Are You Considering a Piano for Your Home?

Did you have a piano as a child? Many homes had pianos in the living area where children would take piano lessons each week. At one time Beth thought she would like to learn to play the piano, but we didn't have a piano and didn't know where we would put one if we did. I guess we should have done a bit more research...

Pianos Fit in a Variety of Places - There are several places that you might not think of to place a piano, even if your home is small. Do you have a two-story home with a staircase in the entryway? Often, this is a great place to put a piano. The stairs generally have a space on one side that is large enough for a standard piano.

Replace a table in the foyer with a piano. Many times the tables used in these areas are similar in size to a small piano. Unless you have a large home, you do not necessarily need a grand piano. There are a variety of sizes and styles that will fit quite nicely in smaller spaces. Main Street Music, a popular boston music store, can help you find the perfect style for your space.

Benefits of Owning a Piano - Although you may not have considered it yet, a piano can be a welcome addition for all family members. You have fond memories of playing when you were a child. A piano can help your children create these memories as well. Even if they are not interested in learning, odds are that they will enjoy listening to you play.

Children that are interested in learning will not only develop an appreciation for music, but it is thought that learning to play piano helps with concentration. Learning to play piano can help with cognitive development, such as thinking, memory, and attention. It has also been suggested that students that learn to play have improved mathematics skills.

A piano can be a wonderful addition to your home even if you only play occasionally. It can be a place for the family to gather and spend quality time when the world today is so rushed. You and your family can make memories that will last a lifetime and be handed down to the next generation.

‘so good, so good, so good’

After hearing the news today that Neil Diamond is retiring because He's been diagnosed with Parkinson's, we're really glad we got to see him when he was here last spring.  He is canceling the rest of his 50th Anniversary tour, so there are quite a few people who won't get the chance.

We've been Neil Diamond fans for years, but it was the first time we'd seen him in concert. It was awesome. That man can certainly put on a good show! Sorry to hear that he has to stop because it was definitely something he (and all his fans) enjoyed.

In a statement on his website, Diamond, 76, says, "It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years."

Thankfully he plans to continue writing, recording, and being involved in other projects for a long time to come.

It's Definitely Not the Venue

We attended another concert last month. After our disappointing Soul2Soul tour experience in April, I was a little worried. I knew it was Tim & Faith's sound guy/crew that was the problem, but still...

We had tickets for Neil Diamond's 50 Year Anniversary Tour, because we've been listening to Neil diamond for not quite 50 years - and how could we miss seeing him when he was going to be so close?

Once again we had seats up on the balcony level - this time on the side. (We're still trying to figure out where the best seats in the house would be - besides perhaps front row on the floor.) And there was no problem whatsoever with the sound at this concert. We could hear every word that was spoken, every word that was sung, and every instrument in the band. It was great. Neil Diamond has a sound guy who knows what he is doing. It makes all the difference in the world.

Also, Neil didn't bother with an opening act. Why should he? He's celebrating a 50-year career, and he's got plenty of songs to fill up an entire concert - and then some! Here's the complete setlist from the Indy concert. I've looked at the lists for some of the other concerts, and he varies it a bit each night - probably because he does have so many songs to choose from.


It was an amazing concert, and we loved every minute of it!

Soul2Soul Tour Review

Jeffrey and I had a date night on Saturday - dinner and a concert. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul tour was in Indianapolis, and we thought it would be fun to see them. We've loved Tim & Faith for years and were really looking forward to this concert. It had to be good, right?

Two major entertainers, with multiple songs their fans would love to hear, touring together. They could easily fill up the whole evening and leave us wanting more.

McGraw has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and dominated the singles charts with a stunning 41 #1 singles. He is currently riding the Billboard Country Airplay chart with 3 singles in the top 20, a feat he was the first to achieve, and now the first to achieve for a second time. He is the most played country artist since his debut in 1992, with two singles spending over 10 weeks at #1 (“Live Like You Were Dying” and the genre-breaking “Over and Over”). His recent multi-week #1 single “Humble and Kind,” off his “Damn Country Music” album, is his 59th release to hit top 10 or better, and spawned a New York Times Best Seller book. - Soul2Soul Tour

Why in the world would they need an opening act? I definitely wasn't expecting that, but some guy came on stage. I have no idea who he was or what any of the songs he did were, because the sound was horrible. HORRIBLE.

This was our first clue that the concert might not be as good as we hoped...

I was seriously hoping that it was the opening act's sound guy and that the sound would improve when Tim & Faith took the stage. When the opening act was over, we watched while the stage was reset, and we waited for Tim & Faith - for the concert we came to see. The stage was gorgeous. Tim & Faith came up from underneath and began singing, and...

Sadly, there was absolutely no improvement to the sound. There was so much bass and reverb that absolutely nothing else could be heard. Oh, we could tell that Tim & Faith were singing, but we could barely hear them and could not understand any of the words. And because of the wall of sound, it wasn't just the vocals that couldn't be heard - the sound from the band just kind of blended into the noise, and we couldn't differentiate any of the instruments or music. I'm sure some of those songs were familiar, but who could really tell? It was like the sound guy thought he was putting on a hard rock concert and really had no clue what Tim & Faith's music actually sounds like. We've been to several concerts, and this was absolutely the worst sound ever.

There were quite a few very disappointed people who left early, and several comments about the sound on the Facebook event page - though I'm not sure anyone ever read those. They certainly weren't being read or monitored by anyone during the concert because the bad sound stayed bad.

