Beth Orton Comfort Of Strangers Pop Music CD Review

Posted on January 30th, 2008 in art by art-world

Beth Orton Comfort Of Strangers Pop Music CD Review

By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Comfort Of Strangers is the latest Pop CD put out by the highly talented Beth Orton who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Beth Orton fans, and Pop fans alike will be pleased with this one.

I wish it weren,t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Comfort Of Strangers. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Comfort Of Strangers is a pleasantly varied, mix of 14 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are her own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Beth Orton’s most impressive releases ever.

This is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it my highest recommendation. It’s quite simply great listening. A must buy if you’re even mildly into Pop music.

If you’re a Beth Orton fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Orton, or even Pop to know is good. It’s just good music. Period.

While this entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 3 - Heartland Truckstop, track 5 - Comfort Of Strangers, and track 10 - Safe In Your Arms.

My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore […as in “Stuck On REpeat”] is track 6 - Shadow Of A Doubt. Outstanding!

Comfort Of Strangers Release Notes:

Beth Orton originally released Comfort Of Strangers on Feb 7, 2006 on the Astralwerks label.

CD Track List Follows:

1.

2006 Purdue Boilermakers Season Preview
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Make Your Own Soy Candles
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How Does a Multiplayer Poker Game Work?
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Who Created the First US Flag of 50 Stars?
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The Grizzly Man Soundtrack Music Review
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Countenance 3. Heartland Truckstop 4. Rectify 5. Comfort Of Strangers 6. Shadow Of A Doubt 7. Conceived 8. Absinthe 9. A Place Aside 10. Safe In Your Arms 11. Shopping Trolley 12. Feral 13. Heart Of Soul 14. Pieces Of Sky

Personnel: Beth Orton; TJ Doherty, Tim B.. Recording information: Sear Sound Studio, New York, New York (2005).

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_817.shtml
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Ten Easy Rock Songs For Guitar Beginners

Posted on January 29th, 2008 in art by art-world

Ten Easy Rock Songs For Guitar Beginners

By: Eric Monsanto

When I started playing guitar, nobody taught me how to do it. It wasn?t easy at first. My fretting hand’s fingertips were so painful that I couldn?t touch anything for days! But once I got the hang of it, I discovered it was one of the most enjoyable things I?ve ever done. Over the years I would look back at those times and smile thinking how my life was changed the moment I picked up the guitar. It was actually my big sister?s guitar. However it turned out that I was more inclined to it that she was. She eventually turned over all the guitar playing duties to me.

I thought of making a random list of easy guitar songs that beginners might want to try playing, just to get things started. It will cover different genres but the objective is to improve playing, one song at a time. These are the criteria I?ve used for the selection of the songs:

a) Minimal number of chords ?the less chords in a song, the easier it is to remember how to play it.

b) Minimal barre chords ? barre chords require us to use our fretting hand?s index finger to press all 6 strings in a particular fret. Less barre chords is better for beginners.

c) Familiarity of the song ? the songs are some of the most popular during their times.

And since we?re talking about beginner songs here, the primary goal of this list is to give novice players some songs to STRUM the guitar along with. No point in doing any complicated stuff yet. We have to first establish the rhythm within the player. So here it goes, in no particular order:

1. ?Horse With No Name? ? America

Chords: Em, F#m7sus

2.

Ten Easy Rock Songs For Guitar Beginners
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Ten Easy Rock Songs For Guitar Beginners
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Electric Guitar for Beginners: There Really Is No Such Thing
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Playing Like the Pros by Getting Free Rock Guitar Sheet Music
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How Do Beginners Learn How to Play Guitar?
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?No Rain? ? Blind Melon

Chords: E, D, A, G

4. ?Every Rose Has It?s Thorns? ? Poison

Chords: G, C, D, Em

5. ?Knockin? On Heaven?s Door? ? Bob Dylan/ Guns N? Roses

Chords: G, C, D, Am

6. ?One? ? U2

Chords: Am, D7, FM7, G

7. ?Four Strong Winds? ? Neil Young

Chords: C, Dm, G, F

8. ?I Remember You? ? Skid Row

Chords: G, C, D, Am, Em

9. ?Come As You Are? - Nirvana

Chords: Em, D, G, Am, C

10. ?Wonderful Tonight? ? Eric Clapton

Chords: G, D, C, Em, Am

Finger placement:

C (x-3-2-0-1-0)

D (x-x-0-2-3-2)

D7 (x-x-0-2-1-2)

E (0-2-2-1-0-0)

Em (0-2-2-0-0-0)

A (x-0-2-2-2-0)

Am (x-0-2-2-1-0)

F (x-x-3-2-1-1)

FM7 (x-x-3-2-1-0)

F#m7sus (2-0-0-2-0-0)

G (3-2-0-0-0-3)

Legend:

D (x-x-0-2-3-2)

D - the chord name

x - E string will not be struck

x - A string will not be struck

0 - D string open

2 - Press G string on 2nd fret

3 - Press B string on 3rd fret

2 - Press e string on 2nd fret

There you go! Most of the songs have similar chords. That way, if we can recall chords from another some and incorporate that chord into another song then you get to practice applied knowledge. Ain’t that grand!

Happy practicing!

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_810.shtml
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