Buy it. Hurry up and get to the store to get your hands on the live cd set of one of the hottest Italian tours of the year. Just look at who is singing either their greatest hits solo or duets or other various combinations and you will understand. This live two cd set is a wonderful addition to any music library. These four artists have combined their talents to present some of their own greatest hits in new ways. They make the combinations look effortless; as if they had been singing together for years. If you are a fan of any of the four get the cd. If you want to take a musical journey through some of the best Italian songs of the last few decades, get a hold of the cd. You will spend hours enjoying what the four have produced.
"From the Inside"
This is the much anticipated and much delayed english language cd from Laura Pausini. I wonder why the
record company has not done more to promote it to the english speaking
audience. When I picked up the cd, I have to admit I had my doubts
about what Laura could do in english. I must say that I was very
pleasantly surprised. Of course this doesn't mean this is a must have
cd for everyone. With some new songs and some translated from the
Italian, Laura is able to show of her vocal abilities and do the songs
justice. However, if you really want to experience what has made her
such a star in Italy and spanish speaking countries, stick to the
original Italian versions of the works. This is a nice cd for her best
fans to pick up.
"301 Guerre Fa"
This cd was Bertoli's last before his
recent death. We really had not heard much from Bertoli in the last
few
years. He was still releasing albums on smaller labels but they were
usually a few new songs repackaged with older, more successful
material. Bertoli's peak was in the late 80s and the early 90s with a
number of good, hardhitting songs that were not afraid to address the
wrongs in the world. If you listened to his songs, it did not take you
long to realize that Bertoli was very much on the left side of
politics. He believed that there were wrongs that needed to be exposed
and righted. He captured his vision in songs which were lively and
listenable but which never failed to remind you of what needed to done.
Bertoli did not waiver from his beliefs. You have to admire someone
who
like that for what he stood for throughout his life. I was and
continue
to be a fan of his music. I was disappointed in his most recent
releases but never stopped admiring him and what he captured in his
greatest hits. I f one song captures what he was about, listen closely
to A Muso Duro. Perhaps more than Bertoli, we see a little of
ourselves
and what we could be come if we hold on to what we believe in that
song.
His last effort is actually not a bad album. It contains a few new
tracks and slightly different versions of some of his greatest hits
(although not all). It is a must for Bertoli fans like me. However,
look to some of his albums from the 80s and early 90s as a better
indication of what he was capable of. Buy one of those and envision
Bertoli as a modern day Don Quixote.
"Semplicemente"
Alex Baroni died young before being able to
reach his full potential. His was a cinderella like story. Alex
started out as part of the back up vocals in the Sanremo Festival
orchestra. He worked his way into the spotlight with his strong voice
and excellent abilities. He had only released a few albums with modest
success. However, you could tell from his determination, that he
would one day hit it big. Unfortunately, a tragic motorcycle accident cut
short his dreams and those of his many fans. Semplicemente is a labor
of love put together by his family. Alex had been working on a new
album at the time of his death. His family took three new songs which
he had wanted in the album and added his best material to create a work
that touches you for what he did and what he could have done. If you
do not have any Baroni cds, this one is a nice one have as it does his
work justice. If you are a fan, it goes without saying that this one is
destined for your collection as it is for mine.
"Shakespeariana"
I absolutely enjoyed this cd.
What
a wonderful collection of songs written by Marco Ongaro and performed
by
Giuliana Bergamaschi. The songs are based on the female characters
from
the plays of William Shakespeare. The songs capture the essence of the
characters as their emotions take the form of carefully sculpted songs.
The pieces so perfectly capture the emotions that you find yourself
believing that Bergamaschi has become Lady Macbeth, Juliet, Desdemona
or
Porzia. This is not pop or rock; it is beautiful music that I
recommend
for anyone willing to experiment and discover something off the beaten
track. This is cd is well worth the investment for serious collectors
of various genres of Italian music.
"Sanremo 2002"
Okay, so let's be honest, the Festival this year
was a little lame. Once you got past the first few songs in each category, you
found yourself wallowing in an ocean of near mediocrity. And of course, with two
compilations, the mediocrity is spread around for more to enjoy. But enough Mr.
Nice Guy, let me tell you about this compilation and its contents. The cd
features 12 Festival tracks (however, not all of the 12 are competition songs)
and 5 bonus non-festival tracks. I liked four songs out of the first 12. The
featured cuts are by Francesco Renga, Anna Tantangelo, Valentina Giovagnini and
Gianluca Grignani. I thought that Renga cut was especially good. As to the
Tantangelo and Giovagnini, who placed 1 and 2 in the new artist category, they
were not bad... although I would have reversed the order of finish for them.
"The Best of Umberto Tozzi"
The 2 cd set features 32 of Tozzi's best
hits
and 2 new songs. If you are a Tozzi fan, this album contains almost
all
his best songs for you to enjoy. Fir those of you not familiar with
Tozzi, the collection offers a nice compact look at one of the hot
stars
from the late 70s and early 80s. While he will always be known for
Gloria and Ti amo, Tozzi has many other hits under his belt and they
are
on this set. For fans, you will have all the songs from various cds
and
compilations so it may not be worth it for just two songs given the
cost
of cds today. For those starting out, the cd offers a good career
review without having to buy multiple discs.
Le cose non vanno mai come credi (Greatest Hits)
--This single
disc features the best of Giorgia from her start in 1994 to the present
with two new cuts thrown in to round out the cd. Giorgia's voice is,
as
usual, rich and full in each of the songs on the cd. The passage of
time has not diminished her abilities. If you missed her early cds,
this is a nice way to make up for lost listening time. It is a nice cd
to add to your collection as it cherry picks the best of her works
while
including some decent new material.
Concerto-Medina Tour 2001
This live cd tries to capture
the highlights of Pino Daniele's Medina Tour in 2001. The album
contains older material as well as songs from the highly successful
Medina album. I have to say that I was not impressed with the album.
It
lacks the energy and drive that most live albums have. It fell short
in
keeping my interest on the music. I listened to it a couple of times
and filed it away. A better choice would be the live album Daniele has
with DeGregori, Mannoia and Ron. If you are looking save money skip
this album. Fans may want to have it anyway but don't say I did not
warn you.
L'eccezione
What an unexpected and wonderful surprise
this cd turned out to be. I have enjoyed Carmen's music for a few
years
but was unprepared for the solid effort behind this album. The songs
range from rock to pop to ballads and they are all held together by
Consoli's ability to write goods songs and perform them even better.
This album gets a strong nod as a must have for fans and novices alike.
It is a nice piece of work that should bring even more recognition to
an
artist who has been steadily building in popularity and her own
abilities.
Sto bene al mondo
-Tosca--Somehow, I always want to believe that the
next
Tosca album I am buying will be the one that breaks to be a major
success. I am still waiting. This album is decent but it is not
something I would rush out to buy ahead of everything else. This album
is for her diehard fans. It is a nice mix of styles and well executed
but it fails to excite. I had hoped for more.
La vita e' un'altra
It had been years since De
Crescenzo put out a new cd. The wait has been well worth it. He is a
very particular artist who carefully crafts his songs and produces
memorable, quality selections. That holds true in this instance as
well. If you are a fan, you will want to add this cd to the collection
because it is a well crafted piece of artistry. If you like something
nice, a little eclectic, but pleasant to the ears then this is a cd
for you. This is one of those cds that grows on you over time and will
become a part of any collection.
Occhi negli occhi
This is not a killer album. It is a subtle
piece of work that grows on you because of its familiarity. The songs
are good solid efforts although there are no major standouts that grab
you (although Sorprendimi has a nice refrain). Stadio has been making
music for years and managed to draw a loyal fan base because of how
well
they do what they do. The pieces are well delivered and feature their
normal style can include pop and ballads. This is a disc you can add
to
your collection confident in the knowledge that you will keep pulling
it
out to listen to even years from now.
Questa parte di mondo
If you are a Paola Turci fan you
have
reason to be happy. This is one of her best cds to date. She reaches
new heights with her creative abilities on this cd. She is able to
address issues clearly and with style. She wrote the words and music
for the songs and performs them brilliantly. Her style ranges from
rock
to pop to ballad and it is all on this cd. There is a note of caution
on the first cut on the cd as it does contain english language
profanities in the refrain. This is the kind of cd that I can
recommend
for everyone as it presents Paola at her best with fresh material and
stronger than ever.
