading a few other reviews.

I'm a fan of a lot of genres, including Jazz and Electronica, and this album is a brilliant example of the beautiful combination when genres are combined without making sacrifices. The mixes are simple divine.

Highly recommended.

All I can say is that IMHO it lives up to the description. Although I have enjoyed music from the lounge genre, I might not have purchased this CD had I stumbled on it here at amazon, especially if no one had reviewed it. I heard it playing in a music store and bought it after hearing a couple of cuts. If what you hear in the samples appeals to you, take the plunge. If you were born after 1960 and/or think this might be 'techno' lounge or trance, you will probably not be happy with it.

This is one of my favourite lounge/jazz compilations,very catch tunes on here!Navarone and Hajime Yoshiwaza are my favourite tracks on here.Definately worth checking out!

This is not a review for an abominably mundane album but rather a "Thank You" to the producer(s) for allowing me to once again experience the marvelous voice of Carol Ventura. In my humble opinion, as well as thousands of other Northern New Jersey residents circa 1961, she was one of the finest singers of the "Beat Generation". The cut on this album, "I Want To Be With You," is unfortunately the only example I'm aware of that showcases her vocal finesse today (in the 21st century).

I am grateful for that "singular" cut, but I do wish the producers would invade the Prestige vaults and resurrect the balance of Carol's body of work and reproduce it on Compact Disc in its entirety. I'll be standing at the head of the line trembling in anticipation, awaiting that fortuitous occasion. Carol, wherever you are, many thanks for filling my soul with music and my heart with joy during those tenuous but enviable years of young adulthood . . . I'll never forget you.

Footnote 2010: Carol passed away this year and I cried with her passing. However, believing that there is a world to follow, I'm certain Carol will once again walk deftly to center stage midst the applause of everyone who congregated at the Chez Charles in those effervescent days when music was our mistress and the zest of youth permeated each personality.