Solange

I really enjoy this CD. My sister put me on to it. I bought it for the used, low price of $1! What a bargain for me. I think folks are really sleeping on Solange. I heard I Decided on the radio and didn't know who sang it. The CD overall has a good vibe and I enjoy all the songs. It's a shame folks want to compare her to her sister. She has her own sound and I like it.

I was really excited about Solange's "Sol-Angel.." album prior to its release. Solange received a bit of bad press when she told off reporters regarding Jay-Z's 40/40 club. Remember that? Unfortunately for me it slightly turned me off to her 'cause I felt she had a nasty attitude. While a part of me still thinks that, I can't deny how hot this album is. I am mad I slept on it all this time. Well I am glad to report that I finally came to my senses. On my way back home from a trip, I popped this CD in and discovered how much in love I am with it. Many people have said this is Solange's niche and I totally agree. The 60s throwback vibe works very well for Solange. I love the production and strong songwriting here. Everything here is perfect for the most part. My only complaints is that "Champagne"(a hidden track) should of been left off the album. "Cosmic Journey" featuring Bilal, one of my favorite songs don't really fit into the 60s throwback vibe but still shines brillantly. I highly recommend this album! Check it out! I mean after all you can hear the samples below.

I adore "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams"! I found myself wanting to buy a few more just to support Solange. I was pleasantly surprised. There are very few albums now a days that can be listened to all the way through from track one until the end. This is one of my favorite albums! I love the lyrics, the melodies, the harmonies, the production. Solange can sing. People need to stop comparing her to Beyonce. Like Solange says, it is like comparing apples and oranges. Solange's music has a completely different sound, she can sing in various octives, her videos are of a completely different vision, she is a producer, and she is also a very talented song writer. Some people are quick to cast judgement because of her personal life and say she has no talent compared to Beyonce but what some don't realize is Solange has actually written songs for Beyonce. I haven't heard anyone praising Solange for writing one of Beyonce's hit songs "Upgrade You", her ballad "Flaws and All", or one of Beyonce's club anthems- "Get Me Bodied". It's a shame this album may not get all of the recognition, awards, and/or support that it deserves just because Solange's last name is "Knowles". (Don't get me wrong I love Beyonce too).

I love EVERY song on the cd however,I believe there is a song missing from the cd.Solange had a song on her myspace page called,"White Picket Dreams".When I first heard that song it was infectious, and I was excited about getting this song on her new cd!!!!!! I now see that this particular song is not on the cd,what gives?????? Does anyone know where I can purchase this song?? Help!!!!!!!!God Given Name, the best song on the cd.I also like TONY,I TOLD YA SO.I really wish White Picket Dreams was on the cd.But all in all,I am a true Beyonce fan but, I have to give it to Solange,Sol Angel is much better than I Am (Beyonce's new cd).

How many reviewers rightly say, Solange's album is really enjoyable. This is already a good news, in a moment when it's rather difficult to use this adjective after the first listen of a new release. Unfortunately, the rare negative comments are a clue that her "family connection" it will be always a factor destined to surface, one way or another. But i must say that Solange's current artistical trend is far away from the complete involution of her famous sister.
"Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams" has been a nice surprise, for me. Someone could say that this "retro" musical style isn't a so original idea, but i surely prefer to listen a well made old school remake than one of the appalling "melody, what?" songs that the radio stations often promote how "smash hits". If an artist can give to me the emotion to listen again a brass section, a real drums and some good arrangements, this is already enough to gain my respect and my appreciation. As someone said, hope is priceless.
Solange's growth after her debut album is undeniable, and even if her voice isn't the stronger around she deserve the main acknowledgement that we can give to her...forget her last name, and focus our attention exclusively on her interesting musical proposal.

solange knowles has been making a name for herself by getting rid of her famous last name and doing her own thing as a singer and actress.

her film appearances leave something to be desired at this point. it's only a matter of time until she gets the right role in the right project.

musically it looks like her time has come with this uptempo retro-tinged tune! the arrangement features that infectious beat that is found in motown recordings of the early 1960s and her vocals are a great combo of rough and silky. i wish the accompanying video was a little more in control because that time capsule concept is just an excuse for a beautiful young woman to wear weird clothes and do bad dance moves. like we really need that!