Tracce
Renga is perhaps one of the best singers to
come
out of last years novice competition at the Sanremo Festival. Tracce
is
the breakout single which really captures the power of his voice. His
album is quite good and I can recommend it to everyone without reserve.
The style tends to pop/rock/ballad. The vocals and quality of the
songs
make for a good listening experience that will keep you from taking the
cd out of the player. The album demonstrates a solid effort that is
well put together and executed. Skip one of the more well know artists
and give this one a try. I think you will be very pleased.
Che il mediterraneo sia
I always look forward to an
Eugenio Bennato release as I never quite know what little surprises it
will hold. If you bought Taranta Power a couple of years ago, then
this
album is for you. The songs are a natural extension of the material
from the previous album. The songs are a blend from the shores of the
mediterrenean. Bennato masterfully blends the sounds of europe and
africa into songs that are both traditional and experimental in nature.
The pace of the songs varies from tarantella like to soft soothing
melodies. I recommend this album for the non traditionalists among
you. If you are into Italian pop/rock then you may put off by the
sound. If you want to begin a journey of discovery that will take you
to many shores, give this album a try.
Il Fischio del Vapore
This is a fascinating album
that De Gregori has put together. It tells the tale of Italy and its
sons and daughters in songs meant to cover everything from historical
events to immigration to social upheaval in the 70s with the excellent
presentation and execution. Some of the songs are recent and some are
adaptations of songs going back to the 1800s. If there is one person
who can pull it off it is De Gregori. Together with Giovana Marini he
has produced an album that is a fascinating history book that will
transport you back and forth through time. This is an album you must
get used to. Once you do, you will realize how good the results are.
I
strongly recommend this if you want something different that will leave
you fascinated and wanting more. This cd is not for the pop minded.
Aria di famiglia
This is a best of album that adds a
couple of new songs to the mix. Locasciulli has a very nice style that
rests somewhere in the pop to soft listening ranges. The album does
capture some of his best pieces and lesser known works. It is not an
outstanding album but one that will not offend or be regretted. If you
are a fan, you already have most of this material and will not need the
album. If you are just starting out and want something new to add to
your collection, you may work your way around to this cd.
L'amore ci cambia la vita
My musical relationship with
Gianni Morandi runs hot and cold. There are times when I enjoy his
songs and find an album that is fun to listen to. This is not one of
those times. This is not a bad album; it is just not one of his better
efforts. This is one of those albums that appear to be turned out
under
contract because it is due in stores. The music while, not totally
stale, does sound a little recycled. Morandi has done better in the
past and can certainly do better better in the future. I am going to
have to wave everyone off this one. Better to let this one go rather
than taint your ears with a less than stellar performance. Spend the
money on one of his compilations or earlier albums.
Fuori come va?
This is a case of an artist playing on past
successes. You will not mistake Ligabue's sound for that of anyone
else. The rock comes through loud and clear in each piece. Overall,
this is not a bad album. If you are starting out, it is a nice album
to
own but not essential. Fans will want to have it anyway even if it is
not his finest work to date. I enjoyed this one as a nice background
soundtrack. If you are a fan of Italian rock, then save space for this
cd.
Aria
It has been quite a few years sine Nannini came
out
with an album. Although not entirely worth the wait, it is not a bad
album. Nannini covers several different styles but plays many to her
routes in rock/pop. She does show a little more maturity which
luckily,
however, does not temper her willingness to experiment. Some of the
experiments succeed and others leave you scratching your head.
For Nannini fans you will want to add this one to the collection. For
the those not as committed to Nannini, this one is a toss up for the
collection; not essential but nice to have.
Veramente
I am trying to figure out where Di
Cataldo's career went off the tracks. It has been some time since we
had an original album from him. This effort pretty much sounds like
his
previous albums. I liked his medium paced songs in the past but did
not
feel the same interest building in this album. It did not hold my ear.
