Xche' SI!
Articolo 31 is back with a very good album. I had let this one slip by without doing a review. I am trying to catch up and over the next few months there will be a couple of other albums to get to. However, back to Articolo 31...I enjoyed this cd a tad more than their previous effort which I felt was a little 'harder' in its sound and presentation. Thsi is cd is a sort of return to ther roots...it is both serious and filled with social commentary, but it is also easy to listen to from a musical standpoint. Fans will be pleased with this work which, as they know, is a mix of rap, hip hop, pop and strains of other musical genres nicely assembled and executed with a duo that is once again in full stride.

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L'Arancia
Finally!!! The promise becomes a delicious reality of strong vocals and excellent lyrics. But now, let me tell you what I really think.... After last month's less than stellar reviews of several veterans, Silvia swept onto my cd player like a breath of fresh air filling the apartment with versatile vocal abilities and an album that finally does her justice. Her first effort was a pop laden album with the Sanremo cut Quando il cuore. The song showed her strong vocal range but the album was disappointing. Her second album was a bit better but only had a couple of worthwhile pieces. Let's skip the third album as it really was lacking a strong identity. Now the good stuff...I almost had given up on Silvia but thought why not as I struggled to find a few goods album in the store. Fans and beginners are urged to snap up this album at the earliest opportunity or sooner if they can. I cannot describe it, but I get the sense in this album that Silvia is comfortable with her efforts...there is no straining or disinterest when she sings the songs (many of which she had a hand in penning). As I write this review I am listening to the cd and marveling in how much she has matured and wonder if she has a few more albums of this caliber up her sleeve. Now if only we could talk about her choice of hair style....Just to wrap up, a few of my favorite pieces are Silence, La parola amore, E ci batteva il sole, Don't sleep, Non sono lei, Mai sicura mai and the short closong piece which gives the album its title, L'arancia. Sit back and enjoy this cd over the course of the summer...I think you will agree it was worth the wait.

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Mi basta il paradiso
After the mega success of Oltre le nuvole, Paola is back without having missed a beat. The album is is a must have for fans and future fans as well. The formula Paola uses is simple. The album contains some italian versions of english language pieces and a few new new songs combined into a delicious feast of pop and ballads all surrounded by her great vocals. The opening cut, Questione di sguardi, is the italian version of This Kiss and it just grabs you and draws you into the rest of the cd and eases you into another excellent effort on her part. A special treat is the song that she and Carmen Consoli collaborated on, Sabbia bagnata. All I can say is mille grazie (thank you) Paola for making my summer more musical and restoring my faith that established artists are still capable of crafting albums that are deeply satisfying and full of rich vocal textures that leaving us wanting just ever so much more. I wish a lot of other artists were able to produce albums have as good as Paola's last two cds. Add this cd to your collection without reserve. In fact, buy it for a friend and make them very happy too!

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Franceso Il Musical
You may be wondering how I came across this cd. It is a rather long story for another time. I was recently in Assisi to attend the premiere of a new play called "Francesco il musical' based on the life of the saint. The musical is an exuberant production which captures the highlights of the saint's life and ties them together with a delightful score and songs that leave you humming the lyrics long after the show is over. Of course a cd cannot fully do justice to the play as it lacks the visual impact of the set and some of the dance scenes before Francesco's life began to change. All the songs are in Italian with many touching solos and exciting company numbers. With original Italian musical productions such a rarity, the album is a pleasant surprise which I recommend if you want to experiment a little. Of course, you can go see the play in Assisi and decide for yourself. The production does have a web site with more information:  http://www.francescoilmusical.com.

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Maz Gazze'
Go to the store and buy this self-titled album from one of the hottest entries in the emerging field of the young cantautori.  Max Gazze' is very simpatico as a person and his cd is a true delight with its complex lyrics that lie beneath the simplicity of wonderful songs.  The songs can be enjoyed on many levels and will be pleasing to a wide audience.  His first album was very good and I think this one begins to show the maturity and confidence he had built in a short time. This album is a good recommendation for fans and those interested in a new voice.  Remember to listen to the songs for there you will find the true beauty of the album.

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"squerez"
I had put aside this disc for awhile before giving it a good listen.  My loss.  I was pleasantly surprised by the sound and songs presented by this all boy band.  Of the eleven cuts, I enjoyed well over half without reservation.  If you are looking for something new or different and prefer a light pop sound (which reminds me of something I cannot put my finger on) you may want to give this cd a try.  Un giorno migliore and 50 Special are among  my favorite cuts.  Skip some of the more well known artists from the previous reviews and try a new band.  I think most everyone will find something to like about this album.