Stage/light show was awesome but sound was awful. Sad that we couldn't understand any words. Anxious to start hearing new songs on the radio so I can hear the words. Still love Tim and Faith but a big disappointment in the show in Indy last night.

The sound was horrible!! Left at 930 bc you could hardly make out what they were singing... and to think we drove 3 hours for a headache!

Sound is awful. Can't understand the words and can hardly even tell what songs are being played. Disappointing to say the least.

We left after Faith's set. It was exhausting trying to make sense of the sound. We came to hear Tim and Faith, not overpowering band and back up singers. I was so disappointed!

The sound really was AWFUL. But we stayed until the end, maybe because we kept hoping it would get better, which it did not. Maybe we're just suckers for punishment, or maybe it's just that we'd paid good money for these concert tickets. We may have been in the cheap seats - though there really is no such thing as a cheap seat when Ticketmaster gets through charging all their fees - but we still expected a decent concert.  (We saw Bon Jovi last month in seats on the same level but almost behind the stage, and while the view wasn't as good, the sound was MUCH better for that concert) This venue hosts numerous concerts, so I'm pretty sure that the sound is usually decent. It has to be, right? They couldn't regularly sell worthless tickets, right?

The lights and visuals were awesome, but sadly not worth much if the music isn't there to go with them. I would have been happier listening to Tim & Faith with absolutely no extra splash - if only I could have HEARD them.

The light show was worth a little something, though I hate to think that Tim & Faith have put that much into their show (heart and soul) and do not realize that the sound is so bad that their fans cannot hear or understand anything they are saying or singing. Because I have to believe they don't know what the show sounds like from out in the audience. It's either that or they're trying to impersonate rock stars instead of being the genuine people I thought they were.

Overall, it was a VERY disappointing concert - a waste of money, and a waste of time. And definitely not up to par with their past tours.

McGraw and Hill have been dominating the music charts since the early ‘90s. They began touring together in 1996 on McGraw’s Spontaneous Combustion tour. In 2000 they created the Soul2Soul franchise with their record-breaking “Soul2Soul” tour, becoming that year’s top grossing and most successful U.S. tour. Their success continued in 2006-2007 when “Soul2Soul II” returned to the road, which was the most attended tour of the year in any musical genre and remains the highest grossing multi-year North American tour in country music history. Pollstar Magazine named it their “Major Tour of 2006,” beating out Madonna, The Rolling Stones and The Red Hot Chili Peppers for the honor.  - Soul2Soul Tour

So, what did you do this weekend? I hear Garth Brooks was in Champaign...

Review: We Love Disney

Thanks to One2One Network (#O2O) I've been able to listen to the new #WeLoveDisney CD the last few days. The album features the hottest artists from across the pop, rock, R&B, and country worlds delivering their own unique interpretations of classic Disney songs.

These were all (mostly) songs I was familiar with, and I really liked hearing them re-imagined.  I was not familiar with most of the artists featured on this album, but after listening to We Love Disney, I am ready to check some of them out and see what the rest of their music sounds like.  I am really enjoying the vocals on this.

The album starts off with the suave, big band feel of Friend Like Me, which I absolutely loved.  Check out the video on YouTube; I think you'll like it too.  I looked up several of the original songs from the Disney movies on YouTube, just to compare them to the ones on this album - Friend Like Me, I Wanna Be Like You, and Everybody Wants to Be a Cat, to name a few.  I feel like all the songs stay true to the originals while being something entirely updated and new at the same time.

I'm liking the Rascal Flatts and Lucy Hale version of Let It Go better than the original.  Also, even though I usually consider It's a Small World one of the most annoying songs on the planet, probably because of having to ride the ride over and over and over with my children, I almost like it on this album.  They did a very nice job.


The We Love Disney track list:

1. NE-YO Friend Like Me (Aladdin)

2. Jessie J Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)

3. Jason Derulo Can You Feel the Love Tonight / Nants Ingonyama (The Lion King)

4. Gwen Stefani The Rainbow Connection (The Muppet Movie)

5. Ariana Grande Zero To Hero (Hercules)

6. Jhené Aiko In a World of My Own/Very Good Advice (Alice in Wonderland)

7. Fall Out Boy I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song) (The Jungle Book)

8. Tori Kelly Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas)

9. Kacey Musgraves A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins)

10. Charles Perry Evrybody Wants To Be a Cat (The Aristocats)

11. Jessie Ware A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

12. Lucy Hale & Rascal Flatts Let It Go (Frozen)

13. Various Artists It's a Small World

Deluxe Version will include two extra tracks:

Brenna Whitaker It’s Not Easy Being Green (The Muppet Show)

Yuna A Whole New World (Aladdin)

We Love Disney will be available October 30th and  can be pre-ordered now on  iTunes and Amazon.
For more information, visit the Official We Love Disney website.

I participated in the We Love Disney album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

Review: Harry Connick Jr. - That Would Be Me

I have enjoyed Harry Connick Jr's music for quite a while now, so I was very excited to see that he has a new CD coming out - tomorrow! October 23, 2015.  I was even more excited when I was given the chance to listen to it early through One2One Network.

On That Would Be Me, Connick threw himself out of his comfort zone and into the studio with two ‘external’ producers, Eg White (Sam Smith, Adele, Florence And The Machine) and Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Pink, Weezer, Fall Out Boy). The album was recorded in London with White and Nashville with Walker, and the result is a carefully crafted record full of surprises and stirring musical conjurations, delivering 11 new songs and new insights into his artistry.

