Comments for City Bongo http://citybongo.com Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:56:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Capturing the Magic of Children in Your Paintings by Jennifer Follis http://citybongo.com/capturing-the-magic-of-children-in-your-paintings/comment-page-1/#comment-8395 Jennifer Follis Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:56:57 +0000 http://citybongo.com/capturing-the-magic-of-children-in-your-paintings/#comment-8395 Although the cover of this book didn't excite me, the artwork and information inside certainly did. Jessica Zemsky focusses mainly on gouache paintings, but also has a sufficient sample of watercolor, pencil, oil, and pastel work. I especially love the poses she uses for the children's portraits. They are full of life and much different from the traditional "posed" look. The book is full of great ideas, from the expressive color of her gouache and oil painting to the sensitivity and softness of her pencil and pastel work. She includes color recipes for mixing various colors, using combinations you would not normally think of. This is a wonderfully inspirational book for those wishing to paint children. Rated 5 / 5 Although the cover of this book didn’t excite me, the artwork and information inside certainly did. Jessica Zemsky focusses mainly on gouache paintings, but also has a sufficient sample of watercolor, pencil, oil, and pastel work. I especially love the poses she uses for the children’s portraits. They are full of life and much different from the traditional “posed” look. The book is full of great ideas, from the expressive color of her gouache and oil painting to the sensitivity and softness of her pencil and pastel work. She includes color recipes for mixing various colors, using combinations you would not normally think of. This is a wonderfully inspirational book for those wishing to paint children.
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Capturing the Magic of Children in Your Paintings by C. Anderson http://citybongo.com/capturing-the-magic-of-children-in-your-paintings/comment-page-1/#comment-8394 C. Anderson Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:00:44 +0000 http://citybongo.com/capturing-the-magic-of-children-in-your-paintings/#comment-8394 I am not an artist, just a collecter of Jessica Zemsky's paintings. I bought the book to have on the coffee table, several of my paintings are in her illustrations. It is a fine book for my purpose. Rated 3 / 5 I am not an artist, just a collecter of Jessica Zemsky’s paintings. I bought the book to have on the coffee table, several of my paintings are in her illustrations. It is a fine book for my purpose.
Rated 3 / 5

]]> Comment on The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English by Anonymous http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-8392 Anonymous Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:02:54 +0000 http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/#comment-8392 I found this compendium of review and comment to be highly inconsistent in quality and analysis from entry to entry. Although I was glad to see that Annie Fellows Johnston's Little Colonel series was included, the series is not given its due as a contributing element to literary works for girls at the turn of the 1900s. Aileen Fisher and Kitty Barne also receive less coverage and analysis than they deserve. Ironically, there is a long section under "n" devoted to "neglected works"! This is a higgledy-piggledy catchall section in a book that should devote more attention to many of the writers listed in that entry. A huge amount of ink is devoted to a long and rambling section called "publishers and publishing"; another long segment is called "information books." Obviously no encyclopedia of children's literature can include everyone's favorite author or aspect of the field. This book, however, needs tightening and recasting in the next go-round. Rated 3 / 5 I found this compendium of review and comment to be highly inconsistent in quality and analysis from entry to entry. Although I was glad to see that Annie Fellows Johnston’s Little Colonel series was included, the series is not given its due as a contributing element to literary works for girls at the turn of the 1900s. Aileen Fisher and Kitty Barne also receive less coverage and analysis than they deserve. Ironically, there is a long section under “n” devoted to “neglected works”! This is a higgledy-piggledy catchall section in a book that should devote more attention to many of the writers listed in that entry. A huge amount of ink is devoted to a long and rambling section called “publishers and publishing”; another long segment is called “information books.” Obviously no encyclopedia of children’s literature can include everyone’s favorite author or aspect of the field. This book, however, needs tightening and recasting in the next go-round.
Rated 3 / 5

