In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

Though he's as close to being the quintessential trance DJ as anyone, Tiësto has in the past used his mix records to drop new, sometimes challenging material (e.g., 2003's Nyana). But that's never been what the Sunrise records are about. Like 2004's Olympics-anthem release Parade of the Athletes, the vibe is all-inclusive, overtly positive, and infused with a strong orchestral bent that broadens its appeal. The first disc works up a lather after a lukewarm start, ending strongly with tracks from Gabriel & Dresden and BT ("Force of Gravity," spiffed up with a Tiësto remix). The second disc isn't so shy, though the Ibiza sheen gets a little glossy. If there's one thing this DJ can do, it's convincingly integrate a distinctive vocal ("Silence," anyone?), and his collaboration with Aqualung's Matt Hales on "UR" is no exception. One gets the sense that Sunrise 4 could have been just one disc and still delivered the essential punch--but even though it's a bit bloated, this collection unquestionably has the epic heft for which Tiësto is known and revered. --Matthew Cookesales rank : 6566Customer Rating : 87.5% | Price : $14.99 (new)$7.99 (used)

Call off the Search

Call Off the Search was released in the U.K. in November 2003 to deserved acclaim, alongside countless declarations that this 19-year-old British music school-educated, Russian-born singer is "the next Norah." There are similarities--Melua does work within a jazz/blues idiom, is talented beyond her years, and concentrates more on classics than her own material (ten are covers and two originals). But she's far more of a classic showbiz type singer than the sultry and sophisticated-sounding Jones. On the single "The Closest Thing to Crazy," for instance, Melua's phrasing is pure show tune. But it works for her, as it did for Lena and Liza before. The only weak link resides in a few straightahead blues songs, notably the 12-bar stomp "My Aphrodisiac Is You." Melua has the talent, she just lacks the soul to put oomph into a song that namechecks the Kama Sutra (this is as it should be, of course, as she's a teenager, but the choice of material is suspect nonetheless). Melua is a great torch singer who deserves the spotlight; odds are you'll eagerly await her next album before you're even done listening to this one all the way through. --Mike McGonigalsales rank : 2611Customer Rating : 62.5% | Price : $12.99 (new)$3.80 (used)

The Search

Five albums into Son Volt's career--and a pair into the band's rebirth following leader Jay Farrar's several solo ventures--it's time to bury the encumbering "alt-country" moniker that has dogged Farrar since his days in the genre-setting Uncle Tupelo. While the inexhaustible songwriter relied on guitars to drive 2005's rock-heavy Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt amends its familiar arrangements on The Search, balancing the instrumentation with piano, organ, and dabbles in a horn section. "Feels like drivin' 'round in a slow hearse," Farrar pleads over repetitive piano and East Indian guitar loops in "Slow Hearse." It's a pensive opener that suggests something is askew, but the horns that kick off "The Picture" literally scream it from the Stax vaults. Farrar dives in and out of genres, tingling the ivories to add subtle alterations to both the gorgeous "Underground Dream" and Imagine-like "Adrenaline and Heresy," turning his band into Gang of Four for the 134-second rocker "Satellite" and singing alongside Shannon McNally on the soulful "Highways and Cigarettes." While it may be impossible for this Son Volt to ever reach the pinnacle of their 1995 debut, no one can accuse Jay Farrar of going through the motions. --Scott Holtersales rank : 3487Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $13.99 (new)$6.99 (used)