So far I've listened to That Would Be Me twice, and loved everything about it.  That Would Be Me is a very upbeat and fun album, and I had a hard time sitting still through it.  If I hadn't been on my computer listening...  Body parts were definitely moving.  Currently my favorite songs, if I had to pick some, are (I Think I) Love You A Little Bit and "the sultry/funky damn-near-‘70’s sounding" Songwriter. I'm also liking Right Where It Hurts.

Here are a couple snippets of the lyrics I really liked:

you put your smile right where my self control was s'pposed to be
the last thing I expected
you caught me by surprise
everything was fine until I looked into your eyes

---

I've been burned before but you sure got my fire lit
I think I love you a little bit

That Would Be Me is available everywhere October 23, 2015.  You can grab your copy on iTunes or Amazon.  You'll want to be listening to this one.  For more information, be sure and visit the Official Harry Connick Jr. website and his facebook page.

Track Listing:

1. (I Like It When You) Smile
2. (I Do) Like We Do
3. Tryin' To Matter
4. Songwriter
5. Do You Really Need Her
6. You Don t Need A Man
7. You Have No Idea
8. Where Prisoners Drown
9. (I Think I) Love You A Little Bit
10. Every Time I Fall In Love
11. Right Where It Hurts

I participated in the That Would Be Me album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own. #ThatWouldBeMe #O2O

Review: Andrea Bocelli's Cinema

Andrea Bocelli is the biggest selling living classical music artist. His albums have sold over 80 million copies! Andrea even recently sang for Pope Francis on his trip to the U.S.

I'm not sure where I've been, but I have not been listening to any of Andrea Bocelli's music.  Until now.  Thanks to One2One Network, I have had a chance to listen to his new album Cinema.  The album, Bocelli's first new studio recording in two years, will be released on October 23 by Verve Records.  It includes a collection of interpretations of songs from classic movies like West Side Story, The Godfather and Gladiator.

Bocelli said the following:

With the album Cinema, I’m fulfilling a wish that I’ve harboured for decades. I’ve never made a secret of my dream of bringing to life a recording project associated with soundtracks, as I truly believe that it’s an exceptional artistic treasure trove.

It’s an area that has always fascinated me: the scores written for films are very free and potentially very creative. A vast grassland where the composer can roam as he pleases, whatever his inspiration, where he can experiment without having to submit to the norms of the classical song (based on the sequence requiring two strophes, one short instrumental passage, one strophe, one short instrumental passage), or to a theme that is necessarily the conventional one, relating to love.

If films are a “dream factory”, the music that supports them embraces these dreams and heightens all of the magic and emotional vitality. My invitation, my token is for these immortal “classics” to merge with the experiences, with the most precious memories, with the emotions of every listener, to become the inimitable soundtrack to their life.

True to his status as a truly international artist, Andrea has recorded songs in five different languages (Italian, French, Spanish, English and Sicilian) and has partnered with global superstar Ariana Grande on the heart wrenching duet E Piu Ti Penso from Once Upon A Time in America/ Malena and Nicole Scherzinger on the epic musical anthem Don’t Cry For Me Argentina from Evita.

Here is the entire track listing:

1. Maria (From West Side Story)
2. La chanson de Lara (From Dr. Zhivago)
3. Moon River (From Breakfast At Tiffany's)
4. E più ti penso (From Once Upon A Time In America/Malèna) duet with Ariana Grande
5. Be My Love (From The Toast Of New Orleans)
6. The Music Of The Night (From The Phantom Of The Opera)
7. Brucia la terra (From The Godfather)
8. Por Una Cabeza (From Scent Of A Woman)
9. No Llores Por Mi Argentina (From Evita) duet with Nicole Scherzinger
10. L'amore è una cosa meravigliosa (From Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing)
11. Mi mancherai (From Il Postino/The Postman)
12. Cheek To Cheek (From Top Hat) duet with Veronica Berti
13. Sorridi amore vai (From Life Is Beautiful/La vita è bella)
14. Historia De Amor (From Love Story)
15. Ol' Man River (From Showboat)
16. Nelle tue mani (Now We Are Free) (From Gladiator)

I'm sure some of those are familiar to you, and you'll love hearing Andrea Bocelli's amazing voice on them.  I will admit that, not only have I not been familiar with Bocelli's music, but I was not familiar with many of these songs, either.  It didn't matter though.  I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the entire album.  I did enjoy the songs I was most familiar with most - Maria and The Music of the Night, to name a couple.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to come to love all of the songs on the album, the more I listen.  I'm loving the music (I'm loving the guitar on Brucia La Terra.) and especially Andrea Bocelli's voice on each and every song.  This man can seriously sing!  (I know, you probably could have told me that already)  But seriously - just WOW! 

Grab your own copy of Andrea Bocelli's Cinema now.  It's available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon right now. Also be sure to look for Andrea Bocelli: Cinema, which will make its initial airing as the final presentation of PBS’ Fall Arts Festival, and is set to air nationwide across hundreds of PBS stations on November 27. The concert event will be personally arranged for Bocelli’s extraordinary voice by musical director, David Foster. I'm marking my calendar now!

Now let me get back to listening to Cinema by Andrea Bocelli.  After which, I will probably check out some more of his music on YouTube.

