Jim Croce The Way We Used To Be The Anthology

The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years collects 15 tracks from eight albums recorded between 1983 and 1997. While Atkins never fully gives up his country roots, much of this material leans in a definite jazz-pop direction, highlighted by memorable collaborations with Mark Knopfler on "Poor Boy Blues," "So Soft, Your Goodbye," and "I'll See You in My Dreams." Atkins also trades licks with Tommy Emmanuel on "Dixie McGuire" and "Road to Gundaghi/Waltzing Matilda," as well as longtime buddy Jerry Reed on "Sneakin' Around." The selections have been digitally remastered so every tiny musical nuance can be detected, which should no doubt satisfy guitar enthusiasts and Atkins fans.

For its third outing, Latin Quarter served up more surprises for its fans. Trimmed down to a quartet (half the band it used to be?), the band was more musically focused on this album than ever before. Choosing to keep the world rhythms to a minimum, the album's backbeat was clearly lush acoustic pop with a few touches added for flourish and flavor. Without completely altering their approach, the bandmembers were able to simplify their sound without giving up their identity. In doing so, they finally created what could be considered the "Latin Quarter" sound. Steve Skaith (vocals and guitar) served up some his best melodies to date, while lyricist Mike Jones proved to be as thought-provoking as ever, challenging the listener with each song.

Face To Face - Everything Is Everything (2001) {Anthology CD with DVD5 NTSC Kung Fu Records KFR78791}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 597 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 178 Mb
DVD5 -> 3.58 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 4:3 | Dolby AC3, 2 ch | ~ 65 min | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 24 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2001 Face To Face / Kung Fu Records | KFR78791
Rock / Punk Rock / Alternative Rock / Punk Revival / New Wave / Skatepunk / Punk Pop

Who, you might be asking? OK, so Americans may regard Southern California’s revivalists of powerful melodic punk *Face To Face *as something of a punk rock institution but over on this side of the pond their tumultuous ten-year career is more viewed as a punk rock travesty. For despite touring incessantly throughout the states and putting out consistently well written and well-received albums throughout the nineties, headlining venues up to 3000 capacity the band still had not released anything in Europe.

Dave Davies - Anthology 1964-1998: Unfinished Business [2CD] (1998) {Castle}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 0.99 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 369 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 61 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1998 Castle Communications | ESS CD 584
Rock / Hard Rock / British Invasion / Early Pop

The U.K. edition of Anthology 1964-1998: Unfinished Business contains several tracks not on the American edition, which is a nice bonus, but it's not a great difference, not enough to warrant an extended search or significantly more money if you're buying this on import. However, if you happen across it for a good price, or if you live in the U.K., they make this already-excellent collection even better.

"The Roaring of Dreams", PRIDE OF LIONS' third release is possibly their most focused and distinctive album. In the words of main songwriter, guitarist/vocalist/ivory tinkler Jim Peterik: "The sound we've established in the first two cd's is now familiar to the AOR / Melodic audience. With this album we strove to emphasize all the elements that we are best noted for: big hooks, soaring melodies, clever modulations, inspiring messages, the rock-solid Pride Of Lions band and of course Toby Hitchcock's amazing range and talent".