The Search

Five albums into Son Volt's career--and a pair into the band's rebirth following leader Jay Farrar's several solo ventures--it's time to bury the encumbering "alt-country" moniker that has dogged Farrar since his days in the genre-setting Uncle Tupelo. While the inexhaustible songwriter relied on guitars to drive 2005's rock-heavy Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt amends its familiar arrangements on The Search, balancing the instrumentation with piano, organ, and dabbles in a horn section. "Feels like drivin' 'round in a slow hearse," Farrar pleads over repetitive piano and East Indian guitar loops in "Slow Hearse." It's a pensive opener that suggests something is askew, but the horns that kick off "The Picture" literally scream it from the Stax vaults. Farrar dives in and out of genres, tingling the ivories to add subtle alterations to both the gorgeous "Underground Dream" and Imagine-like "Adrenaline and Heresy," turning his band into Gang of Four for the 134-second rocker "Satellite" and singing alongside Shannon McNally on the soulful "Highways and Cigarettes." While it may be impossible for this Son Volt to ever reach the pinnacle of their 1995 debut, no one can accuse Jay Farrar of going through the motions. --Scott Holtersales rank : 3487Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $13.99 (new)$6.99 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5 Los Angeles

Trance is about as Dutch as windmills, and more than any other DJ, Tiësto is its ambassador. His highly successful In Search of Sunrise series can claim much of the credit for this, and this fifth installment, Los Angeles, delivers in spades. As ever, the man finds his inspiration in the female voice; from Late Night Alumni's "Empty Streets," which pits a bassline that bounces like Silly Putty against Becky Jean Williams's dreamy vocals, to Karen Overton's dancefloor-destroying cover of Billie Ray Martin's "Your Loving Arms," Tiësto again proves himself a master at driving sets to soaring highs with well-placed siren songs. The second disc finds the Dutchman in more progressive territory, luring in the unsuspecting with Pink Elephant's effervescent "LAX" only to drop the hammer with Alex Stealthy's "Something Is Wrong," a track with a disorienting beat that seems to tumble over itself and a haunting melody that sounds as though it were trapped under ice. Tiësto also shows he hasn't lost his affinity for engaging the listener in a test of wills, as in A Boy Called Joni's vertiginous "Green Astronauts." Like all good mixes, the fifth in the ISoS series is after all a study in contrasts. Ironic, perhaps, that with the title Los Angeles the album makes a compelling case that the trance crown won't be leaving Holland anytime soon. --Brent Kallmersales rank : 3914Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $14.99 (new)$13.89 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

Though he's as close to being the quintessential trance DJ as anyone, Tiësto has in the past used his mix records to drop new, sometimes challenging material (e.g., 2003's Nyana). But that's never been what the Sunrise records are about. Like 2004's Olympics-anthem release Parade of the Athletes, the vibe is all-inclusive, overtly positive, and infused with a strong orchestral bent that broadens its appeal. The first disc works up a lather after a lukewarm start, ending strongly with tracks from Gabriel & Dresden and BT ("Force of Gravity," spiffed up with a Tiësto remix). The second disc isn't so shy, though the Ibiza sheen gets a little glossy. If there's one thing this DJ can do, it's convincingly integrate a distinctive vocal ("Silence," anyone?), and his collaboration with Aqualung's Matt Hales on "UR" is no exception. One gets the sense that Sunrise 4 could have been just one disc and still delivered the essential punch--but even though it's a bit bloated, this collection unquestionably has the epic heft for which Tiësto is known and revered. --Matthew Cookesales rank : 6566Customer Rating : 87.5% | Price : $14.99 (new)$7.99 (used)

Call off the Search

Call Off the Search was released in the U.K. in November 2003 to deserved acclaim, alongside countless declarations that this 19-year-old British music school-educated, Russian-born singer is "the next Norah." There are similarities--Melua does work within a jazz/blues idiom, is talented beyond her years, and concentrates more on classics than her own material (ten are covers and two originals). But she's far more of a classic showbiz type singer than the sultry and sophisticated-sounding Jones. On the single "The Closest Thing to Crazy," for instance, Melua's phrasing is pure show tune. But it works for her, as it did for Lena and Liza before. The only weak link resides in a few straightahead blues songs, notably the 12-bar stomp "My Aphrodisiac Is You." Melua has the talent, she just lacks the soul to put oomph into a song that namechecks the Kama Sutra (this is as it should be, of course, as she's a teenager, but the choice of material is suspect nonetheless). Melua is a great torch singer who deserves the spotlight; odds are you'll eagerly await her next album before you're even done listening to this one all the way through. --Mike McGonigalsales rank : 2611Customer Rating : 62.5% | Price : $12.99 (new)$3.80 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5 Los Angeles

