Reviews

The book holder rings that I ordered came about a week and a half later. They came in great condition and in professional protective wrapping. They were in new condition like it had been stated. They were easy to hang up, came with the screws I needed, and look great in my living room.

Reviews

Great 2 CD, 1 DVD set. Gov't Mule is one of the best Rock and Roll bands of this age, and this is some of the best evidence of this fact.

This has got to be one of the finest live performances of Gov't Mule. In every track, both audio and DVD, Warren Haynes delivers BIG. He certainly is one of our very best rock-blues guitarists/composers and in every instace he is accompanied by world class instrumentalists. AND it's great value for money -- over 6 hours of music!

The songs listed above here are NOT on the Deepest End! I don't think they are even by Gov't Mule. Never heard of these songs. If you are looking for The Deepest End, Live in Concert, don't choose this selection just in case....

Gov't Mule has been lumped into the jam band category, but their music is hardly just noodling solos, half-a*sed melodies and nonsense lyrics. Their albums are cohesive, SOLID, INTENSE, GREAT SONGS! A little jazz influence, too, of course. And they do like to solo--hey, it's Warren Haynes with the Allman Brothers, after all--but their material, along with the Black Crowes' latest offerings, is heads and shoulders above ANY hard/southern/blues rock band out there today. For a long time I avoided Gov't Mule because I thought they were just a jam band with long, boring, jazzy songs. Boy, was I wrong! DEAD wrong! Get ALL of Gov't Mule albums if you like Skynyrd, the Allmans, Led Zeppelin, Blackfoot, the Black Crowes....you will be KICKING yourself for not discovering this band years ago!! The only album of theirs I DON'T recommend is their latest--Mighty High. It's nothing but boring, industrial-ish reggae. If you like that kind of music, then fine, you'll probably like it. For me, it was a waste of money. I just hope their next effort is back to the blues rock that they are best known for. Find the 3-disc version of this release if you can. Two CDs and one very long concert DVD! What a deal!!

Check out Steven's website, www.hiddenpoet.com, for information about his more current releases!

Reviews

This is my first Magazine CD and I have to say that I am not disappointed. The catchy post-punk sound, with Devoto as frontman, radical keyboards, and artist song writing runs throughout Real Life. Every track is unique. I look forward to collecting the rest of their CDs.

Like Ultravox, Magazine drew heavily on the textures of Roxy Music and the paranoid space cadet ethos of Bowie. Real Life is the group's definitive work, featuring the propulsive "Shot by Both Sides" as well as Howard Devoto's stark visions of alienation and urban angst as vividly displayed in such songs as "Motorcade" and "The Light Pours out of Me." Fans of the aforementioned Ultravox, Tuxedomoon, Joy Division and Visage will certainly find Real Life a pleasure.

THE NEW REISSUES OVERALL: SOUND: The mastering job makes a noticeable difference. The mix remains true to the originals, but there's more definition around the edges of each part - resulting in more powerful dynamics and an overall clearer sound. They refrained from maxing out the volume, which also helps with the dynamics. MUSICAL CONTENT: They did it exactly right. Every non-album studio-recorded a-side and b-side has been slotted onto the ends of the appropriate albums. Previously, you had to buy the four albums, the non-album collection "Scree," and an additional disc to get the original a-side version of "Shot By Both Sides." (There was a great live 3-song b-side on an e.p., which is now only available on "Scree." Some alternate 2002 mixes of "Magic Murder and the Weather" songs are only available on the boxed set, "Maybe It's Right to be Nervous Now." The third disc of that box - the complete Peel Sessions - was released as a stand-alone cd in November, 2008.) PACKAGING UPSIDE: Magazine had great album covers, but the Virgin cds all printed a diagonal banner across them indicating that they were budget cds. So that has been rectified. Also, the new cds come in clear jewel boxes and have nice artwork adaptations beneath the cds (which also have album-specific graphics on them). Typography on the spines is also specific to the albums and their visual aesthetic. PACKAGING DOWNSIDE: The Virgin cds did a good job of adapting the back covers of the albums for the jewel box, and only the new "Correct Use of Soap" really tries to do that (poorly). The printing job is okay but not great. The typography on "Soap" and "Magic" is a little wonky, and the background color on "Soap" far more yellow than the original artwork/album. The Virgin cds also included the complete lyrics. The new cds do not have any lyrics. There's no additional graphic content either - photography, single covers, or anything else. Aside from the credits, all you get are mediocre essays that don't tell you much if you're already a Magazine fan.