This song is refreshing!!! I'm one of the people who said she would would never make it.. I'm here to say I was wrong. When I heard it the first time, I fell in love with it. It's posted on my "Myspace" LOL!!! The CD is Great!!!

Imagine how difficult it must be to be the little sister of one of contemporary music's most popular acts...always being compared to the glamourous, more popular older sister. Solange struck out on her own a few years ago with a solo project, but it didn't catch on.

Well, here Solange Knowles finally makes a name for herself with this upbeat and catchy single, "I Decided" - sort of like a cross between Diana Ross and the Supremes and En Vogue with a modern twist. It's very addictive and unique from what is out there right now and I guess that's why it appealed to me. Solange's voice is different from her sister Beyonce's but no less appealing. I don't know what the upcoming CD SOL-ANGEL AND THE HADLEY ST. DREAMS will have in store for the listeners, but "I Decided" is hot. Well done, Solange!

I heard the original song and I thought it was ok, but very nice since I haven't heard from her in years. The FreeMason Remix (or Part 2) is addictive.

not a bad cd if you'ere all on the destiny's child-beyonce banfwagon but a shame this was'nt promoted more but then again solange will alwayus follow b's shadow.

but that duet w/ Lil' Romeo warrants a reduction!

i actually like this cd....its real nice...its good for teenagers...i like this cd more than i like listening to beyonce cd!

even though i prefer beyonce's music i liked this cd, it was different from her sister's style which was not bad because it was a fun cd to listen to but i think it will only attract teenagers but it was still good and i liked it and i liked a lot of songs on here

I used to play "solo star" everyday it was the best cd out there to me at one point it time but now I listen to it every now and then but it is this a really good cd if you don't have it you should really get it

I first heard a selection (Mahler's Adagietto) from this CD on the radio, and I had to buy it. This music is some of the most beautiful I have ever heard (and I have many years' experience as a pianist, organist, and opera and choral singer). I first loved the aforementioned Adagietto, but have later come to relish even more the second Malher piece on the CD; I use it during meditation, and it takes me to a deep, peaceful, spiritual place. Also, the Ravel piece Soupir ("sigh") is just beyond words--the colorings of the vocal expression, the seamless blend of this ensemble. It's like butter!! I do not know if this ensemble has other recordings, but I would snatch them up as soon as I found out about them. However, to be balanced, the inner selections on the CD, tracks 6,7, and 8, while intricate and well performed, do not rise to the heights of the others I mentioned. But then, how often does one like every cut on an album?

I concur with the previous reviewer. Accentus has surpassed all their previous releases here. In particular, the performance of the Mahler Adagietto (from Symphony No. 5) is heart-rending and technically astonishing, as solo sopranos and mezzos take on the lines of different strings. There is not a bad cut in the lot, though the Barber Agnus Dei is becoming one of the most overrecorded pieces in the catalog. The recorded sound is clearest when one plays the CD at moderate volume. There is, with only one or two exceptions, no loss of dynamic range. While I noticed some roll-off distortion during a few forte passages, reducing the volume minimizes the problem. Naive has one of the most daring and consistently tasteful catalogues in the business, and this Accentus album is a great introduction to the label, and to a choir that has created the most distinctive technique of any I've heard in my lifetime.

Accentus is a French a cappella choir of 32 voices founded and directed by Laurence Equilbey in 1991; on the basis of this recording I'd warrant that she is a superb choir builder and director. I'd heard wonderful things about them but had never heard anything they'd recorded. Here we have a collection of transcriptions of pieces originally written for instruments (or instruments and solo voice) sung impeccably. The only problem is that at high dynamic levels there tends to be some distortion; I played the disc on four different playback setups and got the distortion each time. A real pity.

As to the performances themselves, they are nothing short of sensational. The program starts with Barber's own transcription of his 'Adagio for Strings' (itself a transcription of a movement from his string quartet) to the words of the Agnus dei. Then we have an impressive and moving choral setting by Gerard Pesson of the Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth Symphony; it is set to words of August von Platen.

