Anastasia Hagen Xxx

Celebrating 30 years since the release of their 1982 debut album, Asia's 2012 full-length XXX is also the third release to feature the original line-up since they reunited for 2008's Phoenix and 2010's Omega. Once again showcasing the talents of lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist Steve Howe, and drummer Carl Palmer, XXX is a rock tour de force that disproves the notion that rock bands get worse as they get older. In fact, as with Phoenix and Omega, XXX is a strong follow-up to both of Asia's first two albums and, while never sounding dated, smartly sticks to the band's '80s prog-pop sound. In keeping with this aesthetic, the album even features Roger Dean cover art reminiscent of his 1982 serpent on the band's self-titled debut…

Most listeners will never have heard the name Ivan Khandoshkin (1747-1804), but violinist Anastasia Khitruk has admirably undertaken to bring this little-known solo-violin repertoire to wider attention. Published in the early years of the 19th century, Khandoshkin’s Op. 3 sonatas show the influences we might expect, given the composer’s exposure to a court musical environment that included musicians from Italy, Germany, and France.

Famed for her hard-rocking, dance-inducing new-wave sound, ferocious vocals, cult-film acting and scandalous talk-show appearances, Nina saw her name spread westward from her native East Berlin as the '70s gave way to the '80s. Here's her 1979 debut LP Nina Hagen Band, 1982 English-language debut Nunsexmonkrock and relentlessly grooving 1983 LP Fearless. What it is (unmistakably featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers) joins New York New York; My Sensation; Superboy; Der Spinner; Antiworld; Smack Jack; UFO; Dr. Art; her German-language version of White Punks on Dope, and more!

Beethoven - String Quartets op. 18/3, 18/5 & 135 - Hagen Quartett (2013) {Myrios Classics MYR009}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) +CUE+LOG -> 353 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 186 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 95 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2013 Myrios Classics | MYR009
Classical / Strings / Chamber Music

Following an extraordinary 30th anniversary season spent touring the complete Beethoven string quartets to musical centers around the world, including Tokyo, Paris, London, Vienna and Salzburg, the Hagen Quartet went directly from stage to studio to record three of their favorite Beethoven quartets. With the selection of op. 18/3, 18/5, and op. 135, the album ranges from the very first to the very last string quartet Beethoven wrote.

Despite the possible euphemisms of the title, 2006's Chicago XXX is not the band's raciest album since Hot Streets, nor is it their installment in the extreme-action spy series kicked off by Vin Diesel - instead, it's the veteran group's first proper studio album since 1995's flop Night and Day: Big Band, and considering that was a detour into retro-swing, XXX is their first mainstream pop album since 1991's Twenty 1, which is a 15-year gap between pop records. That's an awfully long wait - in the meantime, the band has been putting out live albums, Christmas records and hit comps, bringing the total up to 30 LPs - but apart from the diluted trip-hop beat from "Feel (Hot Single Mix)" that kicks off the album, you'd never know that XXX was made and recorded in 21st century…