There are some remasters that significantly improve the sound quality over the original CD's release (The Cure, Jesus & Mary Chain); some remasters actually sound worse than the originals (Siouxsie and The The's immediately come to mind); and then there are some that are just unremarkable. Don't get me wrong: the Magazine remasters sound fine, the audio quality just isn't a huge leap forward from what was on the original CDs. On top of that, the bonus tracks that are offered are all available elsewhere. Bottom line: If you're a die-hard Magazine fan, you probably have all the tracks that are on here, and chances are slim you'll notice a difference in sound. If you're new to Magazine and are looking for a good place to start, don't think twice about picking this up.

In my view the standout here is "Shot By Both Sides", but that's because it was still co-written by Pete Shelley and might as well be a Buzzcocks song. The album is great though, and while I've not always been the biggest fan of synthesizers the band makes them work. So while this won't be on the top of my favorite albums very soon, it is very easy to see that this is where 80s post punk got it's start.

Reviews

I had the 8 Minute Meditation book and when I realized they had the guided meditation CD I downloaded it from Amazon. I used the 8 guided meditations for the 8 weeks. They match the book well and definitely helped me with meditation.

I bought this CD for my hubby, who has decided to get back into meditation. He also bought the book, which is wonderful and highly recommended. The CD? Not so much recommended. For one thing, Victor has a speaking voice that is a bit grating for a guided meditation CD. I have nothing against NY accents but a more soothing, lilting voice is definitely preferred if one is leading a guided meditation. A better meditation CD would be Rod Stryker's "3 Meditations to Live By" (this is one I swear by). Rod's voice is much more soothing. Another issue with this CD is that during the actual meditation, Victor will pop up and start talking at the most inopportune times, startling you out of your meditative flow. Get the book instead, which hubby says has completely changed the way he looks at meditation (for the better).

Reviews

I usually like chick flicks. And characters like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde or Cher from Clueless are truly likeable 'airheads' with good hearts. This movie, though, is really annoying and borders on being pathetic. You can see the attempts at copying other movies like Bridget Jones, Legally Blonde and a few others, albeit it landing on its bottom - hard. The attempts at showing the leading character's fun side to draw laughs are really annoying. For example, when she was dancing with Hugh Dancy's character and doing those ridiculous moves with her fan.... It was more embarrassing than hilarious!! It was really painful. And the unnecessary shrill shrieks from other females are more 'what is wrong with them' than happily infectious, as supposedly intended. Hugh Dancy has zero screen presence and looks almost comical in a tuxedo. He has no ooomph, and a very, very poor version of Hugh Grant - who, BTW, has not much of a body, but looks great in expensive clothes! Dancy's facial expressions show uncertainty as to what he is doing starring in this movie. And chemistry between him and Isla Fischer..? Zero. Her cluelessness, is exasperating rather than endearing. And instead of rooting for her to see the light soon, you just want to laugh tauntingly when the debt-collector finally catches up with her live on TV. That was the highlight! Really a pathetic attempt but a very real reflection of the women we see today. Rather than being just airheads like just a decade ago, these women have gotten worse - even becoming proud of their stupidity, which they wear as a badge. The other characters are equally annoying. And most of them were supposed to be notable actors. Joan Cusack and John Goodman were so irritating, that girl playing Isla's best friend? You just want to slap her - hard! What's wrong with this hysterical witch? And she's getting married? Can you imagine the kind of kids she'll raise? Well, yeah. They already exist today, right? John Lithgow hardly register. Only Kristin Scott Thomas plays a passable role. Don't waste your time - seriously. It doesn't take your mind off these hard times. Merely remind you just how far we have crumbled and deteriorated as a society, and not likely to recover anytime soon.

I really loved this movie it shows how careless we can be with our credit cards. It shows how she sacrifices everything for a friend.It also shows a really good example on how to get out of trouble without anyone loaning money. I liked that part most of all This is a very good movie.

I watched this movie one afternoon after work. I have never read the book but may have to now, as I heard it is very different. I wanted to slap Becks up-side her head for being such a flighty person who bordered on a hoarder and wouldn't listen to Suze, who was trying to seriously help her out. She had shopping blackouts when she didn't remember buying things, ducked out of the Shopaholic meetings (nice cameo by John Salley BTW), and kept her folks in the dark. Scary how many people really are in a lot of debt because they can't stop, but I really couldn't identify with this one (mostly because I am a cheap-o and not fashion conscious). It is just a breezy, romantic comedy, not too much to think about. It is about 1:50 long, nice for a rainy day when the hubby is not around.

I didn't have high expectations for this movie, but I was curious about it because I personally struggle with compulsive spending. I didn't even know it was based on a book series... but I'll definitely be reading those now that I know! Especially since virtually everyone thinks the books are better. (Update: I tried to read the book and couldn't finish it. Here's my review of it: [...] The movie is slapstick comedy (like "I Love Lucy") with some deeper moments sprinkled here and there to bring it back to planet Earth. The plot is totally unrealistic and WAY over-the-top, but often laugh-out-loud funny. And for me personally, it was also meaningful because of the subject matter. I was very impressed with how accurately the movie depicted spending addictions, credit cards, and debt collectors. It's clear that many of the negative reviews were written by people unfamiliar with the realities of compulsive debting and spending. Some reviewers derided her spending problem as being caused by an underlying character defect which made it impossible for them to want to 'root' for her. But it's an addiction akin to an alcohol or food addiction. It's not simply selfishness or airheadedness; it can be present in people who are otherwise very giving, caring and level-headed (as apparently the books show better than the movie). The feelings she and the other overspenders depict, and describe in their meetings, are very real... though at times lampooned in the movie for the comedic value (which I found funny and not offensive at all; in fact, it felt good to be able to laugh about it). The back-and-forth conversations she had with herself about 'to buy or not to buy' were hauntingly familiar. "I need these gloves because... it's winter, and I have hands! Yes!" Many reviews also felt the debt collector was the one who was "standing up for what's right" and didn't like it that he was portrayed as being a jerk. I've never personally been a big credit card user; my overspending is with cash. But we've had some past medical debts haunt us, and I've read a lot about debt and credit, including Debtor's Anonymous literature. In reality, collection agencies are extremely aggressive and can be very underhanded. They do exactly what the guy tells his colleague on the phone to do to be effective in getting money to get the commission. Yes, they do work on commission, and yes, they will pressure and manipulate and lie to try to collect. They will call several times daily unless they receive a written notice to stop, after which legally they have to stop. (I am not sure, though, that they'd ever actually show up at your door.) So it's not as black and white as people might think who don't have experience or knowledge of the issue. As for the thought-provoking moments... Most of all, it was the very first scene which really got to me. I actually had to pause the movie and go cry! It's a scene from Becky's childhood, and the camera pans over all these beautiful girls' shoes being tried on at a store... and then it stops at a pair of feet in ugly brown mary jane/clog shoes, which the other girls laugh at and which are the ones her mom gets for her. I had almost that EXACT experience as a girl and the shoes looked almost exactly like that. And the expression on her face while the little girls laughed... wow, it brought me right back even though it's been almost 30 years. I was in 6th grade, but I still remember very clearly my feelings about it. It also touched on something that is pointed out in Debtors Anonymous: that being overly miserly with money (as Becky's mom was) is not good either and can lead to feelings of deprivation that one may try to overcome by overspending. The other thing that really got to me is near the end, when the parents offer to sell something to help their daughter get out of debt. She tells them not to sell it because the item "totally defines you." Her father says something to the effect of, "The only thing that defines me is you and your mom." Compulsive spenders tend to feel that they are not whole or complete without being able to get the things they want. Her father's reply captures the healthy mentality: that material things do NOT define us. Overall, this movie for me was a mixture of some laugh-out-loud moments, some rolling my eyes 'yea right' moments, and some deeper thought-provoking moments. I don't think most people would find it thought-provoking unless they struggle with overspending. But if they do, this movie is good therapy. To close, I want to share an excerpt from the 4-star review by Lori M. Reece because she is spot on (I hope it's OK to do this): "Many reviewers seem to feel as though the movie glorifies materialism. I feel that the movie's actual moral is to ultimately show just how unimportant material possessions actually are. This, if you ask me, is quite reassuring in these trying economic times."

