Care of the Soul is considered to be one of the best primers for soul work ever written. Thomas Moore, an internationally renowned theologian and former Catholic monk, offers a philosophy for living that involves accepting our humanity rather than struggling to transcend it. By nurturing the soul in everyday life, Moore shows how to cultivate dignity, peace, and depth of character. For example, in addressing the importance of daily rituals he writes, "Ritual maintains the world's holiness. As in a dream a small object may assume significance, so in a life that is animated by ritual there are no insignificant things." This is the eloquence that helped reintroduce the sacred into everyday language and contemporary values. ... Read more

Isbn: 0060922249
Subjects:  1. General    2. Psychology    3. Psychology, Religious    4. Religion    5. Self-Help    6. Spiritual    7. Spiritual life    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Hobbits and wizards and Sauron--oh, my! Mild-mannered Oxford scholar John Ronald Reuel Tolkien had little inkling when he published The Hobbit; Or, There and Back Again in 1937 that, once hobbits were unleashed upon the world, there would be no turning back. Hobbits are, of course, small, furry creatures who love nothing better than a leisurely life quite free from adventure. But in that first novel and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo and their elfish friends get swept up into a mighty conflict with the dragon Smaug, the dark lord Sauron (who owes much to proud Satan in Paradise Lost), the monstrous Gollum, the Cracks of Doom, and the awful power of the magical Ring.The four books' characters--good and evil--are recognizably human, and the realism is deepened by the magnificent detail of the vast parallel world Tolkien devised, inspired partly by his influential Anglo-Saxon scholarship and his Christian beliefs. (He disapproved of the relative sparseness of detail in the comparable allegorical fantasy his friend C.S. Lewis dreamed up in The Chronicles of Narnia, though he knew Lewis had spun a page-turning yarn.) It has been estimated that one-tenth of all paperbacks sold can trace their ancestry to J.R.R. Tolkien. But even if we had never gotten Robert Jordan's The Path of Daggers and the whole fantasy genre Tolkien inadvertently created by bringing the hobbits so richly to life, Tolkien's epic about the Ring would have left our world enhanced by enchantment. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Isbn: 0345340426
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy - Epic    4. Fantasy - Series    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism   

This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader," Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed ... Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Asin: B000002ADT
Subjects:  1. Hard Bop    2. Jazz    3. Modal Music    4. Pop    5. Trumpet    6. United States of America   

Dark Side of the Moon, originally released in 1973, is one of those albums that is discovered anew by each generation of rock listeners. This complex, often psychedelic music works very well because Pink Floyd doesn't rush anything; the songs are mainly slow to mid-tempo, with attention paid throughout to musical texture and mood. The sound effects on songs like "On the Run," "Time" and especially "Money" (with sampled sounds of clinking coins and cash registers turned into rhythmic accompaniment) are impressive, especially when we remember that 1973 was before the advent of digital recording techniques. This is probably Pink Floyd's best-known work, and it's an excellent place to start if you're new to the band. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Asin: B000002U82
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Ingmar Bergman's 1956 film has been parodied by everyone from Woody Allen to Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, but it remains one of the strangest and richest classics of world cinema. Max Von Sydow plays a knight returning from the Crusades to encounter an apocalyptic scenario inspired by the Book of Genesis. He plays chess with Death (Bengt Ekerot), sees a manacled witch, watches a band of flagellants go by--all of it foretelling an inevitable end to life. Unabashedly allegorical and lyrical and existing in a world unto itself, the film is enormously mesmerizing no matter what one thinks of the weighty meanings Bergman has attached to it all. The DVD release has English subtitles, audio commentary by critic Peter Cowie, theatrical trailer, and Bergman's filmography. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Black & White

Asin: 6305174083
Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Swedish   

Wings of Desire
Director: Wim Wenders
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (06 June, 2000)
list price: $19.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

"There are angels over the streets of Berlin," quotes the movie poster,but these are like no angels you've ever seen. Bundled in dark overcoats, they watch over the city with ears open to the heartbeat of the human soul, listening to the internal musings and yearnings of earthbound humans like existential detectives. In these delicate, astounding scenes we float through the thoughts of dozens Berlin citizens, from the weary and worn to the hopeful and young, as the angels record the magic moments for some heavenly record. But when Damiel (the empathic and sensitive Bruno Ganz) falls in love with an angel of another sort, the lonely trapeze artist Marion (willowy, sad-eyed Solveig Dommartin), he gives up the contemplation and observation of life to experience it himself.

Wim Wenders's most purely romantic film is like poetry on celluloid, a celebration of the transient and fragile moments of being human: the warmth of a cup of coffee on a cold day, the embrace of a friend, the touch of a lover, the rapture of love. Opening with an angel's-eye view of Berlin in silvery black and white (delicately captured by the great cinematographer Henri Alekan, who photographed Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast 40 years earlier), it transforms into a gauzy color world when Damiel "crosses over" by sheer will. Peter Falk plays himself as a fallen angel with a special sensitivity for celestial visitors ("I can't see you, but I know you're there," he proclaims), and Otto Sander, whose smiling eyes brighten a face etched by eons of waiting and watching, is Damiel's partner. Wenders made a sequel in 1993, Faraway, So Close, and Hollywood remade the film as City of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Black & White
• NTSC

Reviews (87)

Orpheus at the Movies
Rilke imagined that in the fullest consciousness of our existence the visible and the invisible, the known and the unknown, being and not being are merged where the poet's voice projects his understanding of ultimate questions. Wim Wenders' "Wings of Desire" embodies richness of the Romantic Tradition's search for forms of spiritual being, echoing the ways that Rilke's "boundaries are in a hurry,/plunge out from me and already are yonder. . . ." German philosophy and poetry are here made visual and generously accessible to a wide audience.

Wonderful Cerebral Struggle as Angels Observes Mankind...
Contemplation can be a reflection of now while in the now someone might reflect on the past, as the past and now will later help further pondering for the future.Powerful is the mind when past experiences help guide the person in the now while the now turns into the past providing new experiences for the individual.The now offers many unique experiences for individuals who pay attention to the small things in life such as a look, a nice comment, warm hands in pockets, and the smell of coffee among endless numbers of other experiences.Uniqueness is discovered through senses in the moment, as they help provide an emotional value to each experience.Previous experiences help guide the individual through feelings and rational thought.If it is a new experience then this experience will acclimate with previous experiences, which will help in future contemplation.Human thoughts are sometimes eased into motion by feelings inhabiting the mind derived from previous experiences, while current events bring new experiences that propel the emotional state in a direction, maybe, based on previous experiences.In essence, this is metacognition - a thinking of thinking.

Wim Wenders' film Wings of Desire takes place in Berlin during the mid-80s where the audience can experience angels that exist in the world of mankind, but not on the physical plane of mankind.These angels exist in a world illustrated in black and white where they drift around while listening to human's thoughts while looking at them.Through a conversation between two angels the audience learns that they have been on the earth since the beginning of the world, as they function as observers for the higher power.Freely the angels drift through the divided city of Berlin, which was divided into east and west.Standing on high locations the angels view the city from above while descending on random people in order to watch and listen.Occasionally, the angels find a lost soul that seems to have drifted astray in their thoughts, which frequently is colored with darkness and a sense of lost hope.However, the angels seem to have the power to help restore the hope and desire to live through a simple touch, yet they are not always successful.

The film slowly wanders in multiple directions, as the audience is allowed to follow two angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander).These two angels drift through a wide range of thoughts and characters.Wender's direction creates an atmosphere similar to being at big party where a large number of guests are deeply engaged in personal monologues where the audience can walk by anyone while tuning in and out from different monologues whenever they desire.Some of these characters in the film that the audience overhears are a man who recently lost his mother that does not feel grief, an underage prostitute that is worried about being discovered, parents being troubled by their son's music interest, and a woman giving birth.This kaleidoscope of thoughts provides a fragmented depiction of the thought, as it only allows the audience to see a small part of the thought.However, the film is interested in the source of where the thought begins, which is suggested in the opening scene when the hand writes in German and the narrator says, "When the child was a child I did not know it was a child."

Most of the time Wings of Desire misleads the audience through a number of interesting scenes and thoughts that are depicted through the many characters.One of changing moments in the film comes when Damiel listens and watches a trapeze artist in her mobile home when she is in deep thought.She first asks herself "How should I live?" to which she counters to herself by thinking that it might be the wrong question to ask.The question that changes the tone of the film is her second question, "How should I think?"When Damiel hears this, curiosity seems to grow within him, as he leans closer to her.She discloses how the world around her influences her thinking and she must close the eyes behind the eyes to truly be able to think.

Another sequence that pushes the story along is when Damiel intends to listen to Peter Falk, the real actor, who directly talks to him.Initially, Damiel is astounded, but it ebbs out while Peter Falk tells him how good it is to feel things such as rubbing the hands together and feeling the warmth, being able to taste coffee and cigarettes, and to share the moment.This moment seems to urge Damiel to seek what he cannot experience - feeling.

Wender does a brilliant job depicting the scene when Damiel turns into human, as Damiel reveals to Cassiel that he wants to experience the feeling of a bath and shave while being massaged.Color is coming to Damiel's face and they discover that he has left footsteps in the sand where mines have been concealed, which is followed by him passing out.Cassiel recognizes the danger and brings him to the Westside of Berlin where he is allowed to experience these feelings.When Damiel awakens the world is no longer black, white, or gray.Berlin has now colors, as Damiel begins to take his first steps as a naïve adult.Daniel seeks out Peter Falk who informs him that he must learn through his own experiences.

Cinematography is brilliant in this film, which helps to develop some of the film's symbolism.The method of using color for a human vision while using black and white for angels' sight adds more expressiveness to the film.Imponderably the camera flows through windows and rooms while illustrating how the angels drift from place to place.

Ultimately, Wings of Desire offers complex symbolism in a cerebral journey that opens and ends where thought begins.Hopefully, many see this wonderful story.The story's diverging and fragmented storyline is essential for the audience to participate in the film, as it otherwise would be too easy to come to the end.It should be a struggle to see this film.Wisdom is not acquired the way knowledge is acquired, but more through how one applies knowledge.The film is only a beginning for a life long journey full of experiences and thoughts colored by feelings, which eventually leads to wisdom.

Visually Beautiful Film
This film is the best portrayal of the inner monologues of ordinary people as they go through their day-to-day lives.Each of us knows our own thoughts -- often masked by a cheery exterior -- but what are other people really thinking? Two angels who live in Berlin have the ability to listen to what people say to themselves as they go through their daily lives.They can occasionally comfort, but can never physically act to engage people and have little ability to affect the sometimes tragic outcomes. Very few persons have the psychic ability to recognize that the angels are there.

Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander are perfectly cast as angels, and Solveing Dommartin is the beautiful trapeze artist who strikes the right notes of sadness and wistfulness. Peter Falk provides an interesting counterpoint.But the real star of this film is Berlin itself, and it is right that the DVD provides as an "extra" a description of the various places where the movie was made. As the film was made in 1987, the Berlin wall is seen from many angles. There is an amazing scene where the angels go through the Berlin wall (covered with graffiti on one side, barren on the other.)

