Proxima Estación: Esperanza
by: Manu Chao
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Music : Proxima Estación: Esperanza |
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Rating:  - * This Album Knocked Me Out (in a good way) ... This album was my first experience with Manu Chao. The style is simultaneously simple and complex. From a musical standpoint, the instrumentation is primarily acoustic with simple rhythms, but lyrically and conceptually, nothing is simplistic about this masterpiece. Various audio and linguistic themes weave their way through the work, giving the listener the experience of time suspension much like that of an insomniac in a sedated state of relaxed almost-sleep where thoughts almost form, transform into other thoughts, and then evaporate only to be replaced by new thoughts. Manu Chao employs a unique mixture of languages which form a drifting and ever changing cultural context. I've never heard anything like it. Rating: - * Surprised ... I am a classical music buff and have found this recording to be a delight. It brightens my day anytime I listen to it. I would highly recommend it. Rating: - * it doesnt get much better than this! ... these guys are going to save the world. education my friend, is the only way Rating: - * There is \"Esperanza\" for music after all ... I'll admit: I'm biased against current rock music, as much of it is generic waste. But Manu Chao is an outstanding original. The elusive Mr. Chao, former Manu Negra frontman, is a brashly inventive wellspring of talent, churning out quirky, catchy, funky tunes that embody seemingly every musical style in existence. I love the Zen zaniness exhibited on some songs ("Me Gustas Tu"), and the luxurious beauty of others ("Denia"). The musician's eclectic soul must be owed to his roots: he hails from southern France, but lives as a nomad of sorts in Latin America. Chao sings mainly in Spanish, but he displays an impressive multi-lingualism, crooning in his native French, as well as in English, Portuguese and even Arabic. Indeed, on some songs Chao mixes French and Spanish with such facility that it's easy to forget that they aren't the same language. Manu Chao embodies a true world music ethos, with a bohemian twist. Rating: - * A Must! ... My favorite album of all time from the most important artist of our time. Manu Chao's contributions can be likened to greats like Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Bob Marley with a global perspective. This intoxicating collection provokes and delights providing the first great folk anthem of the century. If you don't know this artist, get to know him |
The real joy of the set, however, is nine NBA playoff games presented as they were originally broadcast and almost in their entirety. They last about 90-100 minutes with TV introductions and post-game interviews, but minus halftime, commercials, and some slower moments. The games include such absolute classics as the game in which rookie Magic Johnson started at center in place of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the 1987 "baby hook" game against the Boston Celtics. If you're used to watching current NBA games you might be tempted to just skip to the end, but it's surprisingly rewarding to watch the game develop, to watch the game's superstars strut their stuff (or see a couple of 1972 reserves named Phil Jackson and Pat Riley), and to observe how radically the sport has changed over the years. Variable picture quality and technical glitches are unavoidable (even the 2002 game looks washed out), but this is the first time complete or nearly complete NBA games have been available in the home-video era, and they probably still look better than the VHS tapes you've been saving over the years. Yes, it'd be easy to argue about which games from the Lakers' long history should have been included, and the highlight videos don't have a ton of replay value, but the NBA Dynasty series is a major milestone in archived sports. --David Horiuchi
