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Artist:
Various Artists
  Some unbridled genius mixed with a few goofs, 2008-01-01
Call me weird but I'm a bit of a sucker for the Chipmunk's style of music, their high pitch and close harmonies work for me. When I saw the movie was coming out I was terrified they were going to make it a hip-hop extravaganza due to their "street" versions of their traditional outfits on the movie posters. Luckily this isn't (totally) the case.
The first song is a great version of a hit that had previously become a little wearing and relentless under Daniel Powter. I love this version and it's a full version of what the Chipmunks are singing at the start of the movie. It works really well, though given the great performance it's a travesty that the a capella version from the movie isn't included on this CD.
Another favourite of mine is the interpretation of a song previously recorded by The Chipmunks, "Witch Doctor". The hip hop elements can get a little intrusive at times but in the context of the movie it's plain to see why they put them in and the quality of the rest of the song more than makes up for it. In a way though, it brings me to the point on why I haven't rated any higher than three stars for this album, and this is generous as it is.
Apart from Bad Day and the "Watch out, 'cos here we come!" cartoon theme tune (not on this cd), I don't like every single part of the songs. I love the witch doctor, but parts of it are spoiled by DJ/MC declarations (think "yeah, munks in the hizzle on the M.I.C.!" etc.) and a lack of organic instruments as opposed to sampled beatz. Nor is every song on the album particularly good, and there's at least one rap track. Not including the movie version of Bad Day and including "classic" versions of witch doctor and the Christmas Song is just poor in my opinion.
In all it suffers due to the context of the movie. The movie deals with record companies and producers and making songs that are primarily commercially minded and that means including (as many songs do today) guest rap vocals or musical elements in a track which would be better as a straight rock/pop effort, and The Chipmunks were supposed to be a rock band anyway.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £4.92
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Staring:
Kelly Sheridan,
Kirby Morrow,
Tim Curry,
Peter Kelamis,
Christopher Gaze
Director:
Owen Hurley
Look who became a star. Barbie comes to life in the computer-animated Barbie in the Nutcracker, taking the longtime-favorite doll into a new realm. The 76-minute tale is a slight variation on the traditional story based on Tchaikovsky's music. Instead of an open-ended dream, Barbie and her escort, the Nutcracker (soon to be Ken, natch), are on an adventurous quest. Along the way there are more creatures and derring-do than the original. The sole known voice talent, Tim Curry, has a good old time as the Mouse King, and the animated dancing is gracefully adapted from New York City Ballet members. A few clever characters, bright animation and wonderful music should en...
Great Story, 2010-03-10
My daughter loves Barbie and has managed to collect all the DVD's and wasn't disappointed with this one, great value for money and a good story
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Artist:
The Muppets
Muppet-tastic, 2009-12-27
Having loved this film for years i was delighted with this cd. The beauty of the orchestral score is evident (perhaps more so than the film because you aren't distracted by the antics of the muppets !) and really shows how much effort was put into such a great film. Some extra songs made this more than worth its cost. Brilliant !
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £3.04
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Artist:
Original Soundtrack
Chipmunk-tastic!!, 2008-03-01
The movie is sweet and so is the soundtrack.
Hearing the 'witch doctor' track always brings a smile to my face.
All in all this CD is like Marmite...you'll either love it or loathe it : )
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List Price: £22.99
Our Price: £5.18
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Staring:
Jim Henson,
Frank Oz,
Caroll Spinney,
Loretta Long,
Sonia Manzano
Director:
Jim Henson, Bob Schwarz, Eva Saks, Jim Martin, Jon Stone
My sons love this DVD!, 2008-07-06
My sons just love this DVD, it has them entranced from when the first song plays. Plenty of songs and all the great Sesame street moments that I remember from my childhood. Highly recommended.
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Artist:
Howard Blake
Excellent, 2009-02-05
Brilliant product. In this busy pressured world we live in, I'm all for children having a bit of 'cosy/relaxation' time.
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £1.99
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Artist:
London Symphony Orchestra,
Covent Garden Royal Opera House Orchestra,
Philharmonia Orchestra
A Wonderful Introduction to the Art of Kiri Te Kanawa, 2010-03-05
This is a terrific collection of arias and songs by a singer with one of the most beautiful voices of our time. There are Italian, French and German arias and I really must single out the aria by Korngold which is simply wonderful - I could not stop playing it.
The songs cover a very wide range, from Gershwin, Kern and Berlin to English, Scottish and Irish folk songs, and Maori songs from Kiri's native New Zealand. 150 minutes of some of the best singing you'll hear and all in first class sound quality. Very highly recommended.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £5.95
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Artist:
Anne Sofie Von Otter
Just listing the composers featured on The Art of Anne Sofie von Otter here would take up the allotted space. Suffice to say that from Handel, Mozart and Bach through to Berlioz, Korngold and Elvis Costello, this ravishing compilation sums up what we have long known--that von Otter effortlessly embraces so many styles of music with consummate artistry, character and technique. What more can you say? She is as at home with early music ensembles such as The English Concert and Les Musiciens du Louvre as with the Berlin Philharmonic in Mahler or Offenbach with the Dresden State Orchestra. Churlish reservations relate only to the overall choice of repertoire--perhap...
Splendid introduction, 2002-10-31
As Amazon's own reviwer says in praise (or warning?), this is an excellent introduction to Otter's work, and likely to cause your credit card to burn a hole in your wallet as you order more and more of her discs. An incredible vocal genius is at work here. For those who are wary of classical music for voice (operaphobia, perhaps) this is proof that there is much intoxicating music to be discovered. And for those who already love Ms Otter's work, her intriguing album with twisted pop philosopher Elvis Costello might begin them on a new road into intelligent pop music.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £8.57
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The John Rutter Christmas Album brings together most of the composer's Christmas songs and carols as well as several of his festive choral arrangements, including a rousing "Joy to the World" and the energetic "I saw three ships". Most of the 23 tracks have been taken from extant discs on Rutter's Collegium label although two, "Dormi, Jesu" and "Sans Day carol", were recorded especially for this release. Rutter's first two published compositions, written while he was still a teenager, were Christmas pieces for choir, namely the glorious "Nativity Carol" and the infectious "Shepherd's Pipe Carol". Although very different in character, these two carols (for which ...
Rutters Christmas Album, 2010-01-30
We heard this Album at a friends house over the Christmas period and having found a copy available on Amazon deceided to go for it and have not been disappointed. Beautiful to listen to,
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List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £5.66
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Christmas Music - The Sixteen - Harry Christophers Director, 2005-12-15
This is now the 11th Christmas that this music has been part of the tradition of my holiday season, and although I've acquired numerous other holiday music collections over the years, this far surpasses any other collection that I own. It is difficult to do justice to this music by describing it in mere words. The collection ranges from the 14th to the 16th Century, and is unlike any other collection of Christmas music available. It evokes the true spirit of the Christmas season, is enlightening, inspirational, and transports the listener far from the trite elements of the 'modern' holiday season. No other choral group can compare to the Harry Christophers The Sixteen (named such as the group consists of four treble/mean, four alto, four tenor and four bass choralists). A truly unique auditory experience, and absolutely worth every penny.
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £9.99
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![Barbie in the Nutcracker [DVD] [2001] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZE0QTEGNL._SL160_.jpg "Barbie in the Nutcracker [DVD] [2001] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
![Sesame Street: 25th Birthday - A Musical Celebration! [DVD] [1993] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51y8Hw3PDuL._SL160_.jpg "Sesame Street: 25th Birthday - A Musical Celebration! [DVD] [1993] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