I participated in the Andrea Bocelli “Cinema” album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.  #Cinema #O2O

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Review: VENUS by Joy Williams

Thanks to OnetoOne Network (#O2O) I've been listening to this new #JoyWilliams album quite a bit recently.  I am enjoying it very much.

You may know Joy Williams as one half of the four-time Grammy-winning folk-rock duo The Civil Wars. That duo broke up in August of last year, and Joy Williams is set to release her solo album VENUS on June 30th. 

VENUS tells an honest, human story of one woman’s journey out of darkness.  I haven't quite caught all the lyrics, and the one time I checked out the Official Joy Williams website, they were not available.  Even so, I have found quite a few that really grabbed me - "...gather up my fears and throw them in the fire."  "standing in the ache until the levee in my heart breaks."

The breakthrough for Joy in writing the songs for this album came when Matt Morris (co-writer and co-producer on this album) said to her, “You are so afraid to say anything wrong that you are risking not saying anything at all. You’ve got to be brave. If you’re feeling mad as hell, then we’re going to write a mad-as-hell song. If you’re feeling broken beyond measure, we’re going to write a broken-beyond-measure song.”  And so she did.  Joy actually wrote over 75 songs for this album, though only 11 of them made the actual album.  (I wonder will we see some of these in the future?)

I have enjoyed Joy's journey, as she starts with miles to go before she sleeps and finally ends up home.  Along the way she faces pain, heartache, and the impossibility of perfection.  She learns that it's OK not to be perfect, gives herself permission to feel all the things, and embraces the fact that it means so many things to be a woman.  It's a very personal album that Joy hopes people will find their own stories in, too.

The whole emphasis of my new album VENUS is I’m discovering what it means to be a woman. It’s not necessarily the things I was taught. It’s the things I’m learning on my own. The good, the bad and the ugly is all in there. To be strong and to be weak, and to be scared and to be bold, and to be angry and to forgive, and to be broken and to break open, and break through, and to be hurt and to do the hard work to heal. That’s the type of woman I want to be.

It took a lot of courage to expose herself to all of us in such a way - and so beautifully.  I love the haunting quality of her voice in some of the songs and the different emotions that the music brings forth. Overall, a lovely journey that I will be repeating.

Though I found something to like in all the tracks, I especially liked the upbeat, almost tribal feel of this song, Woman (Oh Mama):


Venus is available June 30. Get your copy on Amazon or iTunes.  I think you're gonna love it.

I participated in the Joy Williams Venus album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

Review: Madonna's #RebelHeart

Madonna's 13th studio album Rebel Heart released March 10th on Interscope Records.   Thanks to OnetoOne Network (#O2O), I have enjoyed listening to this album for the past couple weeks.  Though I used to really enjoy Madonna's music, I haven't really kept up with her career, and I haven't seriously listened to her music in years.  It has been fun to catch up.

Madonna recently told Billboard that this new album explores two very distinct sides of her personality, the rebellious renegade side and the romantic side.  Of course, I didn't read that before I listened to the album, so had to go back and listen again to see if I could figure out which songs and lyrics reflect which sides of her personality.  (Yes, I know, tough, but someone's gotta do it!)

I find myself liking Madonna's softer side best, though it's hard to resist that Unapologetic Bitch side.  Madonna is who she is, and she's not afraid to tell the world. 

The songs I like best are Body Shop,Wash All Over Me, and Best Night, but overall I am enjoying the whole album.  I really like Madonna's voice, and the music on a lot of these tracks make it really hard to sit still.  So why try?  All the lyrics may not be entirely appropriate, and I may not really understand what Madonna is trying to say, but I'm still liking the listening.

"I'm in Heartbreak City, and it's not that pretty"

You can download Rebel Heart on iTunes, and be sure to check out Madonna on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

I participated in the Madonna Rebel Heart album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.

Review: Mary J. Blige #TheLondonSessions

#O2O (One to One Network) has once again given me the opportunity to review a new CD by an artist that I was not previously familiar with.  I mean, I've heard of Mary J. Blige, but I honestly have never listened to any of her music. I must be alone in that because she's had a stellar career:

With eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 31 nominations), a 2012 Golden Globe nomination, and four American Music Awards, Mary J Blige is a global superstar. And in ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base – responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums.

Capitol Music Group Chairman Steve Barnett calls Mary J. Blige's music "a one-of-a-kind blend of hip-hop and soul that has excited fans for more than 20 years" and made her one of the most successful and acclaimed artists in any genre of music. For this album, Mary J. Blige ventured into new musical territory by crossing the Atlantic to collaborate with some of this decade’s most celebrated UK musical talent – including Disclosure, Eg White, Emile Sandé, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy, SAM ROMANS and Sam Smith. 

Wow!  Why have I never listened to her before?  I have no idea but, judging by this CD (and all those awards), she is really good.  I have really enjoyed the strength and style of her voice as well as the music.  Some of the songs are really heart-felt, honest, and intense, while others just make you want to get up and dance.  The only thing I did not like is that there is some talk between some of the tracks, explaining some of the thought process behind the songs and the experience of recording.  While I liked having that information there, it was so much quieter than the actual songs, meaning I had to turn the volume way up to hear, and then when the music started again it was so loud.  Other than that, I really like this CD.  It's hard to pick a favorite, because each of the tracks has something to offer, but for now I'm really liking When You're Gone and the great dance beat of My Loving.