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Marco Masini - Raccontami di Te
Spagna - Domani
Umberto Tozzi - Un'altra vita
I think I will attempt a first for this site...reviewing three records at once.  Not a very difficult feat since I did not really find the records that noteworthy.  In fact, I have to say that I was expecting a lot more from these performers.  I listened to each album but the songs all seemed to run together in an unrecognizable deja vu like mix.  After I heard these artist present at Sanremo, my first question was, Why bother?  If you are a fan, I suppose it is nice to add this to your collection.  Anyone who wants to sample better cds should probably go a back a few albums to get a better sense of the work Masini, Tozzi and Spagna are capable of.  If I had not bought them to review, I would not have these in my collection.

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Personal Juke Box
Once you hear Alice's voice you do not forget it.  Her distinctive vocals are back in a best of album that features three new pieces leading off the collection.  Il giorno dell'indipendenza is from Sanremo and I think it deserved to place a little better in the final tally.  Only after listening a few times to the songs do the rich textures and overlays begin to penetrate.  The other new songs are For This is Not America and Tutto e' niente.  All three songs are quite good.  However, it is the journey into the past that brings some of the greatest satisfaction.  Most of her past hits are there (some with a little reworking) in all their glory.  This is a buy for fans and novices who wish to delight in one of my favorite female singers in Italy.

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Selezione 1990-2000
I know Avion Travel won the Festival.  I know Avion Travel produces high quality music.  I know Avion Travel was overlooked in the past.  However, I do not really believe this was their year.  I think the album, which is a compilation of greatest hits of the last decade, is okay.    I expected more from them.  It has not
been a top seller on the charts.  This might be due to the repetitive quality of the sound.  In addition, the winning song was a little 'heavy' musically.  Do not get me wrong, they are good and this may be just a case of personal taste prejudicing my opinion.  If you like what you heard and want more of the same, get the album.  If one song was enough, go with the festival compilations.

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Stato di necessita'
I liked Carmen from the first time I heard Amore di plastica a few years ago.  I do not necessarily like all of her pieces but I find that they are full of quality and insight far beyond her years.  Listening to her Sanremo piece, In bianco e nero, I was struck by the magnificent simplicity of what she is able to capture in a few minutes of song.  The remainder of the album is worth the purchase price as it shifts to and fro between rock styles.  Carmen's strength is that she can cover all the bases whether she is belting out a ballad or wowing you with her softer pieces.  This album is rated a buy for fans and recommended for those of you who want to listen to one of the strongest of the crop of young rock singers in Italy today.  Just think, I did not even have to invent words to tell you how good Carmen Consoli is.

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Il centro dei pensieri
Andrea is a young female rocker being aided by Enrico Ruggeri.  He worked on all the songs with her.  The song she performed at Sanremo, La canzone del perdono, is actually very good and, unfortunately, not a precursor of what is in the album.  The other 11 songs are a variety of rocky tunes and ballads that fail to
distinguish themselves from each other and are only notable for their indistincness if such a word exists.  Perhaps indistinguishability is better.  It doesn't matter.  I just did not like or appreciate the album which is rare for me.  I think she has a lot of talent vocally, but the songs do not convey this.  In my opinion this one is a pass for all concerned.  Then again I could be wrong...after all look at the words I had to invent to describe the songs!

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Come fa bene l'amore
I was skeptical when I purchased the album.  I like Gianni Morandi but I am not what might be called a huge fan.  However, after giving the cd a listen, I can recommend it to fans and novices alike.  As you may know, Eros Ramazzotti assisted to a large degree with this album from producing to writing to lending
instrumental and vocal support.  The result is a mix of light pop and ballads that mange to leave you pleasantly surprised and satisfied.  Fans will enjoy the familiarity while newcomers will hear why Morandi is one of the most popular singers over the course of many decades.  I think the Ramazzotti influence has added a slightly younger sound to the album while capitalizing on the vocal  and stylistic consistency Morandi offers.

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Gechi, vampiri e altre storie
Another best of album with two new cuts thrown in.  I enjoy listening to Gerardina's compositions.  Her greatest flaw was coming along at the same time as
Pausini and being overlooked despite her excellent abilities. Gechi e vampiri, from Sanremo and is a spirited, lively piece. Mammone is the second new cut and is just plain fun for its theme and music.  The remaining 14 cuts are culled from her earlier albums.  I know her last album was a best of and a new album is not due until the fall, but if you like her music and efforts you may want to add this to your collection as well.  You will not have regrets about this album if it is your first purchase.  Fans may have all the cuts already and want to wait for the new album due later.

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Two Versions - One distributed by WarnerFonit and the other by EMI

Generally these compilations are the best way to sample the Festival.  Of course, I would appreciate it more if they would put all my favorites on one cd rather than having to buy both and ending up with a host of songs I will likely never listen to again.  Overall, they rate about equal in terms of variety and quality of songs.  If you want Gianni Morandi's song which placed third, you will need to buy his cd.  His song is only one of two missing from the compilations.  It is always nice to have the variety.  However, if you only want one or two artists that actually interest you, pass on these and get those cds.  You will much more satisfied.

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