]]> Comment on The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English by Kim Velk http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-8391 Kim Velk Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:54:15 +0000 http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/#comment-8391 I bought this book just before Christmas hoping to learn a little about a English illustrator and children's book writer called Gladys Peto, whose work I collect in a small way. She escaped Mr. Watson's detection or didn't make the cut. I next checked on another personal favorite, illustrator Margaret Evans Price. Again, among the missing. I turned to the article on Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House Books", and was put off by the spelenetic tone and politically correct pretensions I found there, e.g.: "These are mostly moral tales for children but they also establish a clear picture of male dominance." The cold hand (heart?) of academe governs this book. (It must be hard to be the children's lit. guy at the Faculty Club where Stephen Hawking and his ilk have lunch...)<br>That said, I have enjoyed reading this book and learned much that I did not know. My little collecting activities have been better informed and I have made frequent use of the book as a reference tool. It has helped and will help me make informed choices of good books for my two small children, which was the other thing I was hoping for when I laid out my... Rated 4 / 5 I bought this book just before Christmas hoping to learn a little about a English illustrator and children’s book writer called Gladys Peto, whose work I collect in a small way. She escaped Mr. Watson’s detection or didn’t make the cut. I next checked on another personal favorite, illustrator Margaret Evans Price. Again, among the missing. I turned to the article on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House Books”, and was put off by the spelenetic tone and politically correct pretensions I found there, e.g.: “These are mostly moral tales for children but they also establish a clear picture of male dominance.” The cold hand (heart?) of academe governs this book. (It must be hard to be the children’s lit. guy at the Faculty Club where Stephen Hawking and his ilk have lunch…)
That said, I have enjoyed reading this book and learned much that I did not know. My little collecting activities have been better informed and I have made frequent use of the book as a reference tool. It has helped and will help me make informed choices of good books for my two small children, which was the other thing I was hoping for when I laid out my…
Rated 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Her Wish-List Bridegroom by Louisiana Lady http://citybongo.com/her-wish-list-bridegroom/comment-page-1/#comment-8393 Louisiana Lady Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:48:10 +0000 http://citybongo.com/her-wish-list-bridegroom/#comment-8393 Book Description: THE GUY SHE'D ALWAYS HAD A CRUSH ON...Yes, throwing champagne over her lowlife boyfriend -- and boss -- had proved rather career limiting. She'd been fired! So having sworn off men for good, Juliet was headed back to her mom's house to start again -- only to bump into her childhood crush ... Gregor McLeod. Greg had been number one on Juliet's wish-list as a future husband-to-be since she was a little girl. And he's still gorgeous, sexy, charming, and flirtatious. So what's to stop her? She's sworn off men, remember? (She's forgotten!) He's got a few secrets of his own... <br /> <br />I liked the book, found the basis for the story good, but would have liked it more if I liked the heroine. I found Juliet more than a little irritating, not very likable, and found myself wondering why Gregor even bothered. Rated 4 / 5 Book Description: THE GUY SHE’D ALWAYS HAD A CRUSH ON…Yes, throwing champagne over her lowlife boyfriend — and boss — had proved rather career limiting. She’d been fired! So having sworn off men for good, Juliet was headed back to her mom’s house to start again — only to bump into her childhood crush … Gregor McLeod. Greg had been number one on Juliet’s wish-list as a future husband-to-be since she was a little girl. And he’s still gorgeous, sexy, charming, and flirtatious. So what’s to stop her? She’s sworn off men, remember? (She’s forgotten!) He’s got a few secrets of his own…

I liked the book, found the basis for the story good, but would have liked it more if I liked the heroine. I found Juliet more than a little irritating, not very likable, and found myself wondering why Gregor even bothered.
Rated 4 / 5

]]> Comment on The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English by Anonymous http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-8390 Anonymous Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:05:51 +0000 http://citybongo.com/the-cambridge-guide-to-childrens-books-in-english/#comment-8390 This book has a lot of information but not in a very accessible format. It is not easy to read or use. Rated 2 / 5 This book has a lot of information but not in a very accessible format. It is not easy to read or use.
Rated 2 / 5