Trance is about as Dutch as windmills, and more than any other DJ, Tiësto is its ambassador. His highly successful In Search of Sunrise series can claim much of the credit for this, and this fifth installment, Los Angeles, delivers in spades. As ever, the man finds his inspiration in the female voice; from Late Night Alumni's "Empty Streets," which pits a bassline that bounces like Silly Putty against Becky Jean Williams's dreamy vocals, to Karen Overton's dancefloor-destroying cover of Billie Ray Martin's "Your Loving Arms," Tiësto again proves himself a master at driving sets to soaring highs with well-placed siren songs. The second disc finds the Dutchman in more progressive territory, luring in the unsuspecting with Pink Elephant's effervescent "LAX" only to drop the hammer with Alex Stealthy's "Something Is Wrong," a track with a disorienting beat that seems to tumble over itself and a haunting melody that sounds as though it were trapped under ice. Tiësto also shows he hasn't lost his affinity for engaging the listener in a test of wills, as in A Boy Called Joni's vertiginous "Green Astronauts." Like all good mixes, the fifth in the ISoS series is after all a study in contrasts. Ironic, perhaps, that with the title Los Angeles the album makes a compelling case that the trance crown won't be leaving Holland anytime soon. --Brent Kallmersales rank : 3914Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $14.99 (new)$13.89 (used)

The Search

Five albums into Son Volt's career--and a pair into the band's rebirth following leader Jay Farrar's several solo ventures--it's time to bury the encumbering "alt-country" moniker that has dogged Farrar since his days in the genre-setting Uncle Tupelo. While the inexhaustible songwriter relied on guitars to drive 2005's rock-heavy Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt amends its familiar arrangements on The Search, balancing the instrumentation with piano, organ, and dabbles in a horn section. "Feels like drivin' 'round in a slow hearse," Farrar pleads over repetitive piano and East Indian guitar loops in "Slow Hearse." It's a pensive opener that suggests something is askew, but the horns that kick off "The Picture" literally scream it from the Stax vaults. Farrar dives in and out of genres, tingling the ivories to add subtle alterations to both the gorgeous "Underground Dream" and Imagine-like "Adrenaline and Heresy," turning his band into Gang of Four for the 134-second rocker "Satellite" and singing alongside Shannon McNally on the soulful "Highways and Cigarettes." While it may be impossible for this Son Volt to ever reach the pinnacle of their 1995 debut, no one can accuse Jay Farrar of going through the motions. --Scott Holtersales rank : 2668Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $13.99 (new)$6.99 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

Though he's as close to being the quintessential trance DJ as anyone, Tiësto has in the past used his mix records to drop new, sometimes challenging material (e.g., 2003's Nyana). But that's never been what the Sunrise records are about. Like 2004's Olympics-anthem release Parade of the Athletes, the vibe is all-inclusive, overtly positive, and infused with a strong orchestral bent that broadens its appeal. The first disc works up a lather after a lukewarm start, ending strongly with tracks from Gabriel & Dresden and BT ("Force of Gravity," spiffed up with a Tiësto remix). The second disc isn't so shy, though the Ibiza sheen gets a little glossy. If there's one thing this DJ can do, it's convincingly integrate a distinctive vocal ("Silence," anyone?), and his collaboration with Aqualung's Matt Hales on "UR" is no exception. One gets the sense that Sunrise 4 could have been just one disc and still delivered the essential punch--but even though it's a bit bloated, this collection unquestionably has the epic heft for which Tiësto is known and revered. --Matthew Cookesales rank : 4103Customer Rating : 87.5% | Price : $14.99 (new)$7.99 (used)