The London Sessions is available now, and you can download it from Amazon or iTunes.  Also available at Target, Walmart, etc.


Watch more Mary J. Blige videos on YouTube.

I participated in the Mary J Blige The London Sessions album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

Review: Neil Diamond's New CD #MelodyRoad #O2O

I love me some Neil Diamond!! And I am LOVING this new CD Melody Road. That voice, that music, those lyrics - that voice. There is just something about Neil. I've been listening to Neil since I was a teenager. His music has been the soundtrack to many a cross country road trip with songs like "Let the Little Boy Sing" and "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" to name a few.

Obviously I'm not the only Neil Diamond fan out there:

Throughout an illustrious and wide-ranging musical career, Neil Diamond has charted 37 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums in the U.S. His most recent original studio release, 2008’s Home Before Dark, debuted at #1 in the U.S. and the UK on the Billboard Top Albums chart.

A Grammy Award-winning artist, Diamond is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters.  Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 Grammy nominations and 2009’s NARAS’s MusiCares Person of the Year award.  In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture.

I have been looking forward to this CD, ever since I heard that Neil Diamond was releasing a new one - his first in 6 years.   I've been listening to it the last couple days, and I am not disappointed at all.  I am enjoying it very much.  I wish I could write a great review like this one on Amazon, but I'm not really musical or able to understand what makes a song or an entire CD good.  What I do know is what I like, and I like this!  Do yourself a favor and grab your copy.  Melody Road is available now through Amazon and iTunes.  Through Saturday you can even save $2 and get it for $7.99 at Best Buy with this coupon. You musicians will want to grab that - even though the MP3 CD is also $7.99 on Amazon - because there will be a special 36-page lyric book with guitar chords included in the packaging of each album, or you can grab it at Target and get 2 bonus tracks.

You're the sum of all my heartbeats

I participated in the Neil Diamond Melody Road album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

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Review: Bulletproof Picasso by Train

Thanks to One2One Network I have been listening to the new Train CD Bulletproof Picasso repeatedly for the last couple days.  I am seriously loving this CD - from the very first "Hey Baby" to the last "Don't Grow Up So Fast."  This CD has me up and moving like the adorable little girl in this lyric video for the first track Cadillac, Cadillac.  I don't think it's possible to listen to this and sit still.  Seriously - I dare you to try!

This is Train's 7th studio album but the first one I've really listened to all the way through.  Sure, I'm familiar with their hits Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me), Calling All Angels, and Hey Soul Sister.  I mean, who isn't?  I've just never bought an album.  Obviously, I'm alone in that because Train has sold more than ten million albums worldwide, thirty million tracks worldwide, with numerous platinum/gold citations on their mantle, 3 Grammy Awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards and dozens of other honors and nominations.

Love is not supposed to stop. If you forget, I will remember.

Yeah, they're pretty good, and I know you are going to love this album, too.  From the haunting Angel In Blue Jeans to the feel-good, catchy I Wonder What You're Doing For The Rest Of Your Life, this album has a little of everything.  Good music, lyrics that really make you think, and a whole lot of fun.  Of the 12 tracks on this album, I haven't found one I don't like.  In fact, I think I like them better every time I listen.

 This is what happens when you burn a bridge; you jump into the fire or you learn to swim. 

 Bulletproof Picasso releases on September 16th, but you can pre-order it for $7.99 right now on iTunes and Amazon and get an instant download of the first single Angel in Blue Jeans and four other songs.  For more information about Train and Bulletproof Picasso, visit the Official Train web page.  If you scroll down a bit, you can listen to several of the tracks from the new album right now, including I Wonder What You're Doing For The Rest Of Your Life. I really like that one!

Dishes in the kitchen sink like dreams that never fade. 

Right now I really need to get this posted so I can figure out which channel QVC is, because Train is going to perform LIVE for an hour, starting at 5pm ET, as well as offering a special deal on the album (and some wine) - and I want to watch! 



I participated in the Train Bulletproof Picasso album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

Review: David Gray Mutineers

I received a free download of the new David Gray CD Mutineers to review from One2One Network.  All opinions are mine.

David Gray is best known for his hit Babylon from the album White Ladders, which I had to look up on YouTube because I hadn't heard it. I really don't think I've heard any of David Gray's music before.  That's OK, though, because I always love discovering new music and artists, and this album is a bit different from David Gray's previous albums.  Mutineers "finds Gray steering into unfamiliar territory while cultivating a pugnacious but respectful relationship with his own history."   The album stretched David's creative boundaries as he strove to create music that he had never made before.

I've now listened to the entire CD several times, and I am really enjoying it.  Here's the official video for Back in the World, the first track on the CD.  I really like this song.  I'm not sure I understand the "naked as a tree" thing, but the song is really catchy.


Mutineers track listing:

1. Back in the World
2. As the Crow Flies
3. Mutineer
4. Beautiful Agony
5. Last Summer
6. Snow in Vegas
7. Cake and Eat It
8. Birds of the High Arctic
9. The Incredible
10. Girl Like You
11. Gulls
12. Nearly Midnight (bonus track)

I'm also really enjoying Beautiful Agony, Snow in Vegas, Gulls, and pretty much all of the tracks.  Give it a listen.  I think you'll like it, too.