]]> Comment on Literature Connections to American History K6: Resources to Enhance and Entice by Anonymous http://citybongo.com/literature-connections-to-american-history-k6-resources-to-enhance-and-entice/comment-page-1/#comment-8389 Anonymous Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:38:33 +0000 http://citybongo.com/literature-connections-to-american-history-k6-resources-to-enhance-and-entice/#comment-8389 I love this book. I am homeschooling and find this to be one of my very favorite resource books. It is organized by historical period and then by grade level. I have found that using literature to teach history really brings it alive for my daughter. Rated 5 / 5 I love this book. I am homeschooling and find this to be one of my very favorite resource books. It is organized by historical period and then by grade level. I have found that using literature to teach history really brings it alive for my daughter.
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Santa’s Great Book by Anonymous http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/comment-page-1/#comment-8388 Anonymous Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:26:13 +0000 http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/#comment-8388 This is one of my favorite cross-stitch books. I have already stitched 3 of the Santas from it and hope to eventually stitch them all. The photography is excellent and the charts are very well done. Along with each photo is some history about the various renderings of Santa. It is a great book for stitchers and Santa collectors alike!!! Rated 5 / 5 This is one of my favorite cross-stitch books. I have already stitched 3 of the Santas from it and hope to eventually stitch them all. The photography is excellent and the charts are very well done. Along with each photo is some history about the various renderings of Santa. It is a great book for stitchers and Santa collectors alike!!!
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on At Grave’s End by Gina Wagner Sacher http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/comment-page-1/#comment-8383 Gina Wagner Sacher Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:55:19 +0000 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/#comment-8383 Loved this book just as much as the first two. Can't wait for the next one. If you haven't started the series you need to. Rated 5 / 5 Loved this book just as much as the first two. Can’t wait for the next one. If you haven’t started the series you need to.
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Santa’s Great Book by CASAGRANDE Mireille (mircasagra@wanadoo.fr) http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/comment-page-1/#comment-8387 CASAGRANDE Mireille (mircasagra@wanadoo.fr) Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:43:58 +0000 http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/#comment-8387 Great book for all the cross-stisches crazy, like me. Sorry for my englis Rated 5 / 5 Great book for all the cross-stisches crazy, like me. Sorry for my englis
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Santa’s Great Book by morgan burke http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/comment-page-1/#comment-8386 morgan burke Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:12:49 +0000 http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/#comment-8386 This is, so far, the best collection of Santas and Father Christmases I have yet encountered. The charts are color coded, and there are a great variety of designs. This is perfect for someone who knows a collector of all that is Father Christmas! I have even kept several to display myself. Rated 5 / 5 This is, so far, the best collection of Santas and Father Christmases I have yet encountered. The charts are color coded, and there are a great variety of designs. This is perfect for someone who knows a collector of all that is Father Christmas! I have even kept several to display myself.
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on At Grave’s End by Angel19 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/comment-page-1/#comment-8382 Angel19 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:02:37 +0000 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/#comment-8382 You know when an author starts throwing in Dracula and zombies that they are scraping the barrel. And so it is here. Frost appears to be going down the path of Anne Rice. The character dynamic between her heroine Cat and Bones left me completely cold. Mencheres just isn't convincing in his all-knowing but can't fix my problems characterization. And Patra is completely underdeveloped. A slew of ancillary characters can't make up for the deficiencies. Rated 1 / 5 You know when an author starts throwing in Dracula and zombies that they are scraping the barrel. And so it is here. Frost appears to be going down the path of Anne Rice. The character dynamic between her heroine Cat and Bones left me completely cold. Mencheres just isn’t convincing in his all-knowing but can’t fix my problems characterization. And Patra is completely underdeveloped. A slew of ancillary characters can’t make up for the deficiencies.
Rated 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Santa’s Great Book by Carolina Lugo http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/comment-page-1/#comment-8385 Carolina Lugo Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:42:33 +0000 http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/#comment-8385 This is a great santa collection, the charts are in full color, very easy to read. <br /> <br />You should to have it! Rated 5 / 5 This is a great santa collection, the charts are in full color, very easy to read.

