June 24, 2009
The House Jacks - Good Things
We first felt the true power and majesty of The House Jacks (our personal favorite group name in a cappella), in a packed South of Market nightclub in San Francisco in the middle 1990s, where several groups were performing in different parts of the club, but everyone was there to see the Jacks. I remember hearing the Zep standard “Kashmir,” being amazed at the vocal percussion (new to me) the full sound and sheer energy of this pioneering, influential handful of guys, blowing us all away with only microphones. “Good Things” is a “best of” anthology of 19 songs, beautifully packaged, masterfully mixed and recorded, and containing only a songlist and “Everything you hear came out of the following mouths:” followed by a list of the members of the Jacks, Roo Ahuja, Bert Bacco, Tristan Bishop, Wes Carroll, Andrew Chaikin, Kevin Fudge, Troy Horne, Garth Kravits, Rob Penn, Deke Sharon and Austin Willacy. Before each name is a little Zapf dingbat of various kinds of stars and dots that also follow each song name to let us know who is singing on which cut. There’s only four covers here, the aforementioned “Kashmir,” Lennon/McCartney’s “All You Need Is Love,” the Gershwins’ “Summertime” and the live Motown hit “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The other 15 are all written by various group members; “The Way It Makes Me Feel” by Sharon, “Completely” by Chaikin, “What’s for Real” by Kravits and Willacy, “This Man’s Pride” by Horne, “After You” by Sharon & Kravits, etc. Other favorites are the live cuts “Dive Into You,” “Bam,” “All of My Life” and the crazed, faux-everything theme song “Jack It Up.” Great stuff from first cut to last, from one of our favorite groups of all time!
2364 CD 14.95
Listen to "From Sunday
Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM
May 8, 2009
The Real Group - Håll Musiken Igång!
The Real Group, since their formation 24 years ago, are one of the leading forces in the world of vocal harmony music. "Hall Musiken Igang" (Keep The Music Playing) is the group's 14th recording, a tribute to the legendary Swedish songwriter/artist Povel Ramel. Born in Stockholm to an aristocratic family, Povel Ramel studied piano and got an early start on his career as an entertainer and composer. His first revue, written at age 17, gave him a breakthrough as a composer, "Vart eget blue Hawaii." In 1944 came his first great hit, "Johansson's boogie woogie waltz" and his crazy humor on two radio programs brought him many fans. In the 1950s he developed, with 3 other great talents, a special type of revue, "Knapp-Upp," seen by 5 million people between 1952-62. The revues became more musical and satirized the styles of well-known Swedish composers. Several of Ramel's numbers from this period became classics. Musically these songs fit nicely into the Real Group's flawless, clean, vocal jazz sound, and are big fun to listen to, with samples, asides, faux horns and wonderful vocal percussion. Listen to "Johansson's Boogie Woogie Waltz," and you'll get the picture. The Real Group is one of the best vocal jazz groups we have ever heard, we have loved every one of their albums, and we love "Hall Musiken Igang!"
3097 CD 19.95
Listen to "Underbart Är Kort (Wonderful Is Short)
Posted by acapnews at 11:52 PM
April 29, 2009
Ben Folds Presents - University A Cappella
The talented and creative singer-songwriter Ben Folds became enamored of collegiate a cappella after hearing some of the groups on YouTube. On this release he recorded some of his favorite campus a cappella groups as they each perform one of his songs and the result is a delight. The Spartones open the disc with a stella arrangement of "Not the Same" with the Leading Tones of Ohio University giving a solid rendition of "Brick". Ben Folds himself sings a cappella (with multi tracking) on "Boxing" and the fun "Effington". Mosaic Whispers sings "Still Fighting It" with conviction while the more jazz arrangement of "Selfless, Cold and Composed" helps show why Ben Folds songs are so much fun to arrange and perform unaccompanied. The University of Chicago's Voices in Your Head perform a very interesting arrangement of "Magic" and the Newtones soothing treatment of "Evaporate" surprises. Fifth Element is remarkable performing "Fair" and the closing "The Luckiest" wraps up the recording perfectly. This release certainly shows how talented today's collegiate a cappella groups have become and although a few individual voices may not always be pitch perfect the arrangements are almost all top notch and impressive. Recommended.
1778 CD 12.95
Listen to "Effington
Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM
April 3, 2009
Voces8 - Evensong
Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella group, performing a varied repertoire, from popular and jazz arrangements to early polyphony. The 6-men, 2-women octet performs extensively in the UK, Europe and the US, and has been drawing reviews such as "stunning performance," "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color." We can only agree with this assessment in every way, and point out that after the octet's recent performance at the ACDA Convention in Oklahoma City, over a hundred people lined up at the PAC booths to buy "Evensong," and only 75 were lucky enough to get one, but we have now managed to get our hands on a bunch more from the group! 12 songs, every one an exquisite gem, so we will simply list them: British composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley's title tune, Al Jolson's "Me and My Shadow," Otis Blackwell's jazzy "Fever," "Gabriel's Message" (pop mix), Palestrina's soaring "Magnificat Primi Toni," Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller's "Jailhouse Rock," "Good King Wenceslas," Orlando Gibbons' "O Clap Your Hands," Ben Folds' "The Luckiest," Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis" and Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley's "Feeling Good." Be it Choral, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Classical Spiritual or whatever genre you'd care to put them in, Voces8 is one of the best a cappella groups we've ever heard. Buy "Evensong," turn the volume up or put on some fine headphones, and enjoy!
3096 CD 15.95
Listen to "Me and My Shadow
Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM
March 27, 2009
The Irrationals - Done Waiting
The core blend of three soulful women (Gwen, Linda and Renee) of the soulful Bay Area a cappella ensemble The Irrationals has been singing together for over 15 years. This funky, diverse group has an eclectic, African American-based repertoire that explores life, love and politics. There are 11 songs here, which feature soaring leads, strong vocal percussion and background vocals. Favorites are "Train in Vain," the title tune, "Something to Talk About," the powerful stream-of-consciousness two originals by Susan Anders, "Living on the Edge" and "Trouble Now," the stark "Everything and Nothing," the bluesy "Microwave Life," the jazzy "Mighty Long Way" and the poignant "Love Me Still." This is surprising, entertaining, thought-provoking stuff from The Irrationals!
2353 CD 14.95
Listen to "Living on the Edge
Posted by acapnews at 12:01 AM
March 26, 2009
The Edlos - Broadway
First formed in 1989, The Bad Boys of A Cappella," known of r their lights, smoke, wigs, costumes and general silliness, have added another winner to their collection of live shows, which up to this point have included the Variety Show, Country Western Show, Holiday Show and Groovy 60s Show. "A Cappella Broadway" premiered in April 2007 as a triple groundbreaker: their first show entirely of songs not featured in any of their previous shows, the first time they've staged an extended run of a show at a single venue, and it's the first revue of Broadway tunes performed entirely without musical instruments! 12 songs, from Music Man's "76 Trombones," Cabaret's "Wilkommen" and West Side Story's "Gee, Officer Krupke" to The Fantasticks' "Try to Remember," My Fair Lady's "With a Little Bit O' Luck" and Carousel's "You'll Never Walk Alone." Some tunes, like Les Miserables' "Bring Him Home," will touch you and break your heart, Fiddler on the Roof's "If I Were a Rich Man," South Pacific's "There is Nothin' Like a Dame," Oklahoma's oompa-bandish "Oklahoma" and Guys and Dolls' "Fugue for Tinhorns" will crack you up. Enough said—this is another generous helping of great, funny stuff from the Edlos!
2362 CD 14.95
Listen to "There Is Nothing Like a Dame
Posted by acapnews at 9:57 PM
March 20, 2009
Acappella Company - Holy God
Holy God is a chorus of voices, hundreds strong, glorifying an indescribable God. Recorded in Tulsa with over 300 singers from all over the United States, Holy God is third in the Praise & Harmony series that is sweeping across the world. Hundreds of churches are using this series as training ground for their corporate worship. Thousands more immerse themselves into their personal worship on a daily basis with albums from the Praise & Harmony. Holy God will certainly fill the demand for both. Also included is a vocalist training disc that allows you to learn to sing each song in harmony and experience the power of Praise & Harmony yourself. 2265 CD 15.95
Posted by acapnews at 12:04 AM
March 12, 2009
Beelzebubs - Pandemonium
When the 15-man strong Tufts University a cappella group Beelzebubs was formed in 1962, Beelzebub was a character from Milton's "Paradise Lost" who lived in Pandaemonium, who caught the attention of a Tufts senior. The group became one of Tufts' oldest traditions. " Pandaemonium" was recorded by the 2007 configuration of the Bubs, and it features 13 varied and well-chosen covers of pop hits. The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour," U2's "City of Blinding Lights," Deadeye Dick's "New Age Girl," The Feeling's "Love It When You Call," Thicke's "When I Get You Alone," Aerosmith's classic "Livin' On The Edge," Peter Gabriel's "Digging In The Dirt," Gnarls Barkley's "Smiley Faces" and Guster's "Ruby Falls" all feature wonderful arrangements, tight vocal harmonies and backup vocals, and powerful, soaring leads. Good stuff from one of our favorite veteran Collegiate ensembles!
1777 CD 14.95
Listen to "Smiley Faces
Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM
February 27, 2009
Stella - Different Skies
Different Skies is the second release from 7-woman Durham, NC-based a cappella group Stella, the first being the excellent "Gimme Stella." This is a sumptuous, gorgeous collection of 15 tunes, some of which are lightly accompanied by bass, guitar and even a Morocan riq on the lovely opening cut, "Before This Time Another Year." These 7 women share a love of good stories, eclectic tastes and music from different cultures. Two originals, "Cave Ranger," which reflects on the sexy possibilities of a date with a cave ranger, and "Stretched On Your Grave," tells the tragic tale of the death of a beloved teenage friend, are marvelous. Other favorites are the sweetly rhythmic "Be Mine (Little Baby," "Satellites," "My Babe," "I'll Never Leave You Baby," the bluesy "Blue and Lonesome," the stark anti-war song "No More To The Dance," the gospel tune "Wondrous Love," "Shto Si Goro," a gospel tune from the Georgia Sea Islands, the powerful "Kappee," a Bulgarian folk tale, the poignant ballad "Teenage Girls" and the wonderful American shape note chant, "Long Time Traveller." Since first getting together in 1998 to harmonize favorite tunes with each other, the group took the name Stella in 2000 and began to perform publicly in venues such as the NC Museum of Art, Festival for the Eno, Artsplosure, Light Up Durham and Black Mountain, NC's LEAF Festival. Possibly because of this, their sound as a group has taken a huge leap forward—every cut on "Different Skies" is a richly harmonic delight!
2361 CD 14.95
Listen to "I'll Never Leave You Baby
Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM
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