Mutineers is singer/songwriter David Gray's tenth studio album, his first in four years, and it will be released in the U.S. on June 17.   You can pre-order your copy here:

• iTunes- http://bit.ly/DavidGrayMutineersiTunes
• Amazon- http://bit.ly/DGMutineersAmazon

 OR, buy tickets to see David Gray in person, and get a free download of the CD on June 17.

Concert goers will receive a digital download of "Mutineers" out June 17. Please note: Valid for tickets purchased online only. One download per ticket. You will receive an e-mail on June 17 with instructions on how to redeem your album. If you purchase your tickets after June 17 you will receive an e-mail within 24-48 hours after your purchase.

How cool is that?  Check the Official David Gray website for the tour schedule and for more information about David Gray and his music.

Score Big Savings on Concert Tickets and More!

I recently received an email asking me if I had ever tried ScoreBig.  I replied that I had not, but I would be happy to check it out, see how it worked, and share my experience.  I was provided with a coupon code to use toward the concert or event of my choice.  The experience and all opinions are mine.

You may not have heard of ScoreBig.  I hadn't.  To tell you the truth, we don't really attend many concerts, shows, or sporting events, so I'd only heard of the main ticket outlets like Tickemaster and LiveNation.  And, to tell you even more truth - we don't attend many events because it just plain costs so much!  That's why I was quite interested in ScoreBig because they promise you can save up to 60% on sports, concerts, and theatre tickets.  I love saving money!  Don't you?

Quick Facts about ScoreBig:

• You are guaranteed to save on each and every ticket on ScoreBig.com
• Tickets for sports, concerts, theater, Broadway, family shows, and attractions
• No fees – free delivery
• Choose Your Seating Area – all seats ordered together will be next to each other
• Tell us what you want to pay – you have all the control, it’s thrilling!
• Get an instant answer – you find out right away if your offer has been accepted

The way ScoreBig works is that you find the event you want to attend, choose your seating area (by choosing a seating area rather than an exact seat, you're giving the ticket providers the flexibility they need to give you great deals), and then make an offer for how much you want to pay for those seats.  They tell you how much full-price tickets in that seating area are, and give you an indicator of your offer's potential for success.  It's all up to you - offer what you want to pay. You'll know immediately whether or not your offer has been accepted.  If your offer is declined, you may not be able to make another offer on the same seat rating for 24 hours. You can still make an offer on a different seat rating, if available for that event, or you just wait and see if you'll have better luck the next day.

I decided to make an offer on some tickets for a Brad Paisley concert, which is coming up really soon.  (We haven't seen Brad since the Walworth County Fair way back in, well, a number of years ago.  Anyone remember when the Mud on the Tires tour was?)  My first offer was not accepted, but they gave me another chance - so I did not have to wait 24 hours.  That offer was not accepted either because I intentionally went in with another low offer, though it was higher than the first one, to see just how much I could save.  When that second offer was declined, ScoreBig told me I could still get those tickets and made me a counter offer.  While the price they quoted me was below full price, the savings weren't significant, so I decided to pass on those seats and try a different seating area.   I went from what they call the 5-star seating area (closer seats, highlighted in purple on the seat map) to a 3-star seating area (either sections E or G on the seat map).  My offer on those was declined, too, but I decided to go ahead and grab the tickets for the counter-offer quote ScoreBig gave me.  Full-price tickets in both areas cost exactly the same if you go to Ticketmaster or LiveNation (yes, I checked),  but the ScoreBig savings on the 3-star seating area were much better.  Instead of saving almost $5 on each seat, which is what they offered me on the 5-star seats, I saved almost $20 on each seat.  My husband said I should have grabbed the better seats, because with the coupon code ScoreBig gave me, the actual cost to us wasn't much.  But I was doing this to test the site and see how much I could save.  Once my order was confirmed and my tickets ready to ship, I found that our tickets are only 6 rows back in Section E, so I think I did pretty good!
 
Less than 30 minutes after I placed my order, I had a FedEx Shipment Notification in my email, and my tickets were delivered 5 days later. It probably would have been quicker, but there was a holiday weekend in there.  Note: your tickets may or may not come via FedEx.  ScoreBig will decide the best way to get your tickets to you, whether shipping them to you, providing e-tickets, or having them for you at Will Call, they will be sure you have them in plenty of time for your event.  And did I mention that there are no fees, and shipping is free?

So, if you're looking to score some big savings on tickets to events in your area, be sure to check out ScoreBig.  It's fun, and you could just be seeing some great concerts, or sporting events, or theatre, for a lot less than the people sitting all around you! I know I'll be checking it for future concerts I want to see.

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Review: Michael Bublé To Be Loved

I received a free digital download of the album from One2One Network. By posting my review, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have never really listened to any of Michael Bublé's music.  I know, you're probably asking yourself, "Where has she been?"  Feel free to chime in and let me know what I've been missing.  It's not like I haven't been meaning to - I just haven't.  So that's why I jumped at the chance to listen to his new album To Be Loved.  I figured now would be the perfect time to check out Michael Bublé!

About this album:

To Be Loved, out now, finds the Grammy winner covering songs by Frank Sinatra, the Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Elvis Presley, Van Morrison, and more. In the mix of golden standards are four original songs co-written by Bublé, dipping into his personal life for inspiration.

"I want to take you on a wonderful journey about love—all different kinds of love," Michael says. "The album swings big time: it rocks, it’s soulful, it’s happy, sometimes a little sad. It’s romantic, it’s yummy, and it’s heartfelt."

