Destiny’s Child - #1’s

A compilation of past hits, Destiny’s Child #1’s is released in October 2005.  The title is slightly misleading, it’s telling us that all the songs on this CD are former #1’s. Farther from the truth, there are a few numbers ones, even more top 10’s.

This fact doesn’t make the cd less enjoyable.  #1’s includes popular song titles like Jumpin’, Jumpin’ and Survivor and includes a few new songs. WMA (World Music Awards) names this trio “Best-Selling Female Group of All Time”.

In June of 2005, Destiny’s Child revealed that they had split up their last single release is Stand Up for Love, the first track on #1’s.  Even if these chart toppers go their separate ways, we can always hope they pursue solo careers. However, if they choose not to do that…We will have the chart topping sounds of Destiny’s Child #1’s for many years to come.

Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts

Americas latest Idol has finally made her debut. Carrie Underwood released Some Hearts, with the first single release of Jesus, Take The Wheel. Some Hearts truly, has Carrie Underwood taking us back to her roots with the song, I Ain't In Checotah Anymore, which talks about Carrie’s hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma.

Some Hearts which includes the song Inside Your Heaven, which was the song Carrie chose to sing after being crowned the American Idol.  Carrie Underwood gives me chills whenever I hear her soulful voice that has the outstanding ability to hit nearly any note, and do so effortlessly.

Carrie manages to brilliantly blend together pop and country, with safe and solid ballads, and pushing her own envelope a little with Before He Cheats. The release of Some Hearts will put her in the ranks along with other country superstars like Faith Hill and Carrie’s own personal idol, Martina McBride. Proving America did the right thing in voting its first Country American Idol.

Wow, is the word that pops to mind.  Analogue released by the once popular and ever unique sounding band A-Ha. 20 years after Take on Me, which by the way I still know every word in the lyrics, A-Ha has released its eighth album.

The Norwegian Trio has tried harder than any other group in the past years to be taken seriously, enter Analogue, a passionate event filled with the elegance of piano ballads.  Analogue is by far a different A-Ha than anything you’ve seen in the past.

Songs include, Over the Treetops, Don’t Do Me Any Favors, Cozy Prison a melody about letting life pass you by, Holyground and Make it Soon to name a few.

Make it Soon is perhaps one of the hardest sounds ever from this ground breaking group. Pure magic is how I would describe this release. 20 years, fans have been waiting for the rio to bring them this sound. The sound may be strong and moody, but, the album is a hit.

The A-ha Analogue album in mp3 format can be found here.

Il Divo, American Idol judge Simon Cowells find, releases a Christmas album with the title of the same name, Il Divo. The quartet, who are all male opera singers who sing what is now considered a mix of opera and pop rock.

Il Divo are compromised of, American tenor David Miller, Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, a French pop singer named Sebastien Izambard, and Spanish baritone Carlos Marin. Together they have compiled a release of popular Christmas tunes that are sure to brighten your holidays.

Tracks featured on this 10 song album are old favorites like, O Holy Night, White Christmas, Silent night and Adeste Fideles the Latin version of, Oh Come All Ye Faithful. These 4 men have excellent voices and blend together magically.

Enya following a $13 million disc “A Day Without Rain” releases her sixth album “Amaratine”.  Amaratine, which means, a flower that blooms all season long, first release is a single of the same name.

Enya is widely diverse in her selection of music and its languages. Fans can expect the same in this new release. Calm and relaxing, this disc includes the title track, Amarantine, Wild Violet, Less than a Pearl and It’s in the Rain.

This Irish born singer, has the unique ability to tell stories through her songs, she will take you on far and away adventures like no other artist can.  Enyas’ Armantine, is sung in many different languages. She has managed to include Welsh, Latin, Spanish and English, this time around however, she adds in 3 songs which seem to be sung and written in an unknown language. The language which was invented by song writer Roma Ryan, was used in the globally popular The Lord of the Rings, as its theme song.

Guaranteed to bring home a classic, something to be enjoyed for years to come, pick up this new release and enjoy the soothing sounds of Enya in Amarantine.

The concept for Simplified is in the title: take some of Simply Red's biggest hits, strip them down and provide alternate, largely acoustic arrangements. There is a Latin influence throughout Simplified, especially on the cover of Something Got Me Started and the hot Perfect Love, one of the three new songs on the disc and probably the album's best song. 

Even more exciting is a light, piano-led ethereal feel, most notably on Your Mirror, Fairground and For Your Babies.  Within this generally soft mode, the rest of the disc covers a variety of sounds, including lounge, jazz and acoustic soul.

While Simply Red fans may do better to grab one of the group's greatest hits albums, for some Simply Red Simplified provides a fresh, generally softer new view of some of the band's best cuts.