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Personnel: Chalf Hassan (vocals, lute, bass instrument, bon ... Read more

Personnel: Chalf Hassan (vocals, lute, bass instrument, bongos, bendir, tabla); Ahmed Essaisse (viola, bendir); Mohammed Chalf (percussion).Chalf Hassan has become a popular ambassador of Middle Eastern music, releasing albums of drum-centric dance tunes featuring traditional instrumentation like lute, bendire, and oud. Like his other releases, MOROCCAN BELLYDANCE is a valuable resource for practicing bellydance moves or just grooving to at a party. Minimize

Die-hard Saint Etienne fans have all of this stuff but, for ... Read more

Die-hard Saint Etienne fans have all of this stuff but, for the casual explorer, Heavenly's 2008 collection London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne is the best place to catch up and fall in love. Covering everything from their first single through 2002's Finisterre, London Conversations offers up a good spread, with hits and obscure B-sides occupying equal territory. The running order runs (mostly) chronologically on each CD, but the sequence flows well enough that the "mx-tape" vibe remains hip-ly intact for the listener. ~ J. Scott McClintock Minimize

Recording information: ATM Studios, No Ho, CA; Hot Beats Re ... Read more

Recording information: ATM Studios, No Ho, CA; Hot Beats Recording, Atlanta, GA; The Power Plant, Atlanta, GA. Minimize

Audio Mixer: Tero "Max" Kostermaa.Recording information: Ci ... Read more

Audio Mixer: Tero "Max" Kostermaa.Recording information: City Lights Studio (07/2010).Photographer: Jarkko Viitasaari. Minimize

Fates Warning: Ray Alder (vocals); Jim Matheos (guitar, key ... Read more

Fates Warning: Ray Alder (vocals); Jim Matheos (guitar, keyboards, sequencing); Mark Zonder (drums).Additional personnel: Steve Tushar (keyboards, sequencing); Kevin Moore (keyboards); Joey Vera (bass); Laurie Matheos, Amy Motta, Bernie Altman (spoken vocals).Engineers include: Phil Magnotti, Terry Brown, Jim Matheos.Recorded at Frankie's Hideaway, North Hollywood, California and Carriage House, Stamford, Connecticut between February 17 & April 16, 2000.Personnel: Jim Matheos, Terry Brown (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Joey Vera (vocals, bass guitar); Ray Alder (vocals); Phil Magnotti (keyboards, drums); Steve Tushar (keyboards); Mark Zonder (drums).Audio Mixer: Phil Magnotti.Prog metal veterans Fates Warning continue to evolve, picking up where A PLEASANT SHADE OF GRAY left off with their newest offering, DISCONNECTED. The disc is a conceptual piece presented in the spirit of APSOG, differing only in that there isn't a single weak moment here; which isn't to make light of the brilliant moments found on that pr Minimize

Performer

Personnel: Cypress Fluellen, Jennifer Robinson (vocals); Le ... Read more

Personnel: Cypress Fluellen, Jennifer Robinson (vocals); Lenny Mollings, Mike Hartnett (guitar); James Czeiner (strings); Phillip Stewart (saxophone); Craig King, Jason Perry (keyboards); George Stanley, Keri Hilson (background vocals).Audio Mixers: Vincent Dilorenzo; Andros Rodriguez; Phil Tan.Recording information: Chalice Recording Studio, LA, CA; Deadly Soundz Studio, New Orleans, LA; Ludaplex, Atlanta, GA; Maze Studios, Atlanta, GA; Nasty's Crib, Orlando, FL; Nexxus Media Group Studios, Dallas, TX; Right Track-Sound On Sound Recording, New York, NY; Studio 609 Recordings, Philadelphia, PA; The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL; The Field, Orlando, FL; Thug Mansion Studios, Atlanta, GA; Townhouse Studios, London, England; Trak Meet Studios, St. Louis, MO.Photographer: Christian Lantry."Never scared to be different," as he puts it, Ludacris didn't need a deal to make a name for himself. He was already a homegrown star in the ATL--selling his self-produced, independent first album straight out of his trunk--be Minimize

Recording information: Electrical Audio, Chicago, IL (09/20 ... Read more

Recording information: Electrical Audio, Chicago, IL (09/2009).Photographer: Dylan Long."Welcome to my self-made sweat box. This is where I take it all off. I've got to sweat it out, I'll cook those monsters out -- I'm not coming out of here until my soul appears" is a line that appears in the title track of The Calcination of Scoutt Niblett, and if there is a theme for this album, this is it. The word "calcination" refers to burning metals into calx -- the ashy substance that remains. It's appropriate here. Since 2001, Niblett has used minimal trappings to get her songs across, usually just a guitar and some well-placed drums. She concentrates on rock essences that transfer emotion without contrivance or sonic affectation -- there is no excess here, nothing extra at all. Produced (again) by Steve Albini, Niblett has stripped everything to the barest: a distorted electric guitar underscores nakedly searing lyrics that sometimes get accented by primitive drums -- or not. Accompanied only by her guitar in "Barg Minimize

Performer

Personnel: Dee Dee Sharp; Dave Appell, Joe Sgro, Joe Renzet ... Read more

Personnel: Dee Dee Sharp; Dave Appell, Joe Sgro, Joe Renzetti , Norman Harris (guitar); Fred Nuzzullio, Georgie Young & the Rockin 'Bocs, Buddy Savitt (saxophone); Rick Kellis, Roy Traigis, Robert Martin , Luther Randolph, Jimmy Wisner, Leon Huff (keyboards); Ronnie Baker, Joe Macho (bass instrument); Karl Chambers, Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats, Joe Sher (drums); Vivian Dix, Charlotte Walker, Willa Ward, Lillian Washington, Eddie Custis, Elfay Willis, Sandy Person, Jim Meeley, Cindy Scott, Raun MacKinnon, Kenny Gamble (background vocals); Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli (guitar); Dan Dailey (saxophone); Thom Bell (keyboards, background vocals); Earl Young, Bobby Gregg (drums); Chubby Checker.Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.Arrangers: Dave Appell; Jimmy Wisner; Kenny Gamble; Leon Huff ; Rick Kellis; Joe Renzetti ; Luther Randolph; Riley Hampton; Charles Calello.This release from the Cameo-Parkway catalogue generously collects the output of Dee Dee Sharp, the artist behind "Mashed Potato Time," one of the biggest Minimize