Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Diversity Of Pop/Rock Artists, February 17, 2006
After watching all of the incredible performers a few weeks ago on this year's Grammy broadcast, I thought spotlighting many of the nominated and winning artists would be fitting. But how do you spotlight 21 artists and performances into one review? Easy. Once you pick up this CD and take a listen, you'll realize and revel with some of your favorite artists, such as Mariah Carey and her nominated R&B slammer, "It's Like That," Coldplay's "Speed Of Sound," Rob Thomas' "Lonely No More" and Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc." And those are just four of the nominated artists and songs. What about the other big winners? They're all here, including Green Day and their brilliant Record Of The Year "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams," Stevie Wonder's sensational ballad "From The Bottom Of My Heart," two-time winning sensation Kelly Clarkson with her electrifying pop rocker "Since U Been Gone," and the big winners of the evening, U2, chiming in with "City Of Blinding Lights," and John Legend's superb song, "Ordinary People." If that's not enough, Paul McCartney made his first-ever Grammy performance come alive this year, so it's only appropriate to spotlight his stunning selection "Fine Line." Other vets include The Rolling Stones' "Rain Fall Down," Neil Young's "The Painter," Springsteen's winner "Devils & Dust," Seal's phenomenal "Walk On By" and Sheryl Crow's splendid "Good Is Good." Rounding out the disc is Rascal Flatts, Hawaii's own Jack Johnson, rock and roll's Foo Fighters, Beck, Death Cab For Cutie and alternative music's Franz Ferdinand. If it's a potpourri of music you desire, you can't miss with this CD!
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19 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some of '05's Best; Some Of '05's Not So Good, February 4, 2006
By the year's end, 2005 was good year for music; if you looked in the right places. There was alot of great work out there, but you had to wade through all bad and mediocre junk to find it. It was the year where 50 Cent had the charts on lockdown (again), when Mariah Carey rose back to superstar, when Kelly Clarkson broke away from "American Idol", and Green Day rocked the nation. "2006 Grammy Nominees" offers a decent, although very incomplete, sample of 2005 music. Many of '05's biggest stars (50 Cent, Destiny's Child, The Killers, Black Eyed Peas) are MIA in favor of older acts, with less presence (The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder). The album attempts to cover the awards of Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music Album. Since a number of the songs are listted as "TRACK UNAVAILABLE"; the nominees are hardly complete. Anyway, here's some of '05's Grammy nominated artists:
(1) Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc." B. You gotta hand it to the Gorillaz: they avoid the mainstream and formulas. The song may lack the impact of "Clint Eastwood", and doesn't always mesh well, but it consistently keeps our attention, and is made with true talent and skill. It's also refreshing to hear an un-credited De La Soul rapping again. Rap and techno may be an odd combination, but who cares as long as it works?
(2) Green Day "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" B. Ah, the song that was hailed by many, such as MTV, as Green Day's epic masterpiece. It's a good single, yet I felt that "American Idiot" rocked more and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" had more power. Still, I am left with admiration for what the song is; a new direction for the group (as most of "American Idiot" was) and heartfelt ballad with real dimension to it. There is a sense of truth in the lyrics. A good track, that could have been a bit better.
(3) Mariah Carey "It's Like That" B+. There isn't much depth to this pop/hip-hop track, yet it works terrifically as Mariah's "I"M BACK" single. It show's her being herself, warm personality and all, cheerfully enjoying making music. Jermaine Dupri has alot of fun creating quirky beats to lace with Mariah's lyrics, and Fat Man Scoop has some nice unbilled verses. This track accomplishes it exact purpose terrifically: letting us know that Mariah is on top again.
(4) Paul McCartney "Fine Line" B-. You got to hand it to that ex-Beatle; he's always doing something. The track, and the "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard" LP, doesn't hold a candle to his previous work, but there is something enormously likable about it. It's like a continuation of the "Flaming Pie" album (1997). His lyrics have some depth, even if it's nothing new, and his guitar skills are as good as ever. Guess, we should cut the old guys a break from time to time.
(5) U2 "City Of Blinding Lights" C. U2 is one of the greatest rock groups of all time, and have made some of the best songs ever recorded. That just makes this misfire all the more bewildring. "Vertigo" was pretty good, but this is really dead in the water. The lyrics really have no impact, and there is no zip from their usually graet insturmentals. This is a reall disappiontment; I'd say it's their weakest song since 1997's "Discothèque".
(6) Rsacal Flatts "Bless The Broken Road" C+. In terms of comtemporary country; this is pretty insignificant. Rascal Flatts lack the conviction of Kieth Urban, or the edge of Big & Rich. What we have here is a nice traditional country song disguised as a comtemporay country song. That's not always bad though; Keith Urban did it great with "Making Memories Of Us", but this just seems to safe and flat. An OK country tune, yet you can find better.
(7) Bruce Springsteen "Devils & Dust" B. It doesn't restore Bruce to his glory years, yet it is an improvement over the paddedness of 2002's "The Rising". At the bare minimum, I must give him credit for attempting folk; he sounds like he's been doing folk music for years. His lyrics do have real impact to them and strike some good beats. If the song has one flaw it's that it sounds too much like alot of other folk songs to fully stand out.
(8) John Legend "Ordinary People" B+. John Legend is a completely traditional R&B artist. By that, I mean there is hardly any contemporary R&B in his work. This beautiful and heartfelt song could have been released in 1975, and played perfectly on radio. If it has any flaws, it's that the all piano instrumentals leave some open spaces in the music, and it isn't as piercing as "Used To Love U". That aside, this is a terrific R&B throwback.
