Groove Yard, JVC Music XRCD re-issue 1997 Performance 8.5 Sound 9 Stylish and groovy, Wes Montgomery and his brothers Buddy and Monk crank out a very enjoyable and classic performance including "Bock to Bock" and Carl Perkins' "Groove Yard". Akira Taguchi, the producer of the XRCD release, digs deep into his bag of audio tricks to make this record stand out as excellent.

artist: Roy Orbison function popUp(URL,NAME) { amznwin=window.open(URL,NAME,'location=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,width=380,height=450,screenX=10,screenY=10,top=10,left=10'); amznwin.focus();} document.open(); document.write(""); document.close(); album: The Very Best of Roy Orbison format: CD label: DCC release year:   performance: 7 sound 7.5 reviewed by: Jerry Del Colliano I stay up late at night sometimes watching TV. You know those Discovery Channel documentaries about Fighter Planes therefore I may know more Roy Orbison songs than any other 23 year old on the planet. Time Life Music has made me over-aware of the musical significance of Mr. Orbison with their late night media barrage of value packed Roy Orbison LPs, long-play cassettes and CDs.

artist: After 7 function popUp(URL,NAME) { amznwin=window.open(URL,NAME,'location=yes,scrollbars=yes,status=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,width=380,height=450,screenX=10,screenY=10,top=10,left=10'); amznwin.focus();} document.open(); document.write(""); document.close(); album: The Very Best of After 7 format: CD label: Virgin Records performance: 7 sound 9 reviewed by: Jerry Del Colliano If you like soulful and familiar R&B jams that are very well produced and arranged, look into The Very Best of After 7. The record leads of with a cookin version "Sara Smile" the Hall and Oates classic. Other highlights are the remix of the uptempo, radio hit "Can't Stop" and "Taking My Time". This record is loaded with hits and is consistent from start to finish. Sonically, the bass on the record in very deep and not too boomy. The production is great but very pop oriented with lots of reverb and other effects. As their name imply, After 7 is best served at night, for adult contemporary activities.. if you get what I am saying. Load up the changer with some Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass and After 7 and go to work.

Virgin Records | Performance 6.5 | Sound 6 | They are gaining popularity in The States and they are huge in Europe. Blur is a pop group that has a wide variety of flavors to choose from including winey "Brit rock" to Beatles-esque ballads to super lush radio singles. This record has a few hot cuts on it like "Song 2" and "MOR". Their sound is like an uptempo Oasis who is a little bit more angry and with more of an edge. If you did Euro-pop you may very well dig this Blur record. It has a lot of (almost punk) energy.

makin' moves . . . everyday, Priority Records Performance Quality = 5.5 Sound Quality = 5 The obvious question after reading the name is, "well, are they?" To that it can only be pointed out that the truth is entirely subjective. Sometimes, this group is as good as it gets. Other times the attempts to be the next to achieve TLC-like fame with out declaring bankruptcy or burning down the house get tiring. In rap or R&B the unwritten rule seems to be, when ever unveiling a new group make sure some proven artists are on their album to help establish credibility. Both executive producers Erick Sermon and T-Smoov make sure of this by giving the audience a dose of Keith Murray, Redman, Kenny Green, Erick Sermon himself, New Edition's Ronnie DeVoe, and the writing of Faith Evans. The unfortunate part of this is that this trio from Houston doesn't need any help. Songs such ...