This is visually the most beautiful movie I have ever seen.What makes this film special is the incredible, dreamlikephotography.We see Berlin from all angles.The fact that it is filmed primarily in black and white only adds to the somber, but surreal feeling. Where the film falls down a bit is in the plot, which sometimes lags.But it is impossible to walk away from it without thinking about, and rejoicing in, what makes us human.Given a choice, would we prefer to be angels, who can see all, but cannot act?Or would we choose to be human, and bear the traumas that come with it?This film is definitely worth seeing. ... Read more

Asin: 079284551X
Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - German   

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Average Customer Review:
DVD (07 September, 1999)
list price: $24.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Could this be the funniest movie ever made? By any rational measure of comedy, this medieval romp from the Monty Python troupe certainly belongs on the short list of candidates. According to Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide, it's "recommended for fans only," but we say hogwash to that--you could be a complete newcomer to the Python phenomenon and still find this send-up of the Arthurian legend to be wet-your-pants hilarious. It's basically a series of sketches woven together as King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail, with Graham Chapman as the King, Terry Gilliam as his simpleton sidekick Patsy, and the rest of the Python gang filling out a variety of outrageous roles. The comedy highlights are too numerous to mention, but once you've seen Arthur's outrageously bloody encounter with the ominous Black Knight (John Cleese), you'll know that nothing's sacred in the Python school of comedy. From holy hand grenades to killer bunnies to the absurdity of the three-headed knights who say "Ni--!," this is the kind of movie that will strike you as fantastically funny or just plain silly, but why stop there? It's all over the map, and the pace lags a bit here and there, but for every throwaway gag the Pythons have invented, there's a bit of subtle business or grand-scale insanity that's utterly inspired. The sum of this madness is a movie that's beloved by anyone with a pulse and an irreverent sense of humor. If this movie doesn't make you laugh, you're almost certainly dead.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen

Reviews (679)

I Shut It Off Halfway Through
My friend Gabe is a huge Monty Python fan, and he is always bragging about how funny this film is. Well, comedies are my favorite type of movies, so I felt that it was pretty hard to pass up this film. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

Now, I know a lot of people think this is the funniest movie ever, and to be honest, this has all the makings of a great comedy. The idea of satirizing King Arthur is inspired, and the actors are excellent. However, I didn't get a lot of the humor. This film has humor aimed at a certain crowd, rather than the general humor of "Saturday Night Live" and "Team America: World Police". I just didn't get it one bit.

The reaso I give this film two stars is because of the few funny parts. The black night scene I will admit is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I also found the opening credits rather amusing. And the "Very Brave Sir Robin" song is hysterical.

Other than that, however, I found this film uninteresting and overall I only recommend it if you're a fan or someone who is a fan of all kinds of comedy.

this is such a great movie.
This movie is great. 'Nuff said. The DVD has some really interesting extras in it where they show you the castle it was shot at and which rooms all the scenes were in.

If you are a Monty Python fan, this is a great DVD to add your collection.

Chill out mutha! Go back to your homies !
John wrote-I'd rather be shot in the face with projectile diarrhea then watch any parts of this movie again. As you can see I've bashed this movie pretty good and although it is well deserved, I think it's pretty safe to say I'll be hit with a lot of non-helpful votes. Good day to you all.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Well John, I'm certain that if you are shot in the face with projectile diarrhea that the person who does it will be meet with a round of applause. Also I suspect that the diarrhea will improve your appearance. Good day to you as well!! ... Read more

Asin: 0767824571
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Inferno (Modern Library Series) - English translation
by DANTE, JOHN CIARDI
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (15 October, 1996)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (5)

Ciardi's translation is truly striking
Ciardi's translation of Dante's Inferno is one of the very best.Its major strength is the intensity and power of its language.Although the translation is now more than fifty years old, it remains fresh, unencumbered by archaisms.Ciardi is a poet and it shows.I found myself more stunned by the horrors of hell in this translation than any other I've seen.Chills ran down my spine as I read about Count Ugolino encased in the ice.

This edition includes a plot summary before each canto, and footnotes telling you which dead Florentine did what after each canto.For the first-time reader, these are truly helpful -- indeed, essential.

Unlike most translators who completely abandon the idea of making Dante rhyme in English, Ciardi preserves a partial rhyme scheme.The first and third lines of each tercet rhyme, while the middle rhyme is dropped.While Ciardi's translation is reasonably faithful to the original, he had to take minor liberties with the text to make it rhyme.The excellent Musa and Hollander translations are more literal and straightforward, and the Hollander version comes in a handy bilingual edition if you want to try your hand at reading Dante's incredible Italian.Still, the best poetic translation of the Inferno in English remains Ciardi's.

Best translation I've encountered
Absolutely excellent.Ciardi's description of the Canto, and the actual translated text followed by his notes helped me disect and understand Inferno better than anyone's translation to date.

There are suppositions, where Ciardi does his best to determine or even guess what Dante's intentions where with phrases and descriptions.This is not by any means a negative attribute of his efforts.Any speculation is clearly stated, and determined using history, Greek mythology, and Dante's political entanglements at the time of his writings.

This is a copy worth collecting.Too bad Random House has discontinued both Pergatorio and Paradisio in hard cover though...hard to find.