Rather it was a case of been there, done that. Of course, Di Cataldo
fans may beg to differ with me. If you are a fan, get the album and
try
to figure out why it is not pulling you in even though it is pleasant
sounding enough. I leave this one up to you as to whether you feel it
is worth the cost. It is not a bad album, just one that is not as good
as could be. Give a listen to his first couple of albums; they will
give you a better impression of Di Cataldo.
Le Cose Da Difendere
Maybe it is just me, but I feel like I am
listening to a string of mediocre albums. This latest cd from Nek is
okay. Again, not a bad cd just one that does not grab the listener and
make them want to stay through a couple of plays. If you are a Nek fan
, you will likely enjoy the cd as it features Nek's pop/rock style
quite
nicely. If you are unfamiliar with Nek, you can go to some of his
earlier albums for a better example of what he is capable of musically.
2002
2001 -
883, Antonaccci, Barbarossa, Belloni, Bennato,
Britti, Daniele, De Gregori, De Marchi, Fabi, Grandi, Mannoia, Masini, Oxa,
Ramazzotti, Ron, Sanremo '01, I Stadio
Sep - Dec
'00 - Bennato, Diirottta su Cuba, I
Murvini, Gino Paoli, Pausini, Ruggeri, Syria, Taglia 42, Vecchioni, "Cous Cous
Summer," "Festivalbar," "pop.it"
May-Aug '00
- Alice, Articooolo 31,Avion Travel, Max Gazze', Luna
Pop, Marco Masini, Andrea Miro', Gianni Morandi, Silvia Salemi, Spagna,Geradina
Trovato, Umberto Tozzi, Paola Turci,"Francesco - Il Musical," Sanremo
Compilations
Jan-Apr '00
- Agricantus,Alllmagretta, Baglioni, Baroni, Bennato,
Branduardi, Dalla, Marino DeRosas, Grandi, Guccini, Ligabue, "Lezioni di
Tarantella"
Sept-Dec '99
- 883, Baccini,,, Barbarossa, Teresa De Sio,
Fiorello, Mario Lavezzi, Leali, Lisa, Mango, Modena City Ramblers, Piotta, Ron,
Sud Sound System, Tozzi, Venditti, "Festivalbar '99"
May-August
'99 - Arriana, Leda Battisti, Alex
Britti, Francesca Chiara, Pino Daniele, Fabrizio DeAndre', DiCataldo, Filippa
Giordano, Giorgia, Daniele Groff, Guccini, Jovanotti, Modena City Ramblers, I
Muvrini, Vallesi, Renato Zero
Jan-March
'99 - Alice, Finardi, Max Gazze',Fiorella
Mannoia, Nava, Oxa, Rei, Tazenda, Vecchioni, Sanremo Compilations
Sept-Dec
'98 -Baglioni, Battiano, Bennato, Martini,
Masini, Nannini, Paoli, Pausini, Ramazzotti, Zucchero, "Napule's Power," "Nero
Italiano"
July-Sept '98
- 883, 99 Posse, Almamegretta, Biagio Annntonacci, Articolo 31, Angelo
Branduardi, Luca Carboni, Festivalbar '98, La Pina, Nek, Syria, Renato Zero -
also "The State of Music in Italy" by Angelo Mazza
Jan-Jun '98
- Alotta, DeAndre, Daniele, Fabi, Mannoia, I Neri
per Caso, Panceri, Taglia 42, Venditti, "Adidas Street Challenge," "Dammi il tuo
Amore," and Sanremo compilations
Oct-Dec '97
- Chiari, DiCataldo, Giorgia, Grandi, Modena City
Ramblers, Ramazzotti, Ruggieri, Tozzi, Zarillo, "Fuochi D'Artificio", classic
cut
Jul-Sep '97
-883, Daniele, Ligabue, Spagna, Stadio, Trovato,
Turci, Vecchioni, Un Disco per L'Estate
Apr-Jun '97 -
99 Posse, Baroni, Domino, Jovanotti, Leali, Rei, Salemi, Syria,
Tosca
Jan-Mar '97 -
Battiato, Finardi, Guccini, Lighea, Marrabenta, Masini, Verasani,
Zucchero
Oct-Dec '96 -
Pausini, Dalla, Concato
September -
Articolo 31, Branduardi, Ligabue
Summer '96 -
Vallesi, Lighea, DiCataldo, Ramazzotti