I like to shop. There is nothing quite like going to a store (mostly a bookstore, I've noticed) and glancing at the shelves, seeing all the nice items neatly arranged, smelling the new purchase smell, holding the bags, glossing over your packages in the car...well, I think you get the picture. So when this movie came out, I felt an immediate connection. I wanted to see it. Becky Bloomwood is like me. She was raised with an uber thrifty mother, who bought clothes and shoes to last, not to look good and whose religion was saving. But now that Becky's an adult, she wants new, shiny...name brand. Unfortunately, that has gotten her into trouble. Sixteen thousand dollars worth of credit debt trouble, to be exact. It really gets bad when her garden magazine goes under. So she is forced to take a job at Successful Savings to make ends meet. There she meets editor, Luke Brandon...and things get challenging as she has to conceal her personal finances at the magazine. Please Note: Spoilers may appear. The actors are great. Isla Fisher is superb as young Becky, Krysten Ritter marvelous as Suze, Becky's best friend, and Hugh Dancy is always a delight to see. Joan Cusack is wonderful as the mother (she almost reminds me of my mom!) and John Goodman is excellent as the father (again, reminds me of my dad!). Even the basic plot is intriguing. In this day and age, of credit cards, we have a huge problem with credit card debt, of wanting what we can't afford. But the problems I had with this movie, and the ones that force the rating down so low, are how stupid the writers and directors must believe us viewers to be. No interview is conducted in such a slipshod manner! Becky would have no hope of being hired if she acted like the idiot she did upon meeting Luke Brandon the first time! And getting hired within three minutes of Luke reading her "amazing" article about shoes? "As if!" Speaking of writing, The Girl in the Green Scarf's articles supposedly so captivating are nothing to brag home to. All it is are a few pieces written with terrible similes: "Store cards are like cashmere coats". Geesh, if this is all one have to do in order to be a lauded writer at a respectable financial magazine, then everyone should be contributing to magazines! Let's face it, finances are finances, whether concealed in cashmere coats or platinum shoes. No fancifying it is going to make it magically appealing for this "whole new demographic". Becky makes a big deal about hiding the scarf she bought with the money she scammed off Luke...only, it is silly to assume he would immediately know she bought that scarf with his (hard-earned) money. What if she had it in her bag? Her being forced to wait tables at the ball? Ludicrous. The shopaholics anonymous sessions? Insulting. The people there were a bunch of morons, and the leader of the group was completely off her rocker, doing something that was completely inappropriate by forcing Becky to sell her newly purchased clothes. The business trip to Miami? Cringe-worthy. No brand-new employee would be taken on a company trip like that! And turning down the offer to write at Alette, after spending the whole movie clawing for it? Aggravating! I understand this wasn't meant to be a serious movie, but nonetheless, I don't like having my intelligence insulted while I try to relax and enjoy a film. Perhaps others can ignore the faults I couldn't; that's great. As for me, I give it 2 stars, and I feel that is more than reasonable. Brought to you by: *C.S. Light*

