Immortal Beloved

Today’s post is from Susan at Schimelpfenig Library:

Immortal Beloved (1994) directed by Bernard Rose; starring Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbe and Isabella Rosselini.

Usually, I am an audio listener of historical fiction, but I happened to pick up this DVD and it was fabulous!  A letter addressed to “Immortal Beloved” was found among the papers of Ludwig von Beethoven when he died.  This is fact and the letter is currently in a museum.  In the movie, Beethoven’s assistant goes from place to place interviewing the women in the musician’s life in an effort to discover his “Beloved.”  We see by flashback what his life was like from childhood on and it is fascinating.

Of course his wonderful music is played throughout the movie, whether we see the musicians or it’s in the soundtrack.

Oh yes, we do find out who Beethoven’s mysterious “Beloved” is in the movie.

October

Today’s post is from Peter at Davis Library:

October by U2

Released in 1981, the second album from these young Irish troubadours is often overshadowed by their later works.  In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, I find this “dark horse” album to be among their most satisfying.   Appropriately titled, this album evokes the aura of a crisp and mellow autumn day.  The passionate vocals, meditative drumming, brooding bass lines, and haunting guitar riffs give the songs a spiritual ambiance that is raw and deeply moving.

Queen: Greatest Hits I and II

Today’s post is from Peter at Davis Library:

Queen: Greatest Hists I & II

Queen is one of those special groups that are renowned worldwide. With rich harmonies, crunchy guitar riffs, dynamic bass, and of course…the soaring and melodramatic lead vocals, this collection of hits provides many hours of nostalgia and enjoyment.  This British band explores a variety of musical genres, such as hard rock (Sheer Heart Attack), ballads (You’re My Best Friend), pop (Another One Bites the Dust), and rockabilly (Crazy Little Thing Called Love).  It’s hard not to feel energized by this band’s vibrant and expressive sound.

Moving Pictures

Today’s post is from Peter at Davis Library:

Moving Pictures  by Rush

I was seven years old when this album was released in spring of 1981, and it has been among my favorites ever since.  This progressive and commercially friendly album contains many classic hits such as Tom Sawyer, Limelight, and Red Barchetta.  Unlike some of their earlier concept albums, Moving Pictures uses shorter songs that  explore a variety of themes: a modern day reference to a literary figure, prejudice, alienation, and the perils of conformity.  The music is very dynamic and complex,  with intricate bass riffs, sweeping and powerful guitar, labyrinthine synthesizers, and sublime percussion.  The peerless innovation of this Canadian band has withstood the test of time.

Skylark

Today’s post is from Dawn at Parr Library:

 

Skylark  by Renee Olstead

Houston native, Renee Olstead, was just shy of her 15th birthday when she released her self-titled first cd, Renee Olstead, in 2004.  While singing with various jazz/swing bands, her style and mature voice caught the attention of famed producer David Foster (Celine Dion, Natalie Cole), resulting in a major-label recording deal.

Skylark is her second solo cd, finally released in early 2009.  Her syle is influenced by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.  Combining elements of jazz, blues, and swing, she has recorded a combination of old and modern standards, along with four original songs she co-wrote.  The recordings are lush with strings, piano, and horns but apart from her youth, it is her style, interpretation, and originality which make this cd so special.

The Composer is Dead

Today’s post is from Erik at Schimelfenig Library:

The Composer is Dead  by Lemony Snicket

Whenever a writer creates an alternate persona to write his books it’s hard to tell where, or even if, they differentiate themselves.  I guess it would be doubly hard for that writer when his alter-ego is more succesful than he is; however,  it worked just dandy for Sam Clemens.  I don’t think I’m destroying anyone’s childhood idealism by saying that Lemony Snicket is not a real person but just in case I’ll leave the discovery of the real writer to your various Wikipedia skills and stick with what I thought of his most recent book.

I liked The Series of Unfortunate Events although the series bogged down in the middle and tended to repeat itself; and I liked The Composer is Dead even though it suffered from the same characteristics.  The Composer is Dead  introduces the various elements and sounds that make up an orchestra while making them all suspects in a death of the composer.  It’s a good tool to expose kids to the idea of orchestral music and some historic composers but it does, at times, seem to flitter off-course into language that may be incomprehensible to it’s target audience.  It is probably a book better read by a parent to a child so they are able to ferry the children across some of the murkier waters.

There is also an accompanying CD with the author reading the text and the instruments being played.  This would have been  an excellent companion piece if it hadn’t go on way too long.   The material as a whole is extremely passable but passable isn’t what I’ve come to expect from Lemony Snicket who may have, in this instance, fallen victim to his own creation.

Roll On

Today’s post is from Dawn at Parr Library:

Roll On by J. J. Cale

The name J. J. Cale takes me back in time.  This Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter is perhaps best known for hit songs recorded by other artists such as Eric Clapton’s version of “After Midnight.”  Known to have a strong aversion to stardom, J. J. Cale nevertheless maintained a dedicated cult-artist following for his own music throughout his long career.   His style has been described as “laid back” and his music contains elements of blues, jazz, folk, country, rockabilly, and boogie.  Each track on this cd, his first since 2004, is distinctly different and a joy to listen to.  He won his first Grammy Award,  ”Best Contemporary Blues Album” in 2008 for The Road to Escondido, recorded with Eric Clapton. 

If you’ve already discovered this unique artist, you will no doubt enjoy this new recording.  If you haven’t, then it’s time you did.

Raising Sand

Today’s post is from Joyce at Haggard Library:

Raising Sand  by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with producer T-Bone Burnette

Raising Sand won the grammy for Album of the Year 2009.  The surprise pairing of the these two great artists who hail from two very different fields of music created the surprise of the year! What a wonderful music treat it is.  Blues, folk, and rock and country and the harmonies of two wonderful artists.  It makes you want  to sing along and listen again and again.  Give yourself a treat and listen.

Foreigner: The Definitive Collection

Today’s post is from Peter at Davis Library:

 

Foreigner: The Definitive Collection  by Foreigner

For those of you who grew up in the late 70s and early 80s, you will probably remember many of the hits gathered on this excellent compilation.  I remember listening to Foreigner (along with other bands such as Boston and Journey) in our family’s yellow T-Top Trans Am on warm summer nights.  Foreigner combined hard rock with pop sensibility, producing many classic songs such as Feels Like the First Time, Juke Box Hero, Urgent, Double Vision, and the pulse-pounding Hot Blooded.  Although some critics like to dismiss them as corporate rock or arena rock, it is hard to deny their edgy guitar riffs, melodic synthesizers, and sublime vocal harmones which still sound crisp and polished today.

Back in Black

Today’s post is from Peter at Davis Library:

Back in Black  by AC/DC

Released in 1980, following the whiskey-sodden death of original lead singer Bon Scott, this album is the powerful rebirth of a hard rocking Australian band.  With bludgeoning riffs, raw vocals, addictive rhythms, Back in Black is the essence of blunt no-nonsense rock.  If you are tired of today’s synthetic pop music of Casio keyboards and digital drum machines, play this CD to hear real rock, primal and pure.  Listener beware, this album is a growling beast that insists on being played at maximum volume!