Call off the Search

Call Off the Search was released in the U.K. in November 2003 to deserved acclaim, alongside countless declarations that this 19-year-old British music school-educated, Russian-born singer is "the next Norah." There are similarities--Melua does work within a jazz/blues idiom, is talented beyond her years, and concentrates more on classics than her own material (ten are covers and two originals). But she's far more of a classic showbiz type singer than the sultry and sophisticated-sounding Jones. On the single "The Closest Thing to Crazy," for instance, Melua's phrasing is pure show tune. But it works for her, as it did for Lena and Liza before. The only weak link resides in a few straightahead blues songs, notably the 12-bar stomp "My Aphrodisiac Is You." Melua has the talent, she just lacks the soul to put oomph into a song that namechecks the Kama Sutra (this is as it should be, of course, as she's a teenager, but the choice of material is suspect nonetheless). Melua is a great torch singer who deserves the spotlight; odds are you'll eagerly await her next album before you're even done listening to this one all the way through. --Mike McGonigalsales rank : 7010Customer Rating : 62.5% | Price : $12.99 (new)$3.84 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5 Los Angeles

Trance is about as Dutch as windmills, and more than any other DJ, Tiësto is its ambassador. His highly successful In Search of Sunrise series can claim much of the credit for this, and this fifth installment, Los Angeles, delivers in spades. As ever, the man finds his inspiration in the female voice; from Late Night Alumni's "Empty Streets," which pits a bassline that bounces like Silly Putty against Becky Jean Williams's dreamy vocals, to Karen Overton's dancefloor-destroying cover of Billie Ray Martin's "Your Loving Arms," Tiësto again proves himself a master at driving sets to soaring highs with well-placed siren songs. The second disc finds the Dutchman in more progressive territory, luring in the unsuspecting with Pink Elephant's effervescent "LAX" only to drop the hammer with Alex Stealthy's "Something Is Wrong," a track with a disorienting beat that seems to tumble over itself and a haunting melody that sounds as though it were trapped under ice. Tiësto also shows he hasn't lost his affinity for engaging the listener in a test of wills, as in A Boy Called Joni's vertiginous "Green Astronauts." Like all good mixes, the fifth in the ISoS series is after all a study in contrasts. Ironic, perhaps, that with the title Los Angeles the album makes a compelling case that the trance crown won't be leaving Holland anytime soon. --Brent Kallmersales rank : 4459Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $14.99 (new)$13.89 (used)

The Search

Five albums into Son Volt's career--and a pair into the band's rebirth following leader Jay Farrar's several solo ventures--it's time to bury the encumbering "alt-country" moniker that has dogged Farrar since his days in the genre-setting Uncle Tupelo. While the inexhaustible songwriter relied on guitars to drive 2005's rock-heavy Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt amends its familiar arrangements on The Search, balancing the instrumentation with piano, organ, and dabbles in a horn section. "Feels like drivin' 'round in a slow hearse," Farrar pleads over repetitive piano and East Indian guitar loops in "Slow Hearse." It's a pensive opener that suggests something is askew, but the horns that kick off "The Picture" literally scream it from the Stax vaults. Farrar dives in and out of genres, tingling the ivories to add subtle alterations to both the gorgeous "Underground Dream" and Imagine-like "Adrenaline and Heresy," turning his band into Gang of Four for the 134-second rocker "Satellite" and singing alongside Shannon McNally on the soulful "Highways and Cigarettes." While it may be impossible for this Son Volt to ever reach the pinnacle of their 1995 debut, no one can accuse Jay Farrar of going through the motions. --Scott Holtersales rank : 2868Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $13.99 (new)$6.99 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 5 Los Angeles

