Nowhere near as good as the 2007 live versions

For those lucky enough to have heard the live versions of these songs found on the Internet from their 2007 American tour, they'll probably notice they grooved and moved far more to those tracks than the extremely boring, mellow versions found on"In Rainbows". Thom was inspired as all hell at those shows, and it showed in the music, but this album is simply a bunch of boring rehashes of great songs done way way better live on the small theater stages in 2007. And what the hell did the band do to"4 Minute Warning" on the bonus CD?! They butchered what was probably their best song since"Exit Music"!

Winter wonderland

I think most of use at some time or other would like to retreat from everyday life and grab some real solitude but most of us don't have the bottle to do it and even if we did probably wouldn't stand it for more than a couple of days. After the demise of his band DeYarmond Edison Justin Vernon departed to his fathers log cabin in North-western Wisconsin for the months of November, December and January in 2006/2007.He lived off the land and he recorded this wonderful album, though the album notes point out that a"small amount" of additional recording was done afterwards.
It's effectively just the man and his guitar and his pining falsetto vocal. There is additional trumpet and trombone on"For Emma" and percussion on"Flume" but other than that it's just guitar and voice though the vocals are adroitly multi-tracked at times to give a ghostly choral effect. It's ironic that this album has been picked up in the U.K. by 4AD(Along with Jagjaguwar)as it occasionally evokes the spectral nuances of many of a 4AD band-"Lump Sum" could be off This Mortal Coils"It'll End In Tears".
Bon Iver is a bastardisation of the French Bon Hiver meaning good winter and though the album was recorded in the suffocating cold of a Wisconsin winter it has a hazy refracted ambience that recalls sunnier times . His ascetic approach will lead to comparisons with Iron And Wine while his high range vocals remind me of Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio. I bet I'm not the only one to point that out. It also reminds me of Phosphorescent 2007 album"Pride" in parts though I might be more isolated on that one.
The songs are extremely subtle with diaphanous melodies and lyrics with distorted imagery .It may take half a dozen listens for some of the songs to fully gel ."Blindsided" is one of the sparser tracks on the album and can sound flat and one dimensional on first listen but further investigation reveals its hidden depths and substance. Other songs like"Flume""Lump Sum" ,"Skinny Love" and the brassy"For Emma" are more immediate but every track on For Emma ,Forever Ago" is suffused with a tangible depth of subjective experience that resounds in every note and lyric. On the lovely and fragile closing"Re:Stacks" he sings"This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realisation / It's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away/ Your Love will be safe with me".
I feel that Emma is just a name that Justin Vernon plucked out of the air. This is an album about more than one relationship .It's an album about many , about a lifetime , all be it a relatively short one, of associations, affairs...whatever you want to call them. As he sings on"The Wolves (Act I and II)""Someday my pain will mark you". maybe he got it out of his system recording this remarkable album but one things for sure ...this music will mark you too.

A stunning record

This is a CD to raise a few eyebrows and create a few waves. The songs are believable, the backings are exciting and there is a sense of freedom and fun pervading the whole record. Absolutely brilliant.

most under rated band in uk

Great new album, real return to form. Some stand out tracks eg itsumo, silent cry. Get the deluxe version with bonus tracks.

Goldfrapp :( Dissapointing

I loved the last album and went to see them in Concert loved it all...

But this Album actually made me wanna sleep... I was that Bored listening to it... A&E is a ok song... but the rest is not that good...

Sooner have the Electro stuff!!!

Chasing Pavements - awesome

Chasing Pavements in my opinion is one of the best singles of the year! When I first heard it I was blown away, its truly a beauty! The rest of the album is lovely. Adele is definately a rising star!

Fantastic

After first listening to the album i fell in love with the way the tracks seem to draw you in and want you to listen to them over and over again. The obvious songs that have been released will have everyone playing them over and over again but listen on to later tracks and you will discover that they do the same. One of the best albums i have brought in a long while. I actually went to see the band at the Shepherds Bush Empire last night and they were excellent. Sounded perfect like the album, so in my opinion, buy the album and go see them live soon......you will not be disappointed!!!!!