Reviews

Awful songs and plot. I stopped it halfway because it was so bad and then finished it about 6 weeks later. Phil Silvers is supposed to be funny, but his character is just pathetic. Rita Hayworth's songs (not really her singing) are done in a style which thankfully hasn't lasted. The love triangle: will Rita Hayworth's character choose riches by marrying a Broadway producer and dancing on Broadway, or will she marry the Gene Kelly character and dance on his stage in Brooklyn instead? She never discusses just working with the Broadway producer while marrying the Gene Kelly character. The movie just treats it as a given that she needs to choose the same man for her romantic-and-professional interests. I didn't even like how Rita Hayworth looks in this movie. Wearing 1940s makeup with lots of blush while being shown in Technicolor, isn't flattering for her. "Singin' in the Rain" was great because the Donald O'Connor character was admirable and the Debbie Reynolds character was appealing. Their counterparts in "Cover Girl" (Phil Silvers, Rita Hayworth) not so much in this movie. The only scene I liked was when two images of Gene Kelly dance together.

As always Rita Hayworth is a fine a performer as she is beautiful to look at.

Like 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Cover Girl' has a trio of two guys and a girl. In 'Cover Girl', Phil Silvers (Genius) is the comic relief. He corresponds to Donald O'Connor's funny man part in 'Singin in the Rain'. In Cover Girl, Gene Kelly's love interest is Rita Hayworth and in 'Rain', it's Debbie Reynolds. That's where the comparison ends. Whereas "Singin' in the Rain' is a classic American movie musical, 'Cover Girl' is mediocrity incarnate. The story isn't very complicated. Rusty Parker (Rita Hayworth) is a dancer in Danny MacGuire's low-rent nightclub in Brooklyn. Rusty decides to enter a Cover Girl contest sponsored by a wealthy publisher, John Coudair, who made an unsuccessful play for Rusty's grandmother years ago. Coudair introduces Rusty to Broadway producer Noel Wheaton who makes her into a star. Danny feels slighted when Rusty starts showing up late for rehearsals at the nightclub and decides to close the club down and go on the road entertaining the troops along with his sidekick, Genius. At the last minute, with Rusty at the altar with Noel, she realizes the error of her ways and runs back to Danny. They live happily ever after. Gene Kelly has the least developed part in the movie. All we find out about him is that he owns a nightclub and is madly in love with Rusty. Coudair and Wheaton act like besotted teenagers toward Rusty and Phil Silvers delivers some thoroughly goofy but unfunny shtick. The most interesting aspect of Rita Hayworth's performance is the scene in which she gets drunk. This foreshadows what happened to her in real life. Anyone who has read her biography will learn that she disliked Hollywood, pined away for a normal home life which she could never attain but eventually began drinking and ended up with full-blown Alzheimer's during the last years of her life. Almost all of the songs in Cover Girl are old-fashioned and not very tuneful. Gene Kelly has only one really excellent dance number and that's the scene where he dances with his 'alter ego'. Earlier, the trio has another number which is a pale precursor of 'Make em Laugh' from 'Singin' in the Rain'. The most annoying thing about 'Cover Girl' is the way in which Rita Hayworth is put up on a pedestal. A couple of decades later, Raquel Welch had the same problem. Both actresses later in their careers would always try and find scripts that showcased their acting abilities. They wanted to be known as 'actresses' and not 'pinup girls'. Unfortunately, 'Cover Girl' is an example of how Hollywood used to exploit women for financial gain.

A great movie from Hollywood's Golden era. Rita Hayworth at her most beautiful. She and Gene Kelly team up with great music and dancing. A must for classic movie buffs!

Cover Girl is a classic musical with Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly were co-choreographers, marking the beginning of their partnership. Beautifully photographed in glorious Technicolor, Cover Girl is a pure joy.

Reviews

I read a few reviews on another item from this same company that it takes a long time to get your order. I received mine in 4 days with no problems. Packaging was exceptional, color was good, pockets were made and secured well. This will be a NICE gift for my son-in-law.