Shine [EXTRA TRACKS] [IMPORT]

Bond

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00006JID4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,182 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The classical-pop act's sophomore album. 13 tracks. Decca. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Follow-up Albumn, March 3, 2003

By	John Nolley II (Fairfax, VA United States) - See all my reviews

Bond, perhaps best known to the public at large for "that watch commerical with the women playing violins," delivers an excellent follow-up albumn to their highly regarded debut with "Shine."

Four classically trained musicians and supermodel looks make up Bond. Though critics have complained about the artificial "creation" of the group, the end product is an outstanding fusion of modern beats and classical music the likes of which haven't been seen since violin virtuoso Vanessa-Mae's debut some years ago.

Though the classical essence that defines Bond's talent is on some tracks overwhelmed by what should simply be accompanyment, overall the albumn does not disappoint and offers a couple of outstanding tracks, including the otherworldly "Strange Paradise" and the cover of Led Zepplin's "Kashmir."

Don't let critcs unhappy that a group "created" rather than spontaneously formed deter you from enjoying this talented group's newest albumn. Fans of Bond's debut or similar music--such as Vanessa-Mae's "Violin Player"--should definitely give this albumn a spin.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Shines" bright, April 28, 2003

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Bond is one of those great groups that pops up every now and then, with a dash of genuine originality rather than the same-old-same-old-packaged-as-something-new. Don't discount these gals because of their pretty faces or their outfits -- they can outplay just about anybody.

Among the songs are the layered, ethereal-yet-danceable "Allegretto," harp-accentuated "Shine" with its brilliant violin work, fast-paced "Fuego," haunting "Strange Paradise" with its softer tones and occasional electronic flares, antiquated-feeling "Big Love Adagio" (which would make the ideal romantic dance music), the spicy "Gypsy Rhapsody," and several others. One thing that Bond can never be accused of is of having all their songs sound alike.

The major selling point of Bond is that they take the traditionals and make them more accessable to the masses. That sounds like a bad thing, but the fact is that they give such musicians as cellists a better, younger, less fuddy-duddy image, a better chance of reaching out to people. But of course this isn't enough to appeal to people. Their music is wonderful, multilayered and rippling with the different instruments.

If you say you hate instrumentals, you might want to check out the Bond girls (I imagine they hear that joke all the time). They do for those instrumentals what Sarah Brightman does for opera, meaning that they bring some appeal for the masses. Quite a find.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kinda grows on you, October 18, 2002

By	"tbea925" (Saint Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

OK, so these four musicians are DDG. You can tell that just by looking at the album cover. Bond has been described as the Spice Girls of Classical music, which is, IMO, unfair. What they claim to attempt to do is make Classical music less intimidating, which they do succeed at doing. Somewhat, anyway, assuming Classical music might seem intimidating to some.

What you can expect from Bond is essentially a string quartet with a drum machine over it. My primary criticism of the group is that there should be more string quartet and less dead drummer. Check out the tracks "Fuego" and "Strange Paradise" for example...

Of course you can't tell from the finished product how much of the performance has been "fixed" in post, but these folks appear to have some significant musical chops. Execution is dratted near flawless and intonation is as close as it can get. I'd like to see the group "live" sometime to see if they come across as well in real-time as on the CD. I just wish the sequenced tracks were out of the way a little more so I could hear more of what sounds like might be the "good" stuff hiding behind.

I'd recommend this CD as well as Bond's earlier CD "Born". If you like Classical music and wouldn't mind the techno spin, I think you'll appreciate what the group does musically. If you're looking for a "dance mix", either CD would work well. If you buy the CD just for the eye candy, well, the CD succeeds at that as well.