(9) Jack Johnson "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" B-. Ever since Jihn Mayer hit it big, the labels have been digging up every young, male pop-vocalist they can. Jack Johnson is decent, but he lacks a unique voice (which Gavin DeGraw has)or youthful energy (which Ryan Cabrera has). What is left is an innocent, well made pop song which sonds great, but doesn't have it's own flavor. With songs like John Mayer's "Your Body Is A Wonderland" and Ryan Cabrera's "On The Way Down"; this is a minor offering.
(10) Seal "Walk On By" A-. Seal is such an amazing singer that he can take a constantly re-made classic, and still make it his own. The lyrics are farmilar to just about every music fan, but Seal is able to find his own voice and make them deep and heartfelt; you can sense true sadness in them. A track off his "Best Of 1991-2004" album; this sereves as a current reminder of why Seal and producer Trevor Horn are an unstoppable team. Yet another, homerun for one of our most underrated male vocalists.
(11) Rob Thomas "Lonely No More" B+. Although "This Is How A Heart Breaks" was the great single off Rob Thomas solo debut, this was also pretty good. Just like the best works by Matchbox Twenty, Thomas lets his voice go all out and deliver his lyrics with fire, power and passion. Set to the live-wire beat of Matt Seltric's production; this song strikes distinct notes. I hope Matchbox Twenty reunites soon, but for now Rob Thomas can just do his thing.
(12) Stevie Wonder "From The Bottom Of My Heart" B-. More of an R&B song than a pop song, but whatever. Stevie Wonder hasnt done anything in a while, and this is a respectable, old fashioned tune. Just like Paul McCartney's "Fine Line" though, it's a bit too safe as it offers nothing new to the R&B/pop game. Yet you still have to admire Stevie Wonder's legend, and note that he is an still and R&B master. A nice song, just a little insignificant.
(13) Kelly Clarkson "Since U Been Gone" A-. Kelly has taken everything "Thankful" (2003) stumbled with a refined it for her sophomore disc. This second single is a rocking track vibrating with true passion and conviction. The instrumentals lend much energy to the track (courtesy of super-producer John Shanks), as they lace the meaningful lyrics. We've heard this kind of stuff before, but usually not this well. Kelly Clarkson was the 1st American Idol, and is by far the best.
(14) Sheryl Crow "Good Is Good" B+. Eleven years into the music industry, and Sheryl Crow still sounds terrific. Many people have been inspired by her style, but Sheryl still delivers it the best. "Good Is Good" is similar to some of her other songs, yet the beautifully written lyrics, and graceful delivery of them, make it very unique. It's nice to see a female with a low key sound; a nice balance for people like Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson. Another hit for one of our best female vocalists.
(15) Coldplay "Speed Of Sound" B-. As I've mentioned before, I am not very fond of Coldplay. However, I don't mind this song that much. It's nowhere near as good as "The Scientist", but it's miles better than "Clocks"; about in the same league as "My Place". The music is still near sleep inducing, and the lyrics are as baffling as ever, but it keeps a reasonable length, and after all the tracks from Kelly and Sheryl; I don't mind it that much.
(16) Foo Fighters "Best Of You" A. For the last decade, the Foo Fighters have been one of the most consistent rock groups out there. This single, off their massive-double disc "In Your Honor", stands as THE best work off their illistrious career. The key to it's sucess, is the fact that although the insturmentals are cranked up to hard rock levels; the lyrics are always in the spotlight, and they are powerful, deep, true and sung with total conviction by Dave Grohl. This is what true rock SHOULD be.
(17) Rolling Stones "Rain Fall Down" B-. Yet another track from an older artist that is good, but alot like everything else they've done. This is an improvement over "Anybody Seen My Baby?"; thought it's a pretty tame and standard rock song. After hearing the Foo Fighters in their glory, you're less entusiastic about this. Still, Mick Jagger and the boys must be admired for their energy, enthusiasm and pure talent.
(18) Neil Young "The Painter" C-. Worse than bad; this track kis utterly lifeless. There is not a single second here that has not been done better a million times before. As always, Young's weak voice offers no help to the tiresome lyrics. I know he has all his die hard fans out there, but I just don't like him. This is a song based on formulas, by an artist who isn't original. More to the point; this is song is NOT rock.
(19) Beck "E-Pro" D+. Beck has made alot of unique, lively, vibrating music ever since 1994's "Loser". That is why I'm let down by this shapeless, noisy jumble. Yes, his lyrics are ussually bizarre, but this time there are almost non-existant and what there are for lyics are meaningless. And the insturmentals have none of Beck's usual zip; they come off as an assault of noise. I hope that Beck will bounce back from this disaster of a track.
(20) Death Cab For Cutie "Soul Meets Body" A-. Another terrific group with an awful...
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14 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
there's no good reason key songs should be missing. what where they thinking when they put this compilation together!!!!!, February 5, 2006
A Kid's Review
the first and most notable song missing is kanye west's "gold digger". just don't understand that one. mariah's "we belong together" should be here instead of it's like that. WBT spent weeks of being #1 and again theres no reason for this to be happening. 50 cent's "candy shop" or "just a lil bit"(better off just a lil bit)is missing also. that suprised me. black eyed peas "don't phunk with my heart" or "my humps". gwen stefani's "hollaback girl". kelly clarkson "because of you" should be here instead of since you been gone. there are just a few other's missing that i can't think of at the moment. this was'nt really smart who ever put this thing together, to just forget all the above. make your own grammy 2006 cd because strategic marketing could'nt get the job done.
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~ Various Artists
~ Grammy Nominees (Series)
~ Grammy Nominees (Series)
~ Grammy Nominees (Series)
~ Various Artists
See all 21 tracks on this disc