You should to have it!
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Santa’s Great Book by Candace L. Chadwick http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/comment-page-1/#comment-8384 Candace L. Chadwick Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:58:15 +0000 http://citybongo.com/santas-great-book/#comment-8384 This book has many lovely charts. Will take me a lifetime to do, but looking forward to trying. Rated 5 / 5 This book has many lovely charts. Will take me a lifetime to do, but looking forward to trying.
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Sensory Lullabies: The Ultimate Tribute to Jellyfish by James R. Marrs http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/comment-page-1/#comment-8378 James R. Marrs Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:42:09 +0000 http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/#comment-8378 In my opinion Bellybutton is far better than Spilt Milk. Spilt Milk was a bit circusy for my taste. However, there were a few tracks that were ok. <br /> <br />My review is on the tribute part of Bellybutton. <br /> <br />FREAKIN GREAT! <br /> <br />Got it last night and have listened to it more than 10 times since. <br /> <br />"Bedspring Kiss" is my favorite. <br /> <br />The beginning of "She Still Loves Him" is unique. Like what that artist did on that. <br /> <br />"I Wanna Stay Home," musically, is great. Vocally, quite weak. <br /> <br />"Now She Knows She's Wrong" is the disappointing track for me. Missed the point and sounds too much like Queen. <br /> <br />Next, I will dedicate an entire day to disc 2... <br /> <br />Overall, dang glad I ordered this! Thanks to all who contributed. <br /> <br /> Rated 5 / 5 In my opinion Bellybutton is far better than Spilt Milk. Spilt Milk was a bit circusy for my taste. However, there were a few tracks that were ok.

My review is on the tribute part of Bellybutton.

FREAKIN GREAT!

Got it last night and have listened to it more than 10 times since.

“Bedspring Kiss” is my favorite.

The beginning of “She Still Loves Him” is unique. Like what that artist did on that.

“I Wanna Stay Home,” musically, is great. Vocally, quite weak.

“Now She Knows She’s Wrong” is the disappointing track for me. Missed the point and sounds too much like Queen.

Next, I will dedicate an entire day to disc 2…

Overall, dang glad I ordered this! Thanks to all who contributed.

Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on At Grave’s End by yogarttime http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/comment-page-1/#comment-8381 yogarttime Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:01:18 +0000 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/#comment-8381 I brought the set of three based on the reviews - NEVER AGAIN. I adore the following authors - Kresley Coles, Karen Chance, Patricia Briggs, JR Ward, Gena Showalter, Charlaine Harris. I thought I'd come across another good book - boy was I wrong. These are awful. Cat is so immature, she's like a badly behaved teenager. These are the type of books I'd imagine a teenager writing, Cat seems to have tantrums, she's very childish, she's like a adolescent who whines none stop. Bones, what on earth is she doing with his accent??? And Tate, yes, we get it, he loves Cat, but please, done it to death now, it's boring. I get the feeling that the author is fairly young and is imagining how someone who is suppose to be in their late twenties would feel, but they're not getting it, and she's still coming across like a spoilt baby teenager. Cat is not likeable at all. Honestly, if you're after a good book read the authors I've listed, they rock!! Rated 1 / 5 I brought the set of three based on the reviews – NEVER AGAIN. I adore the following authors – Kresley Coles, Karen Chance, Patricia Briggs, JR Ward, Gena Showalter, Charlaine Harris. I thought I’d come across another good book – boy was I wrong. These are awful. Cat is so immature, she’s like a badly behaved teenager. These are the type of books I’d imagine a teenager writing, Cat seems to have tantrums, she’s very childish, she’s like a adolescent who whines none stop. Bones, what on earth is she doing with his accent??? And Tate, yes, we get it, he loves Cat, but please, done it to death now, it’s boring. I get the feeling that the author is fairly young and is imagining how someone who is suppose to be in their late twenties would feel, but they’re not getting it, and she’s still coming across like a spoilt baby teenager. Cat is not likeable at all. Honestly, if you’re after a good book read the authors I’ve listed, they rock!!
Rated 1 / 5

]]> Comment on At Grave’s End by Hap http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/comment-page-1/#comment-8380 Hap Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:22:00 +0000 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/#comment-8380 What can I say about Jeaniene that hasn't already been written? She's a genius and her Night Huntress books are amazing! <br /> <br />Yet again, she has written an exciting, attention-grabbing, page-turning, Bones-fulfilling, leave-you-wanting-more diary of someone most of us dream of being!! <br /> <br />Anyone who can coerce you into laughing out loud, crying, and can spike your heartbeat with anger all in one sitting has my loyalty as a fan! Rated 5 / 5 What can I say about Jeaniene that hasn’t already been written? She’s a genius and her Night Huntress books are amazing!

