The Carpenters - Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
|
List Price: Our Price: $17.49 You Save: $2.49 (12%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $13.78 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Carpenters Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition
Free Music Review: It has been a long time ...
Hit: 5 Stars
.. but their music still makes me cry. It has such an honest and deep quality in the way it describes life, its pains and worries. And yet, it always projects a positive outlook without being unnecessarily spiritual. I just love them.Free Music Review: Pop the way it was meant to be
Hit: 5 Stars
I own many CDs. Most fall somewhere in the rock/metal genre, and I'm very picky about what I keep and listen to. I don't normally listen to Adult Contemporary (or Classic, in this case) because it just doesn't appeal to me. And yet...there was this song that kept playing in my head for all these years, even through the Triumph phase, the hair metal phase, the shred metal guitarist phase, the Dream Theater phase, up to recently: "We've Only Just Begun." How can a guy who spins Pantera regularly come to terms with this luscious 70s-pop tune that won't stop playing in my mind? For years, I resisted. This is what my parents liked when they were in their 20s; this couldn't be anything I could relate to, could it? I was metal to the core - okay, with a lot of other styles complicating my tastes, but it's mostly about the metal - and yet there was this one song that just wouldn't let go.
It's called a "hook", and this collection is a master class in crafting hooks. And some of these songs aren't exactly pop, either; there's old-school country styling here, and some semi-Latin tastes, and other stuff I can't even pin down. To tell the truth, I don't even know the song titles because I just keep playing these CDs over and over. Between Karen's honey-smoked voice and Richard's virtuostic arrangements, I can't pull this collection from the CD player. Here I am, waiting impatiently for Queensryche's sequel to "Operation: Mindcrime" and Symphony X's follow-up to "The Odyssey," yet this is the CD set I keep repeating. It's weird. It almost feels unnatural. And yet, this music touches a part of me, a sensual caress that makes me shiver in ways no distorted artificial harmonic could.
This is music that needs to be re-discovered and re-distributed. Some of the parts are dated, yes, and I understand that Richard remixed and even re-recorded parts of these songs after Karen's death, so maybe purists won't be satisfied with this collection. But I'm not writing for the long-time fans, I'm writing for people like me, people who wonder whether it's worth buying 40 songs that definitely show their age. Maybe you, like me, only knew a couple of songs by name; they were pretty, but you weren't sure whether you could stomach much more. Yes, you can. These songs are amazing - magical, golden, and deeply satisfying. If you want your music to reach more emotions than modern pop (or rock/metal) can, this is the collection you need to buy. This is great, great music sung by the greatest voice you'll ever hear.
I love this collection and I'm very pleased I bought it. I honestly think anyone who can listen with an open mind will find all kinds of material to love here, too.
Free Music Review: (This is for Metamorpho) Karen was loaded with real talent!
Hit: 5 Stars
Metamorpho, I had the same experience as you. I have trully fallen in love with Karen Carpenter, and it makes me so angry that she is gone. If you really want to have a real love experience with Karen, go to ebay.com and buy a copy of the Carpenters LIVE in Japan, and watch what real talent is all about. Karen and Richard were EXELLENT! and just watch how Karen can really SING LIVE and play drums at the same time and be totally flawless. Who needs all these no talent bimbos like Britney Spears, J-Lo, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson when we can go back and really enjoy a REAL talent like Karen was. Where ever Karen is, God Bless her.Free Music Review: Appreciation Long Overdue
Hit: 5 Stars
O.K. So Metamorpho was young and naive. What did I know? I mean, that's what life is about, isn't it? Rethinking, relearning? Yes.... way back when they came out with "We've Only Just Begun" and I thought of it as pop fluff. But they had more hits and I thought them as some Ken and Barbie Nixonites! Yuch! Let me tune into Jefferson Airplane instead!
Well people........ I now admit, to the WHOLE WIDE WORLD of the internet that I, wise Metamorpho, was wrong!!!!!! .... O.K. don't rub it in, I'm NOT repeating that. No.
When I finally got smart and decided to greatly branch out and seriously contemplate ALL music, this Karen Carpenter and her voice just absolutely FLOORS ME! So rich, so pure.... omigosh....I could go on and on. The flawless intonation! Ahh... but maturity, I suppose, gets the best of us. I am crying, mourning Karens loss like you wouldn't believe! I am begging forgiveness........I think she will, don't you? But on to this c.d.
There are people out there that can recite you every detail you'll ever need to know about each song. Metamorpho doesn't do this (maybe because he doesn't know everything - but don't let that tidbit stray too far!). I work on a more emotional level and this set is generous - giving you all their glorious hits, "Rainy Days and Mondays", "For All We Know", "We've Only Just Begun", "Hurting Each Other", while including very considerable gems, "Merry Christmas Darling" and "Solitaire". I am appreciating Richard Carpenters arrangements as really fine works. (He did a song with Dusty Springfield. Check out my review. Get enlightened!).
People.... this is just wonderful, relaxing, expertly done music by extremely talented Americans. I am so proud of them. I am just so grateful that I moved from being an angry youth to the humanistic, beloved Seer that I am - moving from ignorance to pure vision. This c.d. is well worth it. A wonderful collection and Karens' pure vocals have serious resonance and digital clarity. I hope you all have good systems to listen to this through. If not, get one you cheap things! Karen is worth it!
Anyway....... Metamorpho gives it 5 stars. But, I'm really getting tired of the rating system and feel the need to create something new. Like a 7 star system! Then one must ask - do we all have to work within boundaries set by some outside mysterious force? Food for thought. But, I will not belabor the point (but save it for another time with Zen puzzles to spare!). Suffice to say-- Carpenters = a real JOY, a very high QUALITY! Stop reading this and go treat yourself. YES.....You deserve it! Metamorpho has spoken. Bye for now.
Free Music Review: Rembering Yesterday Once More
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say that hasn't been said already. Karen's voice and Richard's arrangements. A lot has been said about Richard altering the songs over the years but one thing he never tried to alter, change or replace was Karen's voice. If you were around in the 70's then a lot of this music will bring back memories in a time when rock and metal ruled. Listen to your favourites. Listen to them all and you may discover something new to you. There isn't a bad one among the bunch. Thanks Richard and Karen.