There are two Chopin transcriptions by Franck Krawczyk: 'Lacrimosa,' from the Op. 10, No. 6 Etude, and 'Lulajze, Jezuniu' ('Sleep, little Jesus') set to the Largo from Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 58. They are both quite beautiful.

The main transcriber on this disc is Clytus Gottwald who not only set the Adagietto but six other pieces including Ravel's 'Soupir,' Wolf's 'Die verlassene Maegdlein' and 'Auf ein altes Bild,' Berg's 'Die Nachtigall,' Debussy's 'Les Angelus.' He tends to use the overlapping choral technique pioneered by Gyorgy Ligeti which creates a kind of aural haze. This is very effective in the impressionistic pieces (and in the second of the Wolf songs), much less so in the German transcriptions. Least successful, by far, is the transcription by Gottwald of 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen' from Mahler's Rueckert-Lieder, which, no matter how beautifully sung, becomes a muddy mess obscuring both the melody line and the words.

Finally, there is a gorgeous piece based on Bach's 'Komm, suesser Tod' ('Come, sweet death') transcribed by the Norwegian master, Knut Nystedt. It, the Barber and the Mahler Adagietto are, for me, the high points of this fascinating disc.

A word about this terrific choir. They sing with a distinctively French sound--that is to say, with clarity, lightness, absolute purity of sound--and their dynamic range has to be heard to be believed. The tonal core does not waver or spread even at the softest dynamic or the extremes of vocal range and, in spite of the distortion in the recording, one can hear that they never produce an ugly tone even at their loudest. I am eager to hear more of their recordings and, who knows, maybe even hear them perform in person some day.

Scott Morrison

Finally!!!! All of the kids will love this upbeat music & it wont put mom and dad to sleep behind the wheel. I almost enjoy this cd as much as the kids!!!!

This cd will have you dancing. The children love this cd. It will have you looking at the nursery rhymes differently but it is great.

It is missing the track "Gopher Mambo" by Yma Sumac. A most important track to remember the jungling/hat rack set.

I immediately wanted to buy this CD after watching Quidam. It refresh my memory every time I listen to its music!
Worth buying!

Quidam's music can best be described as both an eclectic and esoteric mix. It would be very difficult to categorize the music on this CD into any one genre. From the rocking Zydeko to the beautiful song Seisouso, to the eastern European sounding Rivage, this CD will have something for everyone. And it is a must have for anyone who has seen Quidam.

Cirque Du Soleil (Quidam) wouldn't be such a hit without it's soundtrack. You can recapture the experience of the dark but lively mood through the tracks on this CD. Definately a collectible.

Was very happy with my CD. Entire process was positive. Easily found what I was looking for on Amazon. Thought the price was fair. Received item in timely fashion & in perfect condition. Would shop again...in fact, I did today!

Bought this for my [...] who loves the movie...and now LOVES the CD. He is all about basketball these days...so this is perfect to put in the boom box and shoot some hoops!!

Yo ppls could you please tell me what is the name of the the song that Calvin Cambridge-Bow Wow Tracy Reynold- Moris Chest nut were singing when the were in the car going to da pharmacy.

Please tell me at hasantasleem@msn.com

Can anyone help? It's kind of a dance-y, rave track played during a scene of a basketball game in the movie..it might be played during Calvin (Lil Bow Wow)'s first NBA game...I'm pretty sure it came out around 2000-2001...does anyone know what this song is?!

It's Rule by Nas. It's a re-do of Everybody Wants To Rule the World by some 80s group :-P

Ravel's fantaisie lyrique is an indisputable masterpeace and this unsurpassed first performance presents the music at its greatness. The singers, although with no stars, make an outstanding team and the mono recording (1947) conveys the voices very firmly. Warning: After listening to this CD you will try to get Ravel's L'Heure espagnole. You need not bother as not just it is not as imaginative as this opera, it also has a very strong declamatory line and there are no regular arias as on L'Enfant.