Yet again, she has written an exciting, attention-grabbing, page-turning, Bones-fulfilling, leave-you-wanting-more diary of someone most of us dream of being!!

Anyone who can coerce you into laughing out loud, crying, and can spike your heartbeat with anger all in one sitting has my loyalty as a fan!
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Sensory Lullabies: The Ultimate Tribute to Jellyfish by Rand Hall http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/comment-page-1/#comment-8377 Rand Hall Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:30:01 +0000 http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/#comment-8377 I'm a young guy who's absolutely loved both Bellybutton and Spilt Milk ever since I first heard them... eight years after Jellyfish broke up. (I wish I'd loved them before fate crashed their car, naturally.) As for whether this tribute album applies salve or salt to that old wound, read on for my track-by-track review. <br /> <br />***** <br /> <br />The Ultimate Tribute to Bellybutton <br /> <br />The Man I Used To Be - AmeriTrash <br />5/5 - Punctual guitar and earnest vocals. Faithful, yet more than just a cover. <br /> <br />That Is Why - Sextus <br />3/5 - Mediocre vocals electronically tweaked. Gloomy instead of vulnerable. <br /> <br />The King Is Half Undressed - Fredmusic <br />4/5 - A solid but unimaginative cover. And somehow, 90 seconds too long. <br /> <br />I Wanna Stay Home - DC Cardwell <br />4/5 - All-around outstanding instrumentally. Vocally, however, quite weak. <br /> <br />She Still Loves Him - Mike Elgert <br />4/5 - Another solid but unimaginative cover. Lyrics indifferently delivered. <br /> <br />All I Want Is Everything - Millicent Friendly <br />5/5 - Explosive guitar and rich vocals. Again, faithful, yet not merely a cover. <br /> <br />Now She Knows She's Wrong - LoveDrive <br />4/5 - What a Jason Falkner solo re-make would sound like. Rock over pop. <br /> <br />Bedspring Kiss - Nigel Frayling-Kelly <br />5/5 - Quite simply better than the original. An impossibly well-crafted gem. <br /> <br />Baby's Coming Back - Wayne Cabral <br />4/5 - Crisp percussion has been replaced by non-stop guitar. A real toss-up. <br /> <br />Calling Sarah - Ken Morrison <br />3/5 - A boring cover. Mediocre vocals and a 30-second fade-out don't help. <br /> <br />*** <br /> <br />Verdict on Bellybutton <br />4/5 - This first tribute is consistently above-average, but rarely spectacular. <br /> <br />***** <br /> <br />The Ultimate Tribute to Spilt Milk <br /> <br />Hush - Readymade Breakup <br />5/5 - A louder, all-around bigger lullaby that still works. Handsome vocals! <br /> <br />Joining A Fan Club - threads <br />5/5 - Truly electrifying and truly heartbreaking. Lyrics now decipherable! <br /> <br />Sebrina, Paste and Plato - Rockosaurus Rex <br />1/5 - Unrecognizable but for the lyrics. Foreboding and downright terrible. <br /> <br />New Mistake - PoP Is ArT (with Derek Chafin) <br />5/5 - Intermission gave way to a miracle: my favorite song smartly revised! <br /> <br />The Glutton Of Sympathy - Enfadados <br />3/5 - A solid but unimaginative cover. One point off for the Spanish accent. <br /> <br />The Ghost At Number One - Black Sugar Transmission <br />4/5 - An angsty punk pop rendition. Female backing vocals a nice surprise. <br /> <br />Bye, Bye, Bye - The Celebrities <br />4/5 - Quirky pop polka now quirky pop rock instead. Ending doesn't satisfy. <br /> <br />All Is Forgiven - The Gluttons Of Symphony <br />2/5 - A song demanding multiple voices sung by a single mediocre vocalist. <br /> <br />Russian Hill - Robert Baird <br />5/5 - Spoken word samples. Bursts of saxophone. So many clever additions! <br /> <br />He's My Best Friend - Benj Clarke and Bill Brandenburgh <br />1/5 - Vocalist sounds like a drunk hick, even flubbing the lyrics. God-awful. <br /> <br />Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Dave Stephens <br />2/5 - Truly uninspired. Mediocre vocals have an unwelcome country flavor. <br /> <br />Brighter Day - Brand New Machine <br />3/5 - A solid but unimaginative cover. No charismatic ringmaster delivery?! <br /> <br />*** <br /> <br />Verdict on Spilt Milk <br />4/5 - This second tribute has almost as many awful tracks as awesome ones. <br /> <br />***** <br /> <br />Out of all the bonus tracks, Ignorance Is Bliss is the only one I feel qualified to review against the original, which I've listened to a fair number of times thanks to my unhealthy appetite for video game tribute songs in general. <br /> <br />Ignorance Is Bliss - Loveshine <br />5/5 - Perfect vocals and effects alike. A labor of love outshines its inspiration! <br /> <br />***** <br /> <br />And here are reviews for the two tracks exclusive to Hello!: A Tribute to Jellyfish. <br />(Sold separately!) <br /> <br />Bedspring Kiss - Tommi Zender <br />4/5 - Nearly a lounge rendition. Competent, but disappointing after Frayling-Kelly's. <br /> <br />The Glutton of Sympathy - Edison Gower <br />3/5 - One last solid but unimaginative cover. A point off just for the church organ. <br /> <br />***** <br /> <br />Final Verdict <br />5/5 - Four times four, divided by two, equals five? Believe it or not: yes! Considering that you get another dozen bonus tracks that I didn't even review here, and considering that you can direct-download both entire albums plus both tracks exclusive to Hello! for just under $20 total, there's simply no reason not to go for it! Rated 5 / 5 I’m a young guy who’s absolutely loved both Bellybutton and Spilt Milk ever since I first heard them… eight years after Jellyfish broke up. (I wish I’d loved them before fate crashed their car, naturally.) As for whether this tribute album applies salve or salt to that old wound, read on for my track-by-track review.

