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And Winter Came

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Enya

November 11, 2008
As with every product, there's good and bad aspects. The very good is this is 12 brand new winter songs--not retreads of the same old traditionals, which seem to be the fodder of most of the Christmas offerings. And a neat dozen songs timing out at 44.9 minutes, which is more than a lot of new albums offer nowadays.

The music is the ethereal atmospheric tone you have come to expect from Enya. If you like this type of music, you are going to love the CD.

Favorites:

One Toy Soldier
Journey of the Angels

I would like to see Enya grow and add some different instruments and musical styles to her repertoire, but honestly, for what it is, the CD is very good.

Rebecca Kyle, ... Read More:

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Fearless

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Taylor Swift

November 11, 2008
This album is a bunch of tween gossipy little tales about ex-boyfriends and she doesn't even sing it too well. Have you ever seen her in a live concert...ugh! It's amazing to me that all of the major music pubs are so gushing over this, I guess if you move enough units you are an artist. Case in point: TS, Carrie Underwood and Jonas Bros.

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David Archuleta

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: David Archuleta

November 11, 2008
This CD is absolutely FANTASTIC. He was my favorite on AI throughout the entire season. He is so extremely talented and I just love his voice! The songs suit him perfectly and please do not compare him to David Cook; they have two totally different styles. This is a must-have album for pop music and AI fans! He's right up there with the talent of Clarkson, Underwood, and Daughtry!

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Incanto

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Andrea Bocelli

November 04, 2008
Incanto shows Bocelli at his maximum splendor in terms of voice and power. He delivers these songs with his heart; it is clear that this music has a special meaning for him. The music selection is mostly about classic Italian songs that have been performed by many of Andrea's favorites in the past. Unless you never heard Italian music before, you will recognize at the very least "Funiculi Funicula", "Voglio Vivere Cosi", and "O Surdato "Nnamurato". These are all very nice songs, and are however, the weakest point of this album, because of their predictability. Andrea makes use of his "opera" voice during most of the songs. While this adds to the overall greatness of the CD, it resents the wonderful emotional "rollercoasters" that he can create with his voice in ... Read More:

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Covers

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: James Taylor

September 30, 2008
I AM one of those people who look forward to Taylor's new releases. But this one just didn't do it for me. He's done a great job with covers over the years, but with the exception on one track on this release, I thought he just didn't bring anything new to these.

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A Winter Symphony

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Sarah Brightman

November 04, 2008
I've read a lot of mixed reviews on this CD, from Brightman fans and non-fans alike. But in my personal opinion, it's a superb album, and I'm thrilled she finally produced a holiday CD.

I'm giving it 4 of 5 stars because I do believe it could have been better, but that by no means implies that I hate the CD in anyway. I've just followed Sarah for the past 10 years since I was a little girl. This woman was my introduction to opera and classical cross over music! That being said, I know what the "best" and "most" could sound like from her; this isn't it.

I really wish two things would have been done with this CD: Sarah singing, "The First of May" (as she did on the Symphony tour, for pre-Christmas dates), and she also included a version of her singing "Carol ... Read More:

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A Midwinter Night's Dream

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Loreena McKennitt

October 28, 2008
Loreena McKennitt is not just a talented musician, she's given us quite a generous Christmas gift. In these days of iTunes and your standard 10-song CD with 40 minutes' worth of music, she's brought out a Bakers' Dozen songs for a Christmas feast for both your ears and eyes.

This 54-minute CD is comprised of a lot of the traditionals you'd expect with McKennitt's signature world-infused flair. Part Celtic-part Middle Eastern, these carols don't sound anything like the retreaded redux you hear so often on each year's crop of Christmas CDs. You really never know whether you're going to hear pipes and accordion or sitar on the next tune and the listen is a very pleasant surprise.

If you like traditionals with a different flair, Celtic-Middle Eastern world ... Read More:

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Soul

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Seal

November 11, 2008
One of the mistakes that these so called reviewers make is rating each song as better or worse than the original version. Seal puts his on stamp on each and that is what makes each song so good. When I heard his version of "Walk on by", I did not like it. Now after listening to it over and over, Dionne Warwick's take on it seems lacking. Cut the guy some slack - each one of his CDs has had its own flavor and I appreciate the effort that it must take to redfine his style each pass through the recording studio. The biggest mistake a recording artist can make (in my opinion) is to crank out the same predictable stuff. With Seal you never know what to expect. He could record Disney's "Its a Small World" and make it sound sweet!

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Hit Man: David Foster And Friends

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: David Foster & Friends

November 11, 2008
I had always been a fan of David Foster's music, and it was a fantastic surprise to see many of his most wonderful songs in one DVD, performed by several of today's top artists. You will not be using the "FF" button on your remote control with this DVD. However talented Charice is (and she is indeed very talented), the highlight of this DVD are Andrea Bocelli's performances. The Italian tenor is in a league of his own, his voice and emotion second to none, and in this set, he sings three songs that highlight his immense qualities: "Amapola", "Because we believe", and an incredible version (maybe the best) of "The Prayer". Only complain is that Peter Cetera's songs are all abbreviated versions. Wonderful DVD to play over and over again, and to give as a present. The CD is also nice but it only ... Read More:

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Safe Trip Home

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Dido

November 18, 2008
Dido burst onto the scene in 1999 with her multi million selling debut "No angel", an electro/pop/dance affair led by the hit "Thank you" famously sampled by Eminem on his #1 hit "Stan".

Her sophomore disc "Life for rent" saw her heading in a more Folk-y acoustic direction which I didn't like as in my opinion, it largely lacked tunes and was too gloomy (I actually returned the CD to the store and took Aretha Franklin's new disc instead).

Third CD "Safe trip home" sees her returning still treading in Feist/Emiliana Torrini territory, but with her edginess back, probably thanks to featured guests like ?uestlove (from Rap group The Roots), Mick Fleetwood, and Brian Eno.

Opening the disc is the groovy and catchy "Don't believe in love". Continuing along those ... Read More: