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Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

If the commercial constraints of genre and chronic Hollywood sequelitis threaten to musically straitjacket even a legend like John Williams, the veteran playfully rebuffs such cynicism in his rich, mirthful score for this third chapter of the Harry Potter cycle. Whether inspired by a willful desire not to repeat himself, the continued reinvention of his jazz roots that brightened his scores for Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal, or the story's requirement for a handful of fresh themes, Williams informs his work here with an often dizzying range. The warm mysticism of "Hedwig's Theme" and classical farrago of "Aunt Marge's Waltz" can scarcely prepare one for the swinging, off-kilter "Knight Bus," a romp that suggests a head-on collision between the big-band bombast of1941 and the loopy, Cantina Band kitsch of Star Wars. From there Williams skips back a half-millennium or so for inspiration, conjuring the ancient children's chorus "Double Trouble" (its text adapted from no less than MacBeth), a medieval theme that becomes one of the score's inspirational foundations. Those with a taste for the composer's patent orchestral thunder won't be disappointed either, as the Herrmann-influenced percussion/brass bombast of "Buckbeat's Flight" and "The Whomping Willow.." attest with rousing zeal. It's arguably Williams' best Potter score to date, a soundtrack whose inspirations sprawl across six centuries -- and as many disparate musical styles. Enhanced CD features include a photo gallery and exclusive computer wallpaper and screensaver files. -- Jerry McCulley

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Futures

Enhanced;

Soundtrack;

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Customer Review:

Casting A Spell

I really enjoy this sound track. I would like to have all three of them one day but right now I just have the third one. However, I can't really complain. I personally think that it suits the book very well and of course the movie.

HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie soundtrack review

I really loved this soundtrack. It made me think of parts of the movie,and it all sounded so magical, the way Harry Potter should be! My personal favorites were; A Window to the Past, The Knight Bus, and Buckbeaks Flight.BUY THIS SOUNDTRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dark, Relaxing, and Exciting-all in one!

This CD is awesome to anyone, not just to HP fans like me. "The Sorceror's Stone Soundtrack" is nothing compared to this. "A Window to the Past" and "Lumos!" is relaxing. "Buckbeak's Flight" and many others are Exciting, and they're all dark and deep. I love this Soundtrack, 5 stars, definetly!

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Keywords: Film; Film Music; Original Score; Pop; Soundtrack; Soundtracks & Film Scores;

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Barrio Fino

Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee balances dance music with philosophical tunes on this 21-track CD. The engine driving this collection is the smash single "Gasolina," with its basic reggae beat and its catchy chorus "Dame mas gasolina!" ("Give me more gasoline"). Also highly danceable are "No me Dejes Solo," featuring guest singers Wisin y Yandel, and the English-language pop-reggaeton tune "Like You." But Daddy Yankee also reflects on his barrio on "Salud y Vida" ("Health and Life"), a rap tune that questions society's endless pursuit of material things. Like fellow raggeton artists Tego Calderon, Daddy Yankee admires big-band salsa. Among his influences he counts noted singer Andy Montanez, who guests on the track "Sabor a Melao." Montanez's distinctive gruff vocals add a soulful flavor to the track. --Ramiro Burr

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Customer Review:

an energy boost!

About the album well is amazing isn't the best album of reggaeton, but isn't the worst, THIS IS THE ALBUM that make a place for reggaeton in the world. "lo que paso paso" "Gasolina" "Corazones" "Salud y vida" the man is amazing.

About reggaeton for the people that don't know anything and spoke a lot of s**t about, well let me tell u this is the heart of the people of the ghetto in Puerto Rico, is the mix of the sounds of our latin culture, reggaeton is DANCE isn't about social problems, that's why u listen salud y vida or corazones = HIP HOP and not reggaeton, the topic of the sex is in all kind of latin music, when I wanna listen a good album of hip hop talking about social problems I listen 79 but when I Wanna enjoy a good time with my girl in the disco I listen Da-ddy Yan-KEEE! About the song Gasolina of course is stupid, but man the music, the chorus, IS AMAZING who cares about the lyric of this song or everyone was talking trash about the vengaboys for the stupid song "UP N DOWN" in the 90's, these are songs created with one objective "Dance" another question about the new latin movement? Reggaeton isn't reggae isn't HIP HOP so don't try to judge the movement, just enjoy it.

Hot Daddy Yankee

i love his cd barrio fino it is the bom my favorite song on is "no me dejes solo" and he is so hot i say my self i might be able to go to one of his concerts some day and get his autograph.

This Man Is So Fine.

I went to a concert of his,and i couldn`t keep my eyes oh him, and his music is catchy and club banging.
You should tottaly buy this,along with don omar`s cd totally tight.

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Keywords: Latin; Latin Pop/Rock; Reggae; Reggaeton;

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Inner Peace

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Customer Review:

Outstanding Introduction To Mehdi !

I've always enjoyed Steven Halpern and this album is no exception, but while reading some of the customer recommendations posted on this page I discovered a group by the name of Mehdi (pronounced meddie). After an online search I found their site (SoothingMusic,Com) and listened to the samples...
I was instantly blown away by the quality of this music and so I gave it a try and now that I have listened to these CDs several times I really must say that although I'm still a Steven Halpern fan I find Mehdi to be a great addition to this CD. I have them both in my multi-disc CD player and love the way they compliment each other. I highly recommend that you give this artist a try or atleast just go listen to the samples, I have a feeling you'll be glad you did.

Completely Mystical....

I LOVE this type of 'escaping reality' music! I'm a writer of fantasy -- the mystical type, and this BEAUTIFUL music is just what I need to journey there... into the magic... into the otherworldly realms of my heart...

Dream Time.....

After listening to many albums in this genre-it is AMAZING to find one that stands out among all the others. This is a masterpiece for those wishing to calm the inner man. I just know that after listening to this-the world does seem to slow down a bit!!!!!! Relax-and ddddrrreeeaaammmmm

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Keywords: New Age; New Age / Meditation; Pop;

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The Understanding

In 2002, the Norwegian duo of Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland found a sweet spot between wispy Moon Safari-style pop and Boards of Canada-like atmospherics on the widely-admired Melody A.M. The Understanding sounds relatively absent-minded, careening around the room like a panicky fly. Some of it works well; the bouncy "Only This Moment" resembles Fischerspooner at their silliest (and thus, most fun), while "49 Percent" gets a huge lift from a New Jack vocal courtesy of Chelonis R. Jones. But the record is too often thwarted by syrupy synth-pop ("Follow My Ruin") as well as the lack of shifty downtempo rhythms and avant-garde underpinnings that kept Melody so pleasantly grounded. They haven’t lost their knack for subtle hooks and well-placed cross-rhythms, like the slippery keyboard squibble that glides its way into "What Else Is There?" But the sophomore curse is hard to overcome, and though there’s plenty here to recommend, Berge and Brundtland aren’t able to break the spell. –Matthew Cooke

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Futures

Limited Edition;

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Customer Review:

Pure Norwegian Bliss... Get the "repeat" button ready!

I originally heard of the Norwegian group Royksopp when visiting Amsterdam. I had MTV Europe on in my hotel room (MTV Europe actually still plays music, what a concept!) and I saw the video for "Poor Leno" and was instantly hooked. Of course, when you hear a song so instantly infectious to your ears, you think, how the heck can they possibly follow this up?

The answer is "The Understanding," an absolute gem of a disc that builds on the bands beginnings and takes their music one step beyond, creating swirling cinematic melodies coupled with beautiful, emotive, yet understated vocals. The first single and video, "Only This Moment" is sublime. (Be sure to check out the video online at the Astralwerks website.) The song is plaintive, emotional, melancholy, and at the same time "funky", albeit in a Norwegian Electronica sort of way.

I have had this disc for two weeks and it has yet to leave my CD player. Call it electronica, dance, downtempo,or whatever you like... this music is gorgeous and cinematic. Music based in electronica can sometimes be cold and inaccessible, but Royksopp know how to put emotion in their music. Royksopp's music is rather hard to categorize... Let's call it "Norwegian Bliss".

Note: The limited edition 2CD set is worth the extra few dollars! It includes bonus tracks, mainly instrumental, unavailable elsewhere.

The understanding of why different could be mediocre

Fist of all, Royksopp's newest album "The Understanding", does not suck by any means. It is a great album that shows the musical duo's depth. It also shows their ability to evolve and make a sound that is entirely unique (just like with their first album.)But just like with evolution, there is always something that gets left behind. In the case of The Understanding, it seems as though the older, raw, retro-synthish, old-skool electro-popish Royksopp that we all came to love so much, grew up and matured into something that we arent sure how to deal with. Maybe I will learn to love the new evolved Royksopp as much as the old one, hopefully. But I dont think I could ever give up those days of listening to Melody A.M. on vinyl,,,,,,,ahhhh how nostalgic! But hey, dont think that the new album is not worth picking up, any true Royksopp fan needs it....So check it out, and maybe you will see that I was wrong!

Excellent, but unexpected

The Melody A.M. album is one of my all-time favorites. Something about it transcends any particular genre, and I find that I can listen to it in the company of other electronic music, pop, world, classical or jazz and it just feels... at home.

The Understanding is an entirely different story. While some tracks sound "characteristically Röyksopp," many sound like they're by a different duo altogether. That's not to say the album isn't fantastic, but the sound wasn't quite what I was expecting. I agree with those who label this album as a little more "pop" or a little more "dance" than the "electronic" label of Melody.

The bonus tracks are interesting, but not really all that exciting (at least after listening to them all twice through). Choosing between this and the standard album (with its more appropriate CD-insert booklet) should be the hardest part for you. Definitely pick this up.

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Keywords: Ambient Breakbeat; Club/Dance; Dance; Dance Music; Downbeat; Euro-Dance; Pop; Trip-Hop;

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