*****

The Ultimate Tribute to Bellybutton

The Man I Used To Be – AmeriTrash

5/5 – Punctual guitar and earnest vocals. Faithful, yet more than just a cover.

That Is Why – Sextus

3/5 – Mediocre vocals electronically tweaked. Gloomy instead of vulnerable.

The King Is Half Undressed – Fredmusic

4/5 – A solid but unimaginative cover. And somehow, 90 seconds too long.

I Wanna Stay Home – DC Cardwell

4/5 – All-around outstanding instrumentally. Vocally, however, quite weak.

She Still Loves Him – Mike Elgert

4/5 – Another solid but unimaginative cover. Lyrics indifferently delivered.

All I Want Is Everything – Millicent Friendly

5/5 – Explosive guitar and rich vocals. Again, faithful, yet not merely a cover.

Now She Knows She’s Wrong – LoveDrive

4/5 – What a Jason Falkner solo re-make would sound like. Rock over pop.

Bedspring Kiss – Nigel Frayling-Kelly

5/5 – Quite simply better than the original. An impossibly well-crafted gem.

Baby’s Coming Back – Wayne Cabral

4/5 – Crisp percussion has been replaced by non-stop guitar. A real toss-up.

Calling Sarah – Ken Morrison

3/5 – A boring cover. Mediocre vocals and a 30-second fade-out don’t help.

***

Verdict on Bellybutton

4/5 – This first tribute is consistently above-average, but rarely spectacular.

*****

The Ultimate Tribute to Spilt Milk

Hush – Readymade Breakup

5/5 – A louder, all-around bigger lullaby that still works. Handsome vocals!

Joining A Fan Club – threads

5/5 – Truly electrifying and truly heartbreaking. Lyrics now decipherable!

Sebrina, Paste and Plato – Rockosaurus Rex

1/5 – Unrecognizable but for the lyrics. Foreboding and downright terrible.

New Mistake – PoP Is ArT (with Derek Chafin)

5/5 – Intermission gave way to a miracle: my favorite song smartly revised!

The Glutton Of Sympathy – Enfadados

3/5 – A solid but unimaginative cover. One point off for the Spanish accent.

The Ghost At Number One – Black Sugar Transmission

4/5 – An angsty punk pop rendition. Female backing vocals a nice surprise.

Bye, Bye, Bye – The Celebrities

4/5 – Quirky pop polka now quirky pop rock instead. Ending doesn’t satisfy.

