Babel by Mumford & Sons

English folk revivalists Mumford & Sons' 2009 debut, Sigh No More, boarded the slowest train it could find on its journey from regional gem to pleasantly surprising, international success story. After simmering and stewing throughout the U.K. and Europe, the band landed boots first at the Staples Center for a rousing performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards that found the smartly dressed quartet tearing through "The Cave," and then backing, along with the equally snappy Avett Brothers, Bob Dylanon a generation-spanning rendition of "Maggie's Farm" that provided one of the better Grammy moments of the last decade or so. They may lack the lyrical prowess of "The Bard," but they know how to turn a phrase, plant a seed, and build a bridge and tear it back down again without losing the audience in the process. Simply put, they can bend the relative simplicity of traditional folk music to their collective wills, which is exactly what they do on their sophomore outing, Babel. It's also exactly what they did on their debut, and short of being a little rowdier and raspier, Babel feels less like a legitimate sequel and more like an expanded edition of the former. Working once again with producer Markus Dravs, who helmed Arcadd Fire's Grammy-winning opus The Suburbs, the Mumford boys have crafted another set of incredibly spirited songs that bark much louder than they bite. Ballsy, pained, fiery, and fraught with near constant references to sin, salvation, and all of the pontifical hopes and doubts that lie between, most of Babel is caught between the confessional and an apocalyptic hootenanny, delivering its everyman message with the kind of calculated spiritual fervor that comes from having to adapt to the festival masses as opposed to the smaller club crowds. Tracks like "Hopeless Wanderer," "Broken Crown," and the vivacious title cut bristle with moxie and self-importance, but feel like a ruse, aiming for the parking lot with the kind of generic, turgid melodrama that always overshoots its mark, leaving another smoky hole in an already pockmarked landscape. It's a shame because there's some potential here, especially when the group eases back on the Me Street Band histrionics. Two albums in and Mumford & Sons still sound like a band fused to the starting block, paralyzed by the thought of having to truly race for their lives.

01. Babel - one cklix for fun
02. Whispers in the Dark - one cklix for fun
03. I Will Wait - one cklix for fun
04. Holland Road - one cklix for fun
05. Ghosts That We Knew - one cklix for fun
06. Lover of the Light - one cklix for fun
07. Lovers' Eyes - one cklix for fun
08. Reminder - one cklix for fun
09. Hopeless Wanderer
10. Broken Crown - one cklix for fun
11. Below My Fee - one cklix for fun
12. Not With Haste - one cklix for fun

Jewel - Pieces of You 1995

 Pieces of You is a charming debut that is somewhat undone by its own naïveté. Jewel has a rich voice and an innocent, beguiling charm that makes "Who Will Save Your Soul," "I'm Sensitive," and "You Were Meant for Me" -- songs with slight, simple lyrics and catchy, sweet melodies -- quite endearing; they sound like a high-school diary brought to life. Songs this simple and sweet need clean, direct arrangements, but Pieces of You was largely recorded live, which means it often sounds ragged and rough. "Who Will Save Your Soul," "You Were Meant for Me," and "Foolish Games" were all re-recorded before they became hit singles, and all three are superior in their single versions, since these live album cuts sound hurried. It's an unfortunate situation, since the slapdash production emphasizes the awkwardness of the lesser songs. Still, Pieces of You has enough charm to make it an ingratiating debut, even if the album doesn't quite fulfill Jewel's potential.

01. Who Will Save Your Soul - one cklix for fun
02. Pieces of You - one cklix for fun

03. Little Sister - one cklix for fun

04. Foolish Games - one cklix for fun
05. Near You Always - one cklix for fun

06. Painters - one cklix for fun
07. Morning Song - one cklix for fun
08. Adrian - one cklix for fun
09. I'm Sensitive - one cklix for fun
10. You Were Meant for Me - one cklix for fun
11. Don't - one cklix for fun
12. Daddy - one cklix for fun
13. Angel Standing By - one cklix for fun
14. Amen - one cklix for fun

Anggun & Her Newst Album

IT may sound like a cliche whenever an artiste says he/she has attained their proudest moment with their newest album release. But when Anggun Cipta Sasmi (or simply Anggun) says her 12th album Echoes is her best to date, she speaks in all honesty. Judging from the hours, sweat (and tears) that went into producing the album, it is pretty convincing the album is the 37-year-old Indonesian singer/songwriter of French citizenship’s finest work so far.
And with her personal life stories weaved into lyrics, can she be blamed for regarding Echoes as her best?
“I try to be honest whenever I compose songs. I hold Echoes close to my heart as some lyrics are based on my personal life experiences. Plus, it is the first album released under my label, April Earth, giving me a sense of pride and joy,” said Anggun in a long distance call from Paris, where she resides with husband, French writer Cyril Montana and three-and-a-half-year old daughter Kirana Cipta Montana Sasmi.

This profound emotion is felt in the poignant song Eternal – which pays tribute to her late father, writer Darto Singo, who lost his life to cancer seven years ago.
“The song is about acceptance of my father’s passing. Although I cannot feel him in the flesh, I know his soul remains forever,” said the singer with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Besides loss, the 12-track album (in English and Bahasa Indonesia) also incorporate themes surrounding love, pain and loneliness. Irish-influenced Hanyalah Cinta (Only Love), deals with the quest for true and unconditional love while A Stranger, speaks of loneliness and fear of the unknown. Year Of The Snake, is a restrained song about a woman remembering life’s painful moments while upbeat Weapons, applauds girl-power.
The pop rock-inspired Echoes, if compared to her previous hip hop album Elevation, certainly swings to a different beat altogether. This clearly showcases her continuity to reinvent herself through new artistic projects.

“All my albums have a different feel as I enjoy experimenting with various music genres. My debut, Snow On The Sahara, featured world music while the second self-titled album was pop with hints of world music. Echoes is an adult album with a combination of pop, rock and retro touch.
“For Echoes, I ventured into pop and rock as I’m familiar with these music genres. I used to be a rock singer in Jakarta so I decided to pay homage to my humble beginnings by adding these influences,” said Anggun, citing native Javanese artistes, rock ’n’ roll singers, among her influences. Elvis Presley, Metallica and The Police are some of her favourite acts.
Echoes sums up this transformation, returning to the pop sound that made her name, but this time with new collaborators. The origins of Echoes can be found in the coming together of renowned music producers Gioacchino, Pierre Jaconelli, Jean-Pierre Pilot and William Rousseau.
“What surprised us was the contrast between the simple and fun-loving woman and image of a superstar diva from her videos and live performances. The two personalities co-exist inside her in perfect harmony,” said Rousseau in a press release provided by Sony Music.
Anggun began her career as a child star in her home country, launching a recording career at nine. In 1994, at the young age of 20, she moved to Europe to launch her career. However, life wasn’t a bed of roses when she first moved to London. Besides experiencing culture shock, she endured financial problems and had to make ends meet singing in clubs.
Anggun had a different stroke of luck upon moving to Paris in 1996. There, she was introduced to music producer Erick Benzi, a key person who had helped launched her music career. In 1997, she finally tasted sweet success with the release of her highly revered debut album, Snow On The Sahara. The release of five more English albums – Anggun, Chrysalis, Open Hearts, Luminescence and Elevation, further sealed her career and positioned her as one of the most successful Asian artistes in the international arena.
In 2004, Anggun received the prestigious distinction Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for her worldwide achievements and support of the French culture. A year later, she was appointed spokesperson for the International Year of Microcredit (a UN program aimed at eradicating debt in the third world).
In 2009, she added another feather to her cap by becoming Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
While obtaining medals or releasing five international albums is undoubtedly a massive feat, Anggun doesn’t seem overwhelmed by her achievements. Instead, she views it as a humbling experience.
“I am very blessed because of the support system of the record company and fans. The music industry has changed so much for the past 10 years due to illegal downloads. I am truly grateful that people appreciate what I do and it makes me happy doing what I am passionate about.
“In order to survive the music business, you need perseverance because everything happens with hard work and luck. Ultimately, it depends on how much you want to succeed,” she said on a parting note, adding she hopes to stop over in Kuala Lumpur in October.

ECHOES 2011-2012
01. You and I - one click for fun
02. Buy Me Happiness - one click for fun
03. Only Love - one click for fun
04. Weapons - one click for fun
05. Lie To Me - one click for fun
06. Impossible - one click for fun
07. Eternal - one click for fun
08. Rollercoaster - one click for fun
09. My Addiction - one click for fun
10 A Stranger - one click for fun
11. Cold War - one click for fun
12. Year of The Snake - one click for fun
13. Silent Vow - one click for fun
14. Let It Be - one click for fun
(Bonus Tracks)
15. Echoes ( Exclusive Version for Eurovision 2012 ) - one click for fun
16. Echoes feat. Keo ( Exclusive Version for Romania ) - one click for fun
17. Echoes feat. Claudia Faniello ( Exclusive version for Malta ) - one click for fun
18. Echoes feat Niels Brinck ( Exclusive version for Denmark ) - one click for fun
19. Echoes feat Varga Viktor ( Exclusive Versiaon for Hungary ) - one click for fun
20. Pure ( Claudia Faniello feat. Anggun ) - one click for fun
21. Count On Me - one click for fun
22. Sorry - one click for fun
23. Blind Mit. Schiller - one click for fun
24. Innocent Lies Mit. Schiller - one click for fun
25. Always You Mit. Schiller - one click for fun
26. Twilight Mit. Schiller ( Instrumental ) - one click for fun
27. Snow On The Sahara ( 2012 Version ) - one click for fun

ELEVATION 2008-2009
01. A Change
02. Crazy
03. Seize the Moment
04. No Song
05. Le bluffeur
06. My Man (featuring Pras)
07. Stronger (featuring Big Ali)
08. Give It to Love 
09. Hide and Run
10. Divine
11. Is It a Sign?
12. Selamat Tidur
13. Eden in Her Eyes
14. World

BEST OF 2006-2007 
LUMINESCENCE 2005-2006
01. I'll Be Alright
02. In Your Mind
03. Undress Me
04. Saviour
05. A Crime
06. Waiting
07. Evil & Angel
08. Breathe in Water
09. Surrender
10. Captivity
11. Cover
12. Something Sublime
13. Devil in My Mind
14. Painted
15. Human
16 Go
( Bonus Tracks )
17. Mantra (Indonesian Version of "Saviour")
18. Mantra (A Capella Version)
19. Mantra (Instrumental)
20. Juste être une femme (featuring Diam's)
21. Garde-moi (featuring David Hallyday)
22. Catch You (feat. Ron)
23. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (feat. Kelly & Beacco)
24. Tandem (feat. Lynnsha)
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