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All I Intended to Be

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Emmylou Harris

June 10, 2008
If you don't know Emmylou Harris at all, buy anything she's ever done. The worst that you'll get is really good. This album is lovely, if low-key and sad. There is a strain of American music - the only authentic strain aside from Afro-American - embodied in country, folk and some rock based on the former two that is heart-piercing, but absolutely lovely. And Emmylou Harris - who defies labels - does it best of all (though her version of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - elsewhere - rocks with a kind of tough cynicism that the Broadway showtune never had.) I've seen her up close in a small concert and she is the very epitome of grace, modesty and beauty. I've been playing this disk for months in my waiting room, and client after client has ... Read More:

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I Am...Sasha Fierce (Deluxe Edition)

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Beyoncé

November 18, 2008
Leave it to Beyonce to take risks because that is exactly what she did on this album and what a great result.

With "I Am..." she shows you the true artistry that she possess. From songs like the hit single "If I Were A Boy" to the next potential "Halo", she definitely caters to the masses. But on song like "Ave Maria", "Satellites", and "Broken-Hearted Girl" she digs deep down and professes her love for someone special past and present. Anyone can relate to these songs.

On "Sasha Fierce" she is fierce indeed! With club-ready hits like "Radio" and "Diva" we are sure to hear these songs being bumped in the club and they are sure to get you moving. While "I Am..." is more personal we get the true diva that is Beyonce represents ... Read More:

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Paper Trail

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: T.I.

September 30, 2008
T.I. is the boi! He rocked it on this one, but he stepped up his game something fierce on "Me Against The World." Oh you'll ride to this one. My favs on this joint are "Swing Your Rag" and "A Better Day"...but fortunately the whole CD is on point.

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Genesis Box Set 3 (1970-1975)[13 Disc Set]

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Genesis

November 11, 2008
This set contains almost exactly what I wanted. The most important releases by one of my favorite bands, remixed in 5.1 surround. But there's quite a bit more than that.

It also contains nearly all of the existing video footage of the band from that time. Let that soak in. Most of it is in better quality than ever seen before. I think my VHS copy of the Midnight Special performance might be in better shape than theirs, but that's a minor complaint.

The set also contains the recently rediscovered Jackson Tapes. This was a 1970 recording session for a documentary about the painter Michael Jackson. In this recording, you can hear the compositional beginnings of The Fountain of Salmacis, Anyway, and the Musical Box, but with Anthony ... Read More:

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A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Kristin Chenoweth

October 14, 2008
Have you noticed there are a lot of great new holiday albums out this year? Wow! This one - "A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas" by Kristin Chenoweth is my favorite, which is really saying a lot! Just listening to the previews I was hooked, and I've already listened to all the songs several times. What a beautiful bell quality Kristin's voice has . . . it makes you happy just listening to her songs! I wasn't that familiar with Kristin Chenoweth (I knew her only from "Wicked") before, but now I'm one of her new fans! I'm buying several to share with friends and family during the holidays. Thanks Kristin!!

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ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: ABBA

September 21, 1993
I've so enjoyed the resurgence of Abba..the theater version of Mama Mia..and the film version. SO I had to get the CD and I love it...the styling of the songs and the words are so impressive.

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Time the Conqueror

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Jackson Browne

September 23, 2008
Every artist that records in a studio ends up throwing out most of the songs they write. Evidently his new pals are telling Jackson that every single song he writes is worthy of being on a record. They aren't. No songwriter is that good.

So, we get a record filled mostly with those songs that should have been passed on, and not even enough of those. Too many suckups hanging around him, and too few of the old crowd...the guys and girls that got him to where he is.

As frustrating as the old record companies might have been, they did know how to tell an artist that the product wasn't good enough. Now with all these artists going to independent labels, or Walmart, they just have no one telling them the truth...that 80 percent of this record is ... Read More:

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Back To The River

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Susan Tedeschi

October 28, 2008
Ms Tedeschi is possessed of great talents, but if this album is any indication, musical judgement and taste are not among them.

She has surrounded herself with people who, for the most part, are very good at playing notes, but don't have a clue about playing music. Every single track is overly serious and none of the swing.

Someone once said, "if it can't be done on 8 tracks, it's not worth doing." This album certainly supports that view!

Ms Tedeschi would be better served sparser arrangements and partners who can play the blues. Listening to Teddy Wilson's recording with Billie Holiday would be a good place for her to start.

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Love On The Inside [Deluxe Fan Edition]

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Sugarland

July 22, 2008
Buy the 17-track version, just for the live Sugarland version of "Come On Get Higher," the vocal is maybe better than the Matt Nathanson original.

I listen to this CD over and over, the voice and the variety of styles make it always fresh.

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Perfect Symmetry

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Pop
by: Keane

October 14, 2008
I have listened to this album about 20 times so far, and while at first I didn't care for it, upon listening to it a couple more times, it started to grow on me.

The band is growing, they are trying new things, and this is all good news. The worst thing a band can do is be stagnant and have all of their albums sound the same. A couple of tracks on the album are reminiscent of what we know and love of Keane, however the album as a whole is a different sound.

I think overall, if you enjoy the band, you will like the album and the songs, they are written well, the lyrics are powerful (as always), and the orchestration is often clever.