A Classic that needs Modernization
No doubt one of the best works of literature known to us. Although influenced by the events of his day, Dante would have made a great writer and thinker in our time. My dream is to write a follow-up to Dante's"Divine Comedy" using events since the time of Dante,andpresenting more subjective views of religion and the afterlife. I plan tostart this project in the near future and who knows how long before it'scompletion........could be years. I think this would be a novel idea and Ihave yet to see any other such modern day works. ... Read more

Isbn: 0679602097
Sales Rank: 160541
Subjects:  1. Continental European    2. Italian Poetry    3. Literature: Classics    4. Poetry    5. Poetry / General   

Papillon
by Henri Charriere
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (26 June, 2001)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (73)

definitely one of the best
During my 10 years of reading i've read countless adventure stories, some where good others were excelant and some were bad but none even comes close to "Papillon". the debated question wether the story is true or not is hardly relevant, (althought i simply don't believe someone can make up tales in this level of authenticy and realism) this book is impossible to put down and the reader is sucked into Charriere'sworld within the first page.
If you can read only one book ,definitely read "Pappillon".

Papillon: Unbreakable spirit
I read this book after my father's death; it was one of his favorite and now one of mine.It is impossible to maintain a stoic attitude towards the fortitude of its characters, the incredibly journeys at the turn of each page, and the amazing beauty and misfortune of the Caribbean and its people.

Papillon is a timeless classic bound to endure
This is a book that contains two stories; on the one hand, it portrays the indomitable human spirit in a way which is sublime. Mankind through individuals like Papillon reveals itself to be worthy of being called "creatures of G-d". The other side of this book shows a much darker side of us; a so called enlighted society created by men that shows total indiference towards human life; this contradiction is one that we see through history and is not less actual today. The book isalways entertaining and gripping. One for the ages. ... Read more

Isbn: 0060934794
Sales Rank: 22973
Subjects:  1. 1906-1973    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Charriere, Henri,    7. Charriáere, Henri,    8. Criminals & Outlaws    9. French Guiana    10. General    11. Literary    12. Prisoners    13. Biography & Autobiography / Literary    14. Charrière, Henri   

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

As if their dark lyrics and wall-of-sludge sound didn't already have an epic sweep, Black Sabbath braved an even more ambitious approach on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, adding synthesizers and even strings to tracks such as "Who Are You?" and "Spiral Architect." But even without them, the Sabbath classics "Killing Yourself to Live," "National Acrobat," "Looking for Today," and the title track pack a thunderous sonic wallop. "Fluff," a bit of ponderous musing on acoustic guitar and keyboards, adds variety to the disc but brings the headbanging pleasure of the rest of the album to a screeching halt. Beyond that misstep, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is as slow and deliberate as a lava flow, and just as powerful. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Last weekend my borther and I went to a record store to do some shopping, and we found this CD set that featured BLACK SABBATH'S Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage together on one disc for $19.99; the catch was that it was a rare promotional "test mix" of these albums, so each one is missing a song or two(this album is missing Fluff) and the quality is very rough. Still I find that it was certainly worth the price of admission, as both albums rock, especially this one. The creativity is at perhaps a high for SABBATH, and I'll argue that this album features hands-down the best guitar work of any SABBATH album. Iommi is that good here. The riffs range from dark and oddly melancholic at times to the classic bluesy rock that we have known to love from the boys in black, to some incredible acoustic and softer stuff. The solos shred so much here, and on some songs there are cool guitar effects used to enhance the sound which really work well. Fantastic work. Geezer's bass rumbles here in tremendous fashion, never elenting from that mighty throb that is the pulse of SABBATH'S rythm section. Bill Ward's stellar drumming is put to great effect as usual; the man certainly doesn't get enough credit. While never over-powering, his style is just unique and perfect to their sound. On the other end of the musical spectrum we also get to hear use of piano and synths, which is really cool too. Finally onto the vocals; even though on this CD the vocals are muffled(being the test mix) when listening cloesly enough you can just hear how great he sounded. Lyrically this is another strong effort, continuing in grand SABBATH traditional of thought-provking lyrics. Every aspect of this album is excellent, and it continues the string of amazing 70's albums by SABBATH, whose streak of great records is topped only by the incomprable IRON MAIDEN.


1.) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath- This album starts off with a bang with the immense title track, and the opening riff just sets the tone in perfect fashion. Heavy and dark through the verses, it lightens up a bit for the stellar chorus. The solos here are right up with some of SABBATH'S finest work, and the lyrics are awesome too. Ozzy is in great form. A perfect way to start this masterpiece.

2.) A National Acrobat- Another magnificent piece, starting with a lazy/bluesy guitar riff before exploding into a heavy and melancholic verse section. This is a longer song that progresses nicely as it plugs along. One of my favorite's on the album, some tremendous lyrics again. Iommi shines throughout this one especially, and Geezer's bass perfectly complements it.

3.) Sabbra Caddabra- Starting with a more uptempo, bouncy riff this marks a change form the first two songs which adds to the album's depth. Very fun song, showcasing Ward's tremdnous ability at using the hi-hat to his advantage. About midway through there's is some excellent keyboard and piano use when the song slows a bit. Another fantastic song.

4.) Killing Yourself To Live-My favorite song on the album, this one starts with a riff that could only be written by Iommi, just a heavy rocking one that will get stuck in your head. Following it is one of the more interetsing aspects of the song; the guitars have that "under water" feeling to them(think MAIDEN'S Strange World) which I just love and is continued through the verses. The chorus is extremely strong again, and the lead work here is nothing short of impressive. Just an outstanding tune that keeps the album rolling along in style

5.) Who Are You- This song is marked by a very unique and interetsing ambience that starts off the song and continues throughout, giving it a kinda "spacey" feel. Really, really cool and Ozzy's vocals fit perfectly. The middle section of this song is breathtaking as well, more great use of piano and synths to create a great atmosphere. Overall a welcomed change of pace that keeps the record sounding fresh, the mark of a truly magnificent album.

6.) Looking For Today- A more classic sounding SABBATH tune than its precedor, the riff in htis song is a little reminiscent of Supernaut. The chorus, however, is actually one of the best parts of the album. Gliding acoustics and some cool flute thingy or something really makes the song stand out.

7.) Spiral Architect- Finally, the album concludes strongly with this beautiful composition. Starting with a sooting acoustic intro before building up, the riffing here is really solid, and it boasts an awesome chorus to boot. Really love the feeling here, and Ozzy sounds almost triumphant here. Perfect way to close the album.


Overall, this album is just pure SABBATH mixed some very new elements that set this album apart. Just a fantastic record that must be in your collection.

The first record I ever bought
I wanted the heaviest thing I could get my thirteen year old hands on and Black Sabbath were it.At the time this was their newest album and unknown to me their most experimental and produced album.Sabbath were getting a little more ambitious:they added strings to some of the songs and synth courtesy of Rick Wakeman, and by doing so created one of their best albums.It holds up today as it did back in 1973.The riffs are killer, the songs are moving, the arrangements are complex yet still crunching.Its a masterpiece.I even like the aptly titled acoustic song Fluff because it adds some contrast with the rest of the material.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
With its cover image, one would expect to be led into some dark, abysmal, terrifying journey. Flip to the back cover, and everything is serene and 'heavenly', yet all the same people are intact and present. ''What's going on here,'' you say? Are these people intrinsically evil or are they good? Is the hell image truly how things are, and the heaven is what it's supposed to be like? On the inside cover, which was gatefold, there was the image of the band (Iommi/Osbourne/Butler/Ward) guarding a bed, like on the front cover, like spirits, warding off some bad karma or energy. It was all very weird.

And you haven't even heard the songs yet!

And what you get lyrically is the Black Sabbath manifesto. There is so much on here about 'heaven' and what 'hell' is made of it, that I am so surprised that they get the tag 'Evil'. No, what they are is quite knowledgable and self-empowering. What they are is quite critical of people who fill your head all full of lies. There are some amazing lyrics on this album, that totally go against what someone would have you believe Black Sabbath stood for. Devils and Demons. As if.......

If you didn't tell someone it was Black Sabbath, and printed the lyrics out, you'd be surprised at what answers you would get as to what was being said. Put the Black Sabbath 'tag' back in, and a preconception enters the head. ''Don't believe the life you have will be the only one, You have to let your body sleep, to let your soul live on'' - yea thats evil alright. Sheesh - get out my beads and incense, I'm in danger of being 'possessed'. Woooo-oooo-oooooo-oooooo. The whole album lyrically is like this, in direct contradiction to Black Sabbath's perceived image as Satan's Minstrels.

So how best to approach it? Do you take Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as an indictment of everything Evil, or some sort of give up hope, all is lost tome? I don't think it can be summed up even remotely as easy as that, because there's so much on this album just in its music alone. The end section of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (the title track) is one of the heaviest sounds of 1973. I mean it is just dark. The mid-section where the insistence is that no one here will help you, you're on your own even when you ask for help, is musically melancholy and so out of keeping with how this song ends. It actually ends angry, as if what came before it has totally frustrated it and it wants to get that out. The title track alone is worth admission, just for its many moods, and its kick*** ending. Ten times heavier than Zep or Purple. On any day.

''A National Acrobat'' has always been my favourite song on SBS. It's Sabbath 'Funk'. Heavy style. And Osbourne's vocal is literally quite amazing. ''Just remember love is life, and hate is living death'', o my God these guys are so evil! They reek of it. I'm not sure what a national acrobat is, but I just love how the title has nothing to do with the song, and if you heard it on the radio (as if) you'd be left wondering what the hell is that song called? It'd be one of those songs the DJ never said the name of after it was done, and you'd have to buy 18 Black Sabbath albums just to find the song that goes, ''dada da da, dadadadadda da da .. I am the world that hides the universal secret of time . . . '' Did I tell you how Evil these guys were?

''Sabbra Cadabra's'' Ozzy vocal is another standout, and boasts the great Piano/synthesiser work of ex-Yes member (at this point) Rick Wakeman. A simple song about loving a lady a lot, it's the vocal that sends the song past that, one of Ozzy's best moments.

''Killing Yourself To Live'' became 'the song' from this album, or the one people immediately think of. Sorry if I've skipped ''Fluff'', and it is a pretty song, but we'll just deal with the non-instrumental tracks. Black Sabbath dared suggest that the world was not meant for pain, suffering or misery on 'Killing Yourself . . . '', and I'm hard-pressed not to believe them.

''Who Are You'' I just enjoy simply for the pleasure of hearing such a heavy track employing synthesisers to do the work. It's something quite different, but don't let anyone tell you Black Sabbath weren't experimental before this. They were a very experimental band beyond Iron Man. 'Planet Caravan' was an indication of this, as was everything off of Volume 4 (1972). In fact, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath just improves on Volume 4's direction, by adding more cohesion to the multiple songs in one format. And far more interesting than 'Band on the Run'. And Sabotage(1975) just nails it.

''Looking For Today'' is an in your face indictment of 'the music business', and the temporary nature of it all, and how futile it all is. Not only of the music business, but of popular culture in general. Sabbath aren't the first to cover this ground, and another great indictment is Ray Davies (The Kinks) 'Top of the Pops' from Lola Vs. Powerman & The Moneygoround(1970), but rarely does it get so summed up lyrically as well. Another great example is Andy Partridge's (XTC)''Travels In Nihilon'', and Tool's ''Hooker With a P****'

And actually its funny now that I think of it. The same year this came out, was the same year as George Harrison's ''Living in the Material World'', and looking lyrically at both of them, they cover the same subject matter in the songs, but one gets labelled 'preachy' and one gets labelled 'Devil worship', that its no wonder that George Harrison and Black Sabbath were such an influence on me as a person, and how I looked at the world around me. They seem so at odds with eachother stylistically, personally, musically, but I see them saying quite the same things about Life on Earth as we know it. You may not see the 'link', but I see no difference really in what these people were saying about our time here.

''Spiral Architect'' could be just be a kazoo player, I wouldn't care, because i just love the title of the song alone.

Has anyone noticed ''Fluff' is just that? Fluff? I thought these guys were evil!










... Read more

Asin: B000002KET
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. British Metal    3. Heavy Metal    4. Pop    5. Rock   

The Outlaw Josey Wales
Director: Clint Eastwood
Average Customer Review:
DVD (30 March, 1999)
list price: $19.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

During the Civil War, Union "Redlegs" attack Southerner Josey Wales'sdirt farm and wipe out his family.Seeking vengeance, Wales throws in with a company of Reb guerrillas.Tagged as a renegade after the surrender, he flees west into the vastness of the Indian Territories, where, quite unintentionally, he finds himself cast as the straight-shooting paterfamilias of an ever-growing, spectacularly motley community of misfits and castaways. Which is to say, Josey's personal quest for survival and something like peace of mind evolves into a funky, multicultural allegory of the healing of America.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Clint Eastwood's 31st film as an actor, 20th as international star, and 5th as director, was the first to win him widespread respect.Critics had grumbled when the producer-star replaced Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) in the director's chair a week into shooting.They ended up cheering when Eastwood delivered both his most sympathetic performance to date and--with the heroic collaboration of cinematographer Bruce Surtees--an impressive Panavision epic that stresses the scruffiness, rather than the scenic splendors, of frontier life.

Though it's been honored with a place in the National Film Registry, Josey Wales is good, not great, Eastwood.The big-gun fetishism can get tiresome, and too many characters exist only to serve as six-gun (and at one pointGatling gun) fodder.But mostly the film is agreeably eccentric, and almost furtively sweet in spirit--a key transitional title in the Eastwood filmography, and one of his most entertaining. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Widescreen

Reviews (76)

Eastwood's alltime best
This film meets and surpasses all expectations.If you are a fan of westerns, or of Clint Eastwood in particular, this film is a must-own.

Eastwood plays a man whose family is brutally murdered by the Redlegs, a band of guerilla warriors who fought for Kansas under the leadership of the dastardly Jennison and his "Jayhawkers" during the Civil War.They were the foil of William Clarke Quantrill and his followers who fought for Missouri during the war.(For more on this conflict, albeit with an unfortunate Jayhawk-slant, see the recent film "Ride with the Devil".)

As for its treatment of the Civil War, this film follows "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" in the sense that it does not explicitly take a side.It does, however, present characters that are much more aware of a war going on and who are much more partisan about it than were the bit-players in that last of the Leone trilogy.

Yet Eastwood's film here abandons the partisanship that so embodies even a contemporary discussion of the war in the American South.Despite his family being brutally murdered by Kansans, Josey Wales ultimately rises above the conflict in his attempt to get what he wants out of life.Josey is rightfully distrustful of the Union, but he doesn't translate that into a political vendetta.The conflict does not destroy him, even when the prejudices of anti-Confederate Kansans are poised to strike him down.

The story finds Josey making unlikely friendships with those he encounters along his way, and provides many good-natured comic moments in those encounters.Josey Wales is the quintessential Western character, an average farmer who is dragged into conflicts larger than his own by the circumstances around him, forced to play a role that he never is fully willing to embrace.

Eastwood, despite being new to directing, delivers on the potential of this film in full.The cinematography is consistently engaging, the soundtrack is interesting, and the performances are stellar.This is definitely a 70's style western, and Eastwood practically defines the era with this picture.

If you are a fan of the Leone trilogy wondering whether Eastwood was ever as good apart from those films, then this is the one to see.If you are an Eastwood fan from his recent films, then this is a great introduction to the skills he would consistently display as a director in the future.If you are looking at this film from the viewpoint of a typical western-genre fan, you will not be disappointed by this film's excellent story and great performances.Basically, everyone who would be lead to this review on amazon.com is a person who would enjoy this film.

Clint's Western ode to Racial harmoneee
I used to watch this religiously as a kid, just like I did with alll the re-runs like Indy Jones/Superman, and all the usual biggies of the earache...

watching it last night on T.V., apart from the adverts every five minites, I realized strains of Care in the Community from our beloved gunslinger!

Choc fulla Western Cliches, but, then again, he started the whole thing, and nobody does it better than Clint with a squint in his eye.

They 'Howdy' scenes with the Cheif are great, too.


More than just a gunfest.

Another overrated Clint movie...
This is another Clint movie that is too slow, too long, and isn't nearly as deep as many people have come to believe.Clint's strength isn't direction, contrary to certain opinions.This story could have been told in less than 2 hours, but it dragged on way too long.Chief Dan George is the sole redeeming factor for TOJW.HIS performance makes this movie worth watching now and again, but as a whole, this movie is only worth 1 viewing.By the way, Philip Kaufman(sp?) started out directing this movie, until Clint decided he wasn't cutting it, and literally took control.From that moment forward, Hollywood adopted 'The Eastwood Director Rule', specifically:"That no member of the set or crew may replace a director once that director has already been put in place".Kaufman never regained his footing in Hollywood again. ... Read more

Asin: 6305308772
Subjects:  1. Western   

Paranoid
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Though most of Black Sabbath's classic material from this album ("War Pigs," "Iron Man," "Fairies Wear Boots," and the title track) can also be found on the collection We Sold Our Soul for Rock & Roll, Paranoid is essential for the completist. One of the best albums from one of the bands to define heavy metal, this album is chock-full of the best stuff from Sabbath's Osbourne years. (Where else will you be able to hear "Rat Salad?") The music isn't exactly complex, but it doesn't need to be; its importance lies in its evocative power, with which any teenager will be able to identify. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (272)

If you have any interest in Black Sabbath....(you need this)
If your prepared to Ignore, what is quite possibly, one of the worst rock album covers in recent years. Then you'll not only find one of the greatest heavy Metal albums money can buy, but also finding Black Sabbath at the height of their musical powers. The album opens with the truly epic "War Pigs" which laments the governmental powers, which use military warfare as a means of controlling power. The propulsive crunching guitar and percussive drumming, paint a wholly dramatic apocalyptic musical landspace over which Ozzy extols the dire consequences in a bleak and Gloomy vocal delivery, in a song that is so convincingly complete, that this song would be covered by over artists (such as "Faith no more").

"Paranoid" was one of the very first track Black Sabbath tracks that I was actually introduced to (Via a various artists compilation), and was the track to fuel my interest in Black Sabbath, and remains one of (the many) highlights on this admittedly short album. but the combination of minor-key dirges loosely based around (or indeed on) a heavy blues-rock template, give their sound more gravitas, and the sense of lyrical confusion & paranoia in this track only serves to highten the considerable tension, which is based around severe feelings of alienation & insecurity.

"Iron Man" has to be quite possibly, one of the finest & easily identifiable guitar riffs in many years. Undoubtedly one of the strongest tracks on the album, that although will always be remembered for its primary & monolithic guitar/Drum dynamic, also finds favour by being relentlessly dark & Dramatic. Ozzy's uncluttered vocals, which rather than crowd the song out with unnecessary chorus or lyrics, eases back on the tales of supernatural/sci-fi horrors, and allows the musicians to truly be in their element, by cooking up monstrous riffs, and complex drum rhythms that are not only crushingly loud, they touch on approaching superbly crafted Jams.

"Rat Salad" is a rock instrumental that due to my fondness for instrumental music (its nice to hear if the music is built on a solid instrumental foundation) quickly found a place in my heart. Due to it not only being a incredibly tightly constructed piece of Heavy Instrumental Rock, but also with the Drum Solos, that frequently interject, and the technical virtuosity of the freewheeling guitar that frequently hint at funk/Blues, in a fiery electrified outburst invoking the odd nod to "Led Zeppelin" in their exuberance & Sprawling excess, and just like Led Zep, are able to produce a series of staggering riffs, that would go on to define the band.

If you are a causal listener to Black Sabbath (like myself), then (along with "Master of Reality" this, is the best starting point for their music. It's a touchstone album for the band, insofar as it was the album that truly broke out of the niche market, and thrust the band to a wider audience, and is a generally consistent album with no filler tracks (at 8 tracks, you'd hope not), and whether or not this album or "Master of reality" is their best album isn't really the point of this review.....the point I'm trying to make is that not only is this one of the finest (if not the finest) moment, of the bands recorded history, but also is arguably one of the greatest heavy metal albums ever.

A HEAVY METAL MASTERPIECE
paranoid was amongst the greatest heavy metal albums ever and features some of my favourite sabbath songs like war pigs,iron man and paranoid.ozzy was one of the best singers and one of my favourites.get this with their brilliant debut and master of reality.five stars.CLASSIC ROCK RULES.PLEASE AVOID ALBUMS BY RAP METAL BANDS AND BANDS WHICH FEATURE ON MTV AND TRL.THANKS

Classic doesn't always mean masterpiece.
Yes, the only reason you are here is for Iron man, paranoid, and war pigs....Ozzy was a horrible singer... Yes.

Althought this album is over 30 years old, that doesn't mean its good does it? Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple are about the same age as Sabbath and they were just as bad.

While the 60s did bring us all this "shock rock", atleast the classics have given us good artists from the disco era who are still remembered til today unlike those forgotten classic rock bands Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and The Doors.

Plus, most classic metal sucked, with the exception of Rap-metal of the late 80s/early 90s.

For good and truly inspritational metal, just listen to any of these modern MTV bands, because they are very groundbreaking. ... Read more

Asin: B000002KHH
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. British Metal    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Heavy Metal    6. Pop    7. Rock   

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith [Bonus Tracks] [Sanctuary]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (12 October, 1999)
list price: $11.97
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

No Sleep 'til Hammersmith was to the then-nascent speed-metal/hardcore movement what Lynyrd Skynyrd's One More from the Road was to Southern rock. Lemmy Kilmister, Philthy Phil Taylor, and Fast Eddie Clarke roar from the gate with their signature tune, "Ace of Spades"; it's a suitable intro to the subsequent onslaught of energy, volume, attitude, and sincerity. The speed, power, and fury of early-'80s Motörhead influenced everyone from the Misfits to Metallica. Hammersmith stands as their Holy Grail and, like Skynyrd's first live salvo, it's a signpost for an entire subgenre of music. This version of the concert classic includes three bonus tracks--"Over the Top," an alternate version of"Capricorn," and a scorched-earth run-through of "Train Kept-a-Rollin." --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (12)

Rip roaring classic speed metal from the loudest band
Simply put, this is the classic speed metal live album ever! The 3 man line up of Ian "Lemmy a fiver" Kilmister, "Fast Eddie" Clark & Phil"thy" "Animal" Taylor deliver the goods from the opening note. Motorhead rips through its set starting off with Ace of spades, played even faster than the studio version. Lemmy's gravelly voice & dirty bass sound never let down with Clark's riffs & Taylor's speedy drumming as they continuethrough "Stay clean", "metropolis", "the hammer", all the way thru to closing the set with a version of "Train kept a' rollin'" that'll have you headbanging forever! Buy this album.

Rock Can't getmore raw than this..........!
Well if you or anyone of believe that bands like Korn, papa roach or limp bizkit are metal bands........YOU'RE WRONG....
Yes this guys are rock'n'roll.....they are ugly, bad and dirty, and that's what rock is about...
Lemmy & company delivers here a set of classics with an incredible fury, belive me, no other band make a guitar, a bass and a drum kit sound this aggresive. their music is LOUD! and fast.
If you want to know where did all the metal started youshouldn't miss this record, as well as his studio predecesor 'Ace Of Spades'......get it, you won't be sorry

This is it!!!
The ultimate heavy metal live album of them all has just gotten even better! Need I say more? ... Read more

Asin: B00001R3FW
Subjects:  1. British Metal    2. Hard Rock    3. Heavy Metal    4. New Wave of British Heavy Metal    5. Speed Metal    6. Thrash   

Handel - Water Music · The Music for the Royal Fireworks · The Alchymist / AAM, Hogwood
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 October, 1997)
list price: $17.98 -- our price: $13.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

This is a fine Handel compilation that provides a nice overview of hisorchestral music with brass instruments, as well as his only incidental score(music written to accompany the action of a play). Christopher Hogwood uses thearrangement that Handel made of the Fireworks Music for normal-sizedforces, including strings, which were absent from the original. All the music isplayed with a fine sense of style, and a goodly bit of the "pomp andcircumstance" that Handel above all others knew how to capture in music. At twodiscs for the price of one, this is an extremely good deal. --DavidHurwitz ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Towards the higher end of the pack
Reading the liner notes, I am reminded that the occasion for which the water music originally was composed was royal river outing that started in the evening and lasted until 4:00 AM (Take THAT you modern clubhoppers!). The music was played three times through the course of this trip. I doubt there were many teetotallers. Soo...royal oarsmen, wine goblets overflowing with the best claret, tipsy nobleman and...hey! don't hit that river barge! Watch where you're goin' mate!

As such, I'd expect a little roughness in performances (especially for the 3:30 AM gig). Ill-tuned horns and all, I think Hogwood delivers about as faithful a rendition as is currently available. There are certainly more "refined" versions of the water music. I think these better resemble the follow-on peformances for the genteel, perfumed ladies seeking money for the foundling hospital. That's the beauty of Orpheus and Pinnock versions.

Hogwood gets 4 stars for getting close to the river ride. I will admit that my view has been biased by the fabulous 1976 rendition by Jean-Claude Malgoire which hasn't been bettered in this respect. No English band can shake a stick next to drunken French horn players. But Hogwood is a good near-term substitute until Sony wakes up and dips further into their vaults.
Additionally, the Fireworks music is fabulous; the due cori very nice, with similar touches of earthiness. All in all a good outing, and for decent prices.

Recommendable.
I have recently returned to these two CDs (which I bought and listened to for a while some three years ago) and found that they were not quite as bad as I remembered. The tempi are very well sprung, the spirits are high and the "Water Music" in particular is played with some delicacy and finesse (which I hardly take for granted from Hogwood's early recordings). The roughness of the result is mainly due the scratchy tone of the strings and inaccurate tuning of the horns.
If you are a period-instrument enthusiast this Double-Decca, because of its low "duo" price, could have some edge against such strong competitors (which I haven't listened to) as Pinnock, Gardiner and Savall. And at the same "duo" price you can get also Hogwood's wonderful performances (with the Handel&Haydn Society) of Handel's Concerti Grossi Op.6. However, if you care more for variety of dynamics and lightness of touch than for period-instrument sound, I recommend you instead to get all the twelve op.6 Concerti AND the "Water Music" AND the "Musick for the Royal Fireworks" (but not the "Alchymist" suite, the "Concerti a due cori" and the two "Arias for Wind Band") at "trio" price in superlative, "historically-correct" and mellower sounding performances by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Bravo Mr. Handel
A Great Master's Mastery, Masterly Mastered by a Master!!
Translation??In any speak, this is classic Handel, played at it's best, by the one who should know!!!

Hogwood's genious as a foremost expert on my personal favourite composer, can never be overestimated, and here, presented in a medium of works we all know and can relate to, are a showcase of his awesome skills and brand of 'Mastery'!!

One feels obliged to pay homage to composer and conductor alike, for without either, we could not see the creation of this CD, in what is a pinnacle of art and high standard in performance.

Accordingly, Bravo Mr. Handel, and many many congratulations to Mr Hogwood and all the performers. ... Read more

Asin: B0000042HN
Subjects:  1. Chamber    2. Classical    3. Concerto    4. Orchestral