Yep - that's what it is!  Yummy and satisfying. It covers the gamut of musicality and emotion, and I really, really like it.  I love the completely upbeat, if a bit irrational, It's a Beautiful Day.  OK, maybe he really was hoping for an excuse to get out of that relationship... It is definitely fun.


I also really like Something Stupid with Reese Witherspoon.  (And, no, the song has absolutely nothing to do with her recent arrest.)  I really like Come Dance with Me - and even more after seeing Michael perform it on Dancing with the Stars, accompanied by some great dancers, of course. I Got It Easy, one of the original songs on this album, is "basically a song where I count my blessings and is a reminder to me and everyone to appreciate all the good parts of life. I’m a very lucky guy and I never want to forget it."  How can you not love that?

Here is the complete list of tracks:

1. "You Make Me Feel So Young"
2. "It's a Beautiful Day"
3. "To Love Somebody"
4. "Who's Lovin' You"
5. "Something Stupid" (featuring Reese Witherspoon)
6. "Come Dance with Me"
7. "Close Your Eyes"
8. "After All" (featuring Bryan Adams)
9. "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" (with Naturally 7)
10. "To Be Loved"
11. "You've Got a Friend in Me"
12. "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" (featuring The Puppini Sisters)
13. "I Got It Easy"
14. "Young at Heart"

"Do not think I take my success these last ten years for granted. I was anything but an overnight sensation, which inspires me to deliver big time for my fans—maybe even make some new ones this time out." says Bublé. "I labored over every song, every note and every arrangement because I can’t resist trying to make each record better than my last one."

Call me a new Michael Bublé fan!  To Be Loved is Available now on Amazon and on iTunes.

Review: Rod Stewart Time

I received a free copy of this CD from One2One Network. By posting my review, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Rod Stewart has still got it!  Or maybe I should say Rod Stewart has found it again!  Time is his first album of new material in 20 years.  It was while reviewing his life for his recent memoir that Rod rediscovered his voice as a songwriter.  Releasing May 7th, 2013, Time marks Stewart's long-awaited return to his songwriting roots and features 12 tracks, 11 of which he wrote and produced.

I thoroughly enjoyed this CD from the first listen.  Each song has its own musical style, honest and thoughtful lyrics, and Rod's own distinctive voice.  I honestly cannot say which track is my favorite. I like the upbeat She Makes Me Happy and there's something about Brighton Beach that really grabs me.  If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably go with Live The Life because I really like the message.  In the song, Rod is speaking to his son, telling him to make the most of his life because "you only get one chance" and "what you make of it is up to you."  It makes me think of my own son and what he's doing with his life.  He is indeed living a life he loves and making the most of every opportunity that comes his way.

But I like all the other tracks, too.

Track listing:

1. She Makes Me Happy
2. Can’t Stop Me Now
3. It’s Over
4. Brighton Beach
5. Beautiful Morning
6. Live The Life
7. Finest Woman
8. Time
9. Picture In A Frame
10. Sexual Religion
11. Make Love To Me Tonight
12. Pure Love

Rod Stewart has been married three times, spent four decades being a rock star, three being a parent, and this new album is full of the stories he has to tell.  I, for one, will be listening to his stories over and over again.  For a taste of the CD, check out the Time Album Preview. You can order your copy of Time on Amazon or on iTunes.

Also, don't miss Rod on Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight! You can also catch his TV appearances on The Voice on May 8, Good Morning America on May 9, and Live With Kelly & Michael on May 11.

Selective Grammar Fail

I was listening to the song If She Would Have Been Faithful by Chicago today.  It got me wondering why no one says "she would have was" or "he would have was" - At least I've never heard it. Have you?

• She is
• She was
• She would have been

Somehow they get that right. 

Why is that? People are always saying "I could have went" or "she had went" or "I seen" - all of which are wrong and sound just as wrong as saying "she would have was."

• I go
• I went
• I could have gone

• I see
• I saw
• I should have seen

Did no one pay attention in school?  Or did the teachers just not teach?  Maybe everyone was absent on the days they taught could have gone and I saw.  There must be some explanation.

Have you ever heard anyone say "I must have did" either?  Except Luke Bryan.  I mean, sure, did rhymes with kid, so maybe it was necessary for the song -

I was a rock star, party hard,
Getting over you comeback kid
Yay I must have did
What all my friends say 

but should there be some rule that songwriters should at least try to use proper verb tenses?  Or maybe it's just artistic license, and everyone else is just living life as one big artistic experiment.

I like language better than art.  It makes sense, and it's obvious when something is out of place.

Review: Emmy Rossum Sentimental Journey

I heard Emmy Rossum sing on one of the shows (was it GMA?) I was watching a week or so ago, and I was blown away by her voice.  This girl can sing!

So, when I was offered the chance to preview her new CD Sentimental Journey, I jumped at it.  I received the CD on Friday, popped it into the CD player and listened to it over and over.  And over.  With so many of today's music stars hiding marginal talent behind auto-tune and creative editing, it's refreshing to listen to a CD that shows real talent.  There are none of those gimmicks here, just real music and real vocals - and real feeling.

The CD is:

A collection of covers of classic songs that span the '20s to the '60s. The album's highlights include its title track, which was a No. 1 hit for Les Brown and His Band of Renown with Doris Day as the vocalist in 1945; "These Foolish Things," a '30s standard that has been recorded by everyone from Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby to Rod Stewart and Michael Buble; "Summer Wind," which was popularized by Frank Sinatra in 1966; and "I"ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time," which was a Top 5 hit for the Andrews Sisters in 1941.

