I have always wondered what it would sound like if Rush covered a Who song, or a Cream song, or a Led Zeppelin song. Well, while there is no Zeppelin (maybe they still wince at being called 'Led Zeppelin Junior' back in the '70's?) there is a Who track ("The Seeker") and a Cream track ("Crossroads"). Both of these renditions are good and it is obvious that Rush wanted to show their respect for the songs by sticking fairly close to the originals. Other standouts are the Blue Cheer version of "Summertime Blues" (although the missing lines are a bit distracting for those who know this song from the original or from the Who version), "Seven and Seven Is"… Read more
I was introduced to this amazing folk / rock outfit from Sweden via their video for Vänner Och Fränder and I was immediately struck by their pensiveness, instrumentation, and Emma's voice. So I bought the album and was not disappointed by all the other great material found here. Garmarna manage to take ages-old ballads and breath a new life into them without losing their feeling of ancient realms from long ago. You don't have to know Swedish, and forget all the stereotypes associated with the culture -- this is more Valhalla than ABBA. The dark brooding arrangement on Vänner Och Fränder conjures up visions of rhythmic Viking rowers. Other highpoints are the… Read more
Again, New Line and Peter Jackson have given generously to the fans with this extended DVD collection that, as the extended Fellowship of the Ring collection did, betters the theatrical release by miles. Additional scenes, more great and interesting bonus material, along with a great film, add up to a worthy purchase for fans. You definitely get your money's worth. Sure it is long, but its Lord of the Rings and Jackson's epic vision make you want to leap into the film and stay as long as you can. As for the film itself, it is not as good as the first -- this one is the least like the book and that can be bothersome to many of the purists out there, especially concerning Faramir; also,… Read more