Comprehensive collection

This really is a good collection for Neil Diamond novices. It is a tall order to find a 'definative' Neil Diamond collection as there will always be so much left out of this prolific songwriters catalogue. Offering a mixture of recent 'live' recordings and the more familiar studio work, the former appealing more to those who have experienced Neil Diamond's live shows. This collection is unique in that it benefits from the additon of the sublime 'lady Magdelene' and 'Yes I will', which in my opinion, are probably two of his most outstanding musical contributions. ( For those wishing to hear these songs in their original format, then 'Serenade' is the album for you!)
It has, sadly become'uncool' to like Neil Diamond's music and he has never really received the critical acclaim that he is truly deserving of. This man's contribution to music and poetry is awesome and this collection stands as testament to that. Sheer genius.!

The King

Marley is to West Indian music what David Bowie is to rock`n`roll - THE KING.
Every track on this compilation is a gem - it is the soundtrack of my youth and the anthem of the world.
As the great would say"ONE LOVE"...

Doesn't represent the true power of Queen

If you're a collector, who wouldn't mind buying 5-6 albums when you really like a band, then don't buy this. If you however are just interested in their most well known songs, like Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, We Are The Champions...etc, then this might be worth your money.

Greatest Hits I
This collection isn't fair to their early material. This is like making a 15 song compilation for The Beatles from Rubber Soul to Let It Be, or for Led Zeppelin throughout their entire career. You simply can't make a fair Queen compilation from 73 to 80 on one CD only.
If this would be a 2CD-compilation from 73 to 80, I would remove Flash's Theme, and add the following songs, for a total of 17+17 songs.
Keep Yourself Alive, Doing All Right, Liar, Father To Son, White Queen, Ogre Battle, Nevermore, Brighton Rock, In the Lap of the Gods, Stone Cold Crazy, Death On Two Legs, 39, Love of My Life, Tie Your Mother Down, You Take My Breath Away, More of That Jazz, Dragon Attack and Sail Away Sweet Sister.
That would be fair to the early Queen.

Greatest Hits II
Queen in the 80's developed into a single oriented band, so this is a great compilation for their late years. But where's Bijou?

I have to say I don't see the point in Greatest Hits III, but some songs like You Don't Fool Me and Princes of the Universe are worth listening to, atleast.

I would only recommend this if you're into the late Queen material. And then take a look at their 70's studio albums, from Queen(1973) to The Game(1980).

oh brother where art thou

first class traditional country and a bit of bluegrass. represents excelent value for money. so many good tracks its hard to pick one that shines above the rest.listen to YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE by norman blake if you are not tapping your toes then someone has nailed your feet to the floor.then there's I'm a man of constant sorrow-Soggy bottom boys Wow!then for a real treat try The Stanley Bros. Angel Band Traditional country at its best. many other great tracks from Alison Krauss the queen of country and the Whites with keep on the sunny side,backings are fantastic. This is one CD you won't be dissapointed with

Konked out of ideas! HAHA!+Indies dead

Well, well, well! How nice it is to see that these have finally been exposed for the third rate Indie band that they really are! Lets face it they've made enough money for their record company. So why does `konk' need to be pushed? Hence why it's flopped! The kooks have been left out to hang, I feel sorry for the lads, and they probably believed their own hype. I hated their first effort, but I gave this a listen!
Lyrical content is just so band, its like listening to lyrics of a 13 year old, Mr Maker is not fit to be a Menswear b-side. There's no intelligence in the song structures. It plods along, plods along, and plods along. Stormy weather? Down to the market??? Give us a break Mr Pritchard.
Well just like the Darkness, Kaiser Chiefs, Fratellis and Pigeon Detectives novelty factor has worn off and ITS BEEN EXPOSED!!!!

Whooopppppppieeee

Really really good. Sounds a bit like Arcade Fire meets The Coral.....tasty gospel folk music i say, tasty.....better than a scrumdiddlyumptious bar made with Willy Wonkas perfectionist paws :)

Pete McKay....15 minutes of fame at last!!!!!