So it's quite a collection of songs, most of them from before my time, and all of them from before Ms. Rossum's time - but she makes them all her own.  Emmy Rossum is meant to sing these songs!  She chose the songs on this CD as an emotional and musical journey, with each song representing a month of the year.  Each song either lyrically or emotionally reflects the corresponding month - Summer Wind for June, and Pretty Paper for December, were obvious fits lyrically.  Others were chosen for the emotional feeling of the song.  For example, she chose Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out) for September because, "the plaintive melody and lyric emotionally reflect the cold weather creeping in and the sense of melancholy we can get in the fall months."

I must admit, I did not realize the CD was meant as a journey through the year when I first listened to it, but I will be paying attention to that the next time I listen.  It really adds another layer to the overall experience.  As it is, I have several 'favorite' songs on this CD already.  I really love Summer Wind and Many Tears Ago and also Things.  Here's the complete track list.  Perhaps you'll find some favorites of your own.

1. “Sentimental Journey” (Les Brown, Ben Homer, Arthur Green)
2. “The Object Of My Affection” (Pinky Tomlin)
3. “I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover “(Mort Dixon, Harry M. Woods)
4. “These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)” (Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey)
5. “(I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time” (Albert Von Tilzer, Neville Fleeson)
6. “Summer Wind” (Heinz Meier, Johnny Mercer)
7. “Many Tears Ago” (Winfield Scott)
8. “All I Do Is Dream Of You” (Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed)
9. “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” (Jimmy Cox)
10. “Autumn Leaves” (Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert)
11. “Things” (Bobby Darin)
12. “Pretty Paper” (Willie Nelson)

Sentimental Journey will be available January 29.  Preorder on Amazon or iTunes now.  Also, be sure to mark your calendars - Emmy will be appearing on Access Hollywood Live on January 25th where she will be performing a song from this CD. She'll also be appearing as a guest on Conan on January 28th, Chelsea Lately on January 29th, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on February 6th.

Be sure to visit the official Emmy Rossum web site and follow Emmy on Twitter to keep up with all the latest.

Note: I received a free copy of the CD from One2One Network to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Review: Kylie Minogue The Abbey Road Sessions

When I hear Kylie Minogue, the first thing I think of is Locomotion.  We played that song at all our dances for a lot of years!

Kylie has been singing and recording for the last 25 years.  It has been an extraordinary career so far—60 million global album sales, multiple hit singles, global tours, and industry accolades, but I haven't really kept up with her since Locomotion.

This album, The Abbey Road Sessions, features 16 tracks from Kylie's 25-year career, some of them her greatest hits along with some previously unreleased tracks.  All of them have been stripped of Kylie's usual high-end pop production and re-worked.  The album was recorded in London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios with Kylie’s band and a full orchestra.  The result is beautiful, with Kylie's voice front and center.  Locomotion is on there, but it's probably my least favorite track.  I especially like Better the Devil You Know and On a Night Like This, but the more I listen to this CD, the more I find to like. I've just been turning it on and letting it play, and I used it for my 'soft music' twice when we showed the house. If one of those people buy the house, I'll have Kylie to thank! (at least a little)

For a taste of this album, listen to this video:

Beautiful, right?  The Abbey Road Sessions is available now, in stores and on Amazon and iTunes.  Be sure to grab your copy.  Also, be sure to watch Dancing with the Stars tomorrow night on ABC, because Kylie will be appearing on the show.  I know I'll be watching!

Note: I received a free copy of the CD from One2One Network to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Review: Chris Mann Roads

A year ago Chris Mann was nervously awaiting his audition for reality show The Voice.  This year he releases his debut album Roads with Faircraft/Universal Republic, a new label formed by renowned producer/music executive Ron Fair.

When I was offered the chance to preview this CD, I jumped at the chance - not because I'd ever heard of Chris Mann, but because of his picture on the album cover.  (Is that wrong?  I mean, he is nice to look at.)  But besides that, I enjoy discovering new music and new artists.

Now that I've listened to the CD through, twice so far, I can say that Chris Mann's voice is absolutely amazing!  They say you can't judge a book by its cover (or a CD by its), and that's true - this CD is way better than anything I could have imagined.  Chris Mann describes his style as classically based pop music.  Yeah, that's it.  He takes some familiar songs like Lady Antebellum's Need You Now and Willie Nelson's Always on My Mind, and gives them a deeper, richer feel.  I like it.  A lot.

There are some new songs on this album, two of them co-written by Mann, and a re-imagining of the Frank Sinatra standard My Way.  It's an eclectic group of songs that somehow fit together well.  Right now I think my favorite track is Unless You Mean It.  Don't ask me why.  I can't really put it into words, but I can see a reality show crossover.  This would be a perfect song for Dancing With the Stars.  It would be a very hot dance.

For more information on Chris Mann and his music, be sure to visit the official Chris Mann page. I learned that I may just have seen Chris Mann before, just not on The Voice.  He worked on Glee for a while and appeared as a member of the Warblers.  That wasn't what Chris was born to do - this was what he was born to do, and he does it very very well!

Roads will be available in stores and online October 30, 2012 - that's tomorrow for those of you who are paying attention. Be sure to grab your copy either in one of those stores or on iTunes or Amazon. You'll be glad you did!

Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the album by One2One Network, and I am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated are my own.