All Is Forgiven – The Gluttons Of Symphony

2/5 – A song demanding multiple voices sung by a single mediocre vocalist.

Russian Hill – Robert Baird

5/5 – Spoken word samples. Bursts of saxophone. So many clever additions!

He’s My Best Friend – Benj Clarke and Bill Brandenburgh

1/5 – Vocalist sounds like a drunk hick, even flubbing the lyrics. God-awful.

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late – Dave Stephens

2/5 – Truly uninspired. Mediocre vocals have an unwelcome country flavor.

Brighter Day – Brand New Machine

3/5 – A solid but unimaginative cover. No charismatic ringmaster delivery?!

***

Verdict on Spilt Milk

4/5 – This second tribute has almost as many awful tracks as awesome ones.

*****

Out of all the bonus tracks, Ignorance Is Bliss is the only one I feel qualified to review against the original, which I’ve listened to a fair number of times thanks to my unhealthy appetite for video game tribute songs in general.

Ignorance Is Bliss – Loveshine

5/5 – Perfect vocals and effects alike. A labor of love outshines its inspiration!

*****

And here are reviews for the two tracks exclusive to Hello!: A Tribute to Jellyfish.

(Sold separately!)

Bedspring Kiss – Tommi Zender

4/5 – Nearly a lounge rendition. Competent, but disappointing after Frayling-Kelly’s.

The Glutton of Sympathy – Edison Gower

3/5 – One last solid but unimaginative cover. A point off just for the church organ.

*****

Final Verdict

5/5 – Four times four, divided by two, equals five? Believe it or not: yes! Considering that you get another dozen bonus tracks that I didn’t even review here, and considering that you can direct-download both entire albums plus both tracks exclusive to Hello! for just under $20 total, there’s simply no reason not to go for it!
Rated 5 / 5

]]> Comment on At Grave’s End by babs http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/comment-page-1/#comment-8379 babs Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:39:21 +0000 http://citybongo.com/at-graves-end/#comment-8379 OMG you guys what's up with our (once) favorite authors and series? Frost, Cole, Kenyon, Kleypass, Moning, Roberts (and a few others) seem to have taken the easy way out and have gone l-a-z-y with their work. I for one am starting to get tired of paying full price ($8.00 a pop mind you) for books half the size, large font, and with an embarrassing amount of copying and pasting... <br /> I guess the only way we're going to get our great reads back are to quit buying these so-called "next installments" and go to the library or our local discount bookstores. And maybe just maybe these greats will get back to work! Am I bitter? YES! Am I the only person who feels like this? I doubt it! I miss getting lost in a book, but most of all I miss getting what I pay for... So for now I've found some great "new" authors that are still having to work for their paychecks and those are the books I'm going to be paying full price for for now on. Rated 1 / 5 OMG you guys what’s up with our (once) favorite authors and series? Frost, Cole, Kenyon, Kleypass, Moning, Roberts (and a few others) seem to have taken the easy way out and have gone l-a-z-y with their work. I for one am starting to get tired of paying full price ($8.00 a pop mind you) for books half the size, large font, and with an embarrassing amount of copying and pasting…

I guess the only way we’re going to get our great reads back are to quit buying these so-called “next installments” and go to the library or our local discount bookstores. And maybe just maybe these greats will get back to work! Am I bitter? YES! Am I the only person who feels like this? I doubt it! I miss getting lost in a book, but most of all I miss getting what I pay for… So for now I’ve found some great “new” authors that are still having to work for their paychecks and those are the books I’m going to be paying full price for for now on.
Rated 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Sensory Lullabies: The Ultimate Tribute to Jellyfish by Daniel J. Cohen http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/comment-page-1/#comment-8376 Daniel J. Cohen Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:11:51 +0000 http://citybongo.com/sensory-lullabies-the-ultimate-tribute-to-jellyfish/#comment-8376 Bellybutton and Split Milk are both classic albums and the muscians who have created this tribute to Jellyfish and those two albums have done a great job. Rated 5 / 5 Bellybutton and Split Milk are both classic albums and the muscians who have created this tribute to Jellyfish and those two albums have done a great job.
Rated 5 / 5

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