Instant Classic

Patchy? Who said 'patchy'? Hardly. I've only given this album one listen yet it's beauty is instant. It's a wonderful album. No white noise freak outs like on Ladies & Gentlemen, just pure harmony, soft instrumentation on most tracks....some more up tempo but not abrasively so. It has the feel of his acoustic mainlines shows from last year which were out of this world where joy can be found in the most sad heart ripped open lyrics and songs.

On the subject of harmony, whilst the album is 18 tracks long 6 of these are interludes called Harmony 1 thru to 6. Strange sounding instrumentals that I can only assume were the sounds Jason was talking of when he said the hospital machines were musical. Only a guess. I really like them.

At 51 mins its hardly over long so I really doubt whether anyone would say it is.

Anyways, it's a stunner. Can't wait to get an official copy of it.

Wish I could give 1/2 stars!

It's not average, but it's not great. Deserves 3.5 stars! It's solid and enjoyable (really like 'Tomorrow'), but at the asme time it's nothing mind blowing and fairly forgettable at times... If your a die hard fan it's a decent addition to the Leppard back catalogue (better than X by far), but if you're new to them try Hysteria first.

Great music

The NOW albums always have the pick of the season: there is very little time when I haven't seen a really big song on there. You can practically only get these compilations for your entire music library, because they have all the must-have songs on board. Bit expensive at first glance, but lots of songs and good value for money. And I've really been wanting Rock Star for ages...

Straight to the Point.....

This album will have your toes tapping from the first track. Great album, catchy songs and a fantastic base-line. One of those rare albums you can listen to from start to finish without skipping tracks.

King of R n B? Usher better watch his crown...

After being an Usher fan for many years, I am incredibly disappointed with his latest album. In comparison with Chris Brown's latest album 'Exclusive', 'Exclusive' is a far more superior album. I was hoping 'Here I Stand' would get better after a few listens, but most of the tracks don't do anything for me. A pretty average album from the King of R n B.

Good variety of music

Great soundtrack, Jennifer Hudson, Duffy and particular fave is New York Girls - Morningwood, if you loved the film you love the soundtrack!!

One of the finer albums in 2008

This album is one of the best, solid, seamless yet diverse albums I have heard in 2008. Estelle, for me, is filling that void in the market of credible, soulful R&B/rapper which was ploughed by Lauryn Hill with her 'Miseducation' album. Estelle is no Lauryn Hill, but I am more than satisfied to listen to this until Ms. Hill chooses to return.

After her debut THE 18th DAY I thought that we probably would not hear from her again and she would another talented British artist to disappear into obscurity because of a lack of penetration into the Top 10 yet alone the Top 40. This may be due to a number of American artists churning out R&B albums. So Estelle moves State-side to sign up with John Legend. I saw Estelle in concert with John Legend in 2005 and I am not surprised that they have teamed up."American Boy" was a tremendous will.i.am produced Kanye West featured track (Kanye rapping about WAGs and Ribena!!) and there are a number of other track which illustrate Estelle's dexterity courtesy of production by Wyclef Jean (another Fugee), Mark Ronson, Swizz Beatz, Jack Splash and others. This album is great for summer and I listen to it regularly on the tube in London.
Estelle bravely covers Bob Marley's"So Much Things To Say" (like Lauryn Hill did with Bob) and creates a George Michael inspired No Substitute Love."Come Over" is an beautiful ballardy tune which shows off Estelle's softer side a bit more."Wait a Minute" featuring will.i.am manages to show the I'm-nobodies-fool side of Estelle with some moving production from will.i.am.

Estelle flows between singer to rapper effortlessly in this album on a few tracks and features with artists such as Cee-Lo on"Pretty Please" -- which is the MOST genuine JACKSON 5 sounding song I have heard post Jackson 5."You Are" features John Legend where they sing back and forth to each other. A song that manages to sound intimate like you're the only other person witnessing this exchange.

I fear that this album will not shift as many units as it should. It won't show internationally that the UK is not just Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy. I always say just to download individual tracks for albums but this one really deserves to be listened to from beginning to end as the album's mood is really a journey from beginning to end. Maybe leave off Shine with Swizz Beatz if you want to save some money. This album is the yardstick for others to follow for a while.