Trance is about as Dutch as windmills, and more than any other DJ, Tiësto is its ambassador. His highly successful In Search of Sunrise series can claim much of the credit for this, and this fifth installment, Los Angeles, delivers in spades. As ever, the man finds his inspiration in the female voice; from Late Night Alumni's "Empty Streets," which pits a bassline that bounces like Silly Putty against Becky Jean Williams's dreamy vocals, to Karen Overton's dancefloor-destroying cover of Billie Ray Martin's "Your Loving Arms," Tiësto again proves himself a master at driving sets to soaring highs with well-placed siren songs. The second disc finds the Dutchman in more progressive territory, luring in the unsuspecting with Pink Elephant's effervescent "LAX" only to drop the hammer with Alex Stealthy's "Something Is Wrong," a track with a disorienting beat that seems to tumble over itself and a haunting melody that sounds as though it were trapped under ice. Tiësto also shows he hasn't lost his affinity for engaging the listener in a test of wills, as in A Boy Called Joni's vertiginous "Green Astronauts." Like all good mixes, the fifth in the ISoS series is after all a study in contrasts. Ironic, perhaps, that with the title Los Angeles the album makes a compelling case that the trance crown won't be leaving Holland anytime soon. --Brent Kallmersales rank : 5807Customer Rating : 75% | Price : $14.99 (new)$13.89 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

Though he's as close to being the quintessential trance DJ as anyone, Tiësto has in the past used his mix records to drop new, sometimes challenging material (e.g., 2003's Nyana). But that's never been what the Sunrise records are about. Like 2004's Olympics-anthem release Parade of the Athletes, the vibe is all-inclusive, overtly positive, and infused with a strong orchestral bent that broadens its appeal. The first disc works up a lather after a lukewarm start, ending strongly with tracks from Gabriel & Dresden and BT ("Force of Gravity," spiffed up with a Tiësto remix). The second disc isn't so shy, though the Ibiza sheen gets a little glossy. If there's one thing this DJ can do, it's convincingly integrate a distinctive vocal ("Silence," anyone?), and his collaboration with Aqualung's Matt Hales on "UR" is no exception. One gets the sense that Sunrise 4 could have been just one disc and still delivered the essential punch--but even though it's a bit bloated, this collection unquestionably has the epic heft for which Tiësto is known and revered. --Matthew Cookesales rank : 2675Customer Rating : 87.5% | Price : $14.99 (new)$7.99 (used)

Call off the Search

Call Off the Search was released in the U.K. in November 2003 to deserved acclaim, alongside countless declarations that this 19-year-old British music school-educated, Russian-born singer is "the next Norah." There are similarities--Melua does work within a jazz/blues idiom, is talented beyond her years, and concentrates more on classics than her own material (ten are covers and two originals). But she's far more of a classic showbiz type singer than the sultry and sophisticated-sounding Jones. On the single "The Closest Thing to Crazy," for instance, Melua's phrasing is pure show tune. But it works for her, as it did for Lena and Liza before. The only weak link resides in a few straightahead blues songs, notably the 12-bar stomp "My Aphrodisiac Is You." Melua has the talent, she just lacks the soul to put oomph into a song that namechecks the Kama Sutra (this is as it should be, of course, as she's a teenager, but the choice of material is suspect nonetheless). Melua is a great torch singer who deserves the spotlight; odds are you'll eagerly await her next album before you're even done listening to this one all the way through. --Mike McGonigalsales rank : 5233Customer Rating : 62.5% | Price : $12.99 (new)$3.84 (used)

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America

Though he's as close to being the quintessential trance DJ as anyone, Tiësto has in the past used his mix records to drop new, sometimes challenging material (e.g., 2003's Nyana). But that's never been what the Sunrise records are about. Like 2004's Olympics-anthem release Parade of the Athletes, the vibe is all-inclusive, overtly positive, and infused with a strong orchestral bent that broadens its appeal. The first disc works up a lather after a lukewarm start, ending strongly with tracks from Gabriel & Dresden and BT ("Force of Gravity," spiffed up with a Tiësto remix). The second disc isn't so shy, though the Ibiza sheen gets a little glossy. If there's one thing this DJ can do, it's convincingly integrate a distinctive vocal ("Silence," anyone?), and his collaboration with Aqualung's Matt Hales on "UR" is no exception. One gets the sense that Sunrise 4 could have been just one disc and still delivered the essential punch--but even though it's a bit bloated, this collection unquestionably has the epic heft for which Tiësto is known and revered. --Matthew Cookesales rank : 2675Customer Rating : 87.5% | Price : $14.99 (new)$7.99 (used)