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Down to Earth

by: Jem

September 16, 2008
I am a huge fan of Jem's first album, Finally Woken, and purchased this one on the authority of the reviewers who said it was as good or better. Having listened to it a few times, I'm afraid I have to disagree. By far the best track on the CD is the title track, "Down to Earth". But even that one isn't as good as "24" from Finally Woken. "Aciiid!" is an almost-successful foray into the hip-hop genre, but ultimately lacks the edginess that makes for decent hip-hop. Most of the songs here unfortunately are lacking in musical variation, and the lyrics are simplistic at best. Don't get me wrong: I still liked the album. But it wasn't what I was hoping for.

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Finally Woken

by: Jem

March 23, 2004
I bought JEM a long time ago and have listened to her when I can. After I gave birth to my stillborn baby at 7 months, I listened to her again. Missing You really moved me. The lyric described exactly what I was feelings... "my happiness disappeared the moment you were gone... now all I'm feeling is lost and numb.... yes I miss you and it's killing me inside...." And then I listened to Just A Ride and thought that lyric moved me as well. "Life, it's ever so strange. It's so full of change. Think that you've worked it out Then BANG Right out of the blue, Something happens to you, to throw you off course... just enjoy the ride....." I'm glad I found JEM. Her voice reminds me of DIDO.

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We Three Kings

by: Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan, Finbar Wright

October 21, 2003
As an avid fan of the Irish Tenors I thoroughly enjoyed this CD until the last three songs. While I appreciate the Irish Tenors showing their respect for this country and their American fans by recording "God Bless America" etc., I fail to understand what such songs are doing on a Christmas CD. I am especially surprised by the inclusion of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." This song was a marching melody for the Union Army during the civil war and I think it shows a naive misunderstanding of history to include that track on this CD. What has Christmas to do with the Civil War? The tenors need to realize they don't have to include American songs in order to sell to American citizens. Stop catering.

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Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Fritz Kreisler: Concerto for Violin

by: Joanna Jenner, Ping-How Liang, Melissa Meell, Adela Pena, Todd Phillips

February 07, 1995
In a sea of Four Seasons recordings, Gil Shahmam's version is perhaps the one that stands out in my mind the most. His playing is flawless and tasteful: the vurtoso passages are never over-the top but they aren't blase either and he is very lyrical in the slow movements. Mr. Shaham works well with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and their choice of dynamics creates excitment and adds to the emotional depth of these concerti. Their orchestra/solo balance is perfect and I might also mention that DG recording on this one is superb. Gil Shaham and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra play these pieces like they are bonafide masterpieces rather than elevator music.

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Gil Shaham: Violin Romances - (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra)

by: Edward Elgar, Fritz Kreisler, Johan Svendsen, Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Antonin Dvorak, Jem Cohen, Gil Shaham, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Pablo de Sarasate

August 13, 1996
Beautiful performance by Shaham (especially the two Kreisler pieces), perfectly backed by the Orpheus orchestra.

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It All Starts Here...

by: Jem

October 14, 2003
I have not heard this EP, which is why i gave it 4 stars, but i have heard a few songs off it. I also have heard her new album, "Finally Woken" which i have to say is pretty dynamite... however, i wish she would of have kept it more in the trip hop theme... her album is pretty trippy, and becuase i am a DJ, and into many styles of music, i really dig the trip hop beats she makes, and her singing goes real well over it. but there are some tracks that sound almost like metal, like Evanescence, whom i dig too, but if you make a trippy, dj like, electronica cd, you should sort of stick w/ that and not go into extreme lands like metal unless you can really cover that music good... she makes it work, but those are tracks i'd skip over fast...

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Mystic: The Musical Visions Of Olivier Messiaen

from: Polygram Records

February 13, 1996
Anyone who takes a walk down the classical aisles at any record store will notice the sheer amount of compilations produced in this genre. From opera arias to ambient mixes to the greatest hits of a particular era, there's hundreds of them. But compilations of modern composers are rare, and Deutsche Grammophon deserves praise for this disc offering samples of the ecstatic music of Olivier Messiaen. The music of this devout Roman Catholic who saw colours when he heard notes and thought birdsong was the voice of God is full of majesty and glittery effects like no other.

The selections cover the two ends of Messiaen's career. Four selections are early. "The Ascension" for orchestra is from 1932, one of the his first major pieces he ever wrote. ... Read More:

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Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Naomi & Ruth / Sacred Service for Sabbath Eve [Milken Archive of American Jewish Music]

from: Milken Archive

September 23, 2003
Castelnuovo-Tedesco, best-known probably for his 1939 guitar concerto, wrote music that I don't believe can be called strongly memorable. It's expertly written, at times even beautiful, but it seems to disappear as soon as it's over. Furthermore, he never seemed to find himself, or at least to establish a strong artistic personality. At his best, he resorts to a neoclassic idiom. Most of the time, the music, despite its occasional prettiness, doesn't sound like much of anything.

The works here the composer wrote near or at the top of his game. Naomi and Ruth, a little cantata, tells the familiar story, with the soprano soloist taking the part of Naomi and the chorus taking over the narration and the words of Ruth. It's an almost archetypal ... Read More:

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O Susanna

by: Jem Moore & Ariane Lydon

July 01, 1994
This album represents the pinnacle of the career of Jem and Ariane, who, sadly, broke up not long after releasing it. Ariane Lydon's lovely voice (in French and English) and highly skilled playing of harp and guitar are the perfect complement to some of the most dazzling hammer dulcimer playing ever recorded. While not well known to the general public, these are folk musicians highly respected by other folk musicians, yet unbound by any stylistic limitations whatsoever. On this recording, Jem Moore displays his unique hammer dulcimer mastery on the amazing flamenco piece "Recuerdos de la Alhambra", which has caused many another hammer dulcimer player to throw down their sticks in resignation that they could never duplicate Jem's ability to produce this sound. Hard ... Read More:

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Foolish Games

by: Jem

January 20, 1998
This album represents the pinnacle of the career of Jem and Ariane, who, sadly, broke up not long after releasing it. Ariane Lydon's lovely voice (in French and English) and highly skilled playing of harp and guitar are the perfect complement to some of the most dazzling hammer dulcimer playing ever recorded. While not well known to the general public, these are folk musicians highly respected by other folk musicians, yet unbound by any stylistic limitations whatsoever. On this recording, Jem Moore displays his unique hammer dulcimer mastery on the amazing flamenco piece "Recuerdos de la Alhambra", which has caused many another hammer dulcimer player to throw down their sticks in resignation that they could never duplicate Jem's ability to produce this sound. Hard ... Read More: