Cotton Mather - KONTIKI - Japan CD+1BONUS - NEW

BMG (distributor) ( April 12, 2005 ), Genre: R&B

Spitfire Records (USA)

Digitally remastered and expanded deluxe two CD edition of the critically lauded 1997 sophomore album from the Austin-based Power Pop band founded in the early 1990's by Robert Harrison. Includes a bonus 11 track CD. Features new artwork with extensive liner notes about the making of Kontiki and the history of Cotton Mather.

Universal Distribution ( June 11, 2007 ), Genre: Rock & Pop

Japan: David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Rob Dean (guitar, vocals), Richard Barbieri (keyboards, vocals), Mick Karn (bass, vocals), Steve Jansen (drums, vocals).Additional personnel: Ray Singer (background vocals).Recorded at Audio International Studios, London, England.The second Japan album followed their debut by a mere six months and, like its predecessor, the cover art suggested glam-rock. In the heady days of punk, it was largely ignored in England, but the band did begin to find acceptance in Japan--surprise, surprise! Mick Karn's elegant, flexible bass playing is more prominent, and David Sylvian's vocals settled on a very Bowie-esque style--circa THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD. With these elements in place, the band was on their way to developing their signature sound.The album contains two classic Japan tracks, "Rhodesia" and "Suburban Berlin." The first of these is welded to a reggae-influenced guitar line and lyrics that make passing references to racism, masturbation, and Nazis, while the second, with

When you think of '80s pop/prog-rockers Europe, arena-worthy singalongs (à la "The Final Countdown"), and tear-inducing power ballads (à la "Carrie") immediately come to mind. But with the group's 2006 effort, Secret Society (their second since reuniting in the early 21st century), Europe has endured a total musical makeover. In place of their once glossy pop production is a much more heavy sound, while the once overtly melodic vocals of Joey Tempest have toughened up considerably, and guitarist John Norum's once shredding leads have been considerably scaled back. Led Zeppelin is obviously a major influence on the album-opening title track, while cuts such as "Love Is Not the Enemy" and "Let the Children Play" feature some unmistakably nu-metal riffs. And Europe certainly receive credit for producing and writing the album entirely on their own -- as they're one of the few '80s-era rock veterans who did not have to ask for assistance from outside help to reinvent and update their sound. As evidenced by Secret

Sony

Psychic Circle

The Japanese didn't invent '80s rock, but they sure took it to heart, and Blue Blood is definite proof of that if there ever was one. On this record, X Japan move through the hard rock variations of their time with the ease of Ritchie Blackmore whipping out the "Smoke on the Water" riff for the umpteenth time. There's even a glam rock detour ("Easy Fight Rambling") and a power ballad, although for the most part the band is content to rock their hearts out, staying on the coordinate grid set by Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses, Queensrýche and perhaps updated Thin Lizzy, with the results being not too far from what Helloween were doing at the time. Whether or not the Germans influenced X-Japan is up for debate, but the similarities are obvious, as the Japanese exhibit the same aptness for combining menacing guitar work with anthemic -- or rather, in this case, cinematic -- hook-laden melodies and performing it at a tempo able to get them a speeding ticket on a highway. Blue Blood is rounded out by the raspy but stro

Phantom Import Distribution ( January 06, 2004 ), Genre: Rock & Pop