artist: The Fixx 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: 1011 Woodland format: DVD-Audio label: CMC International Records - Silverline release year: 2003 performance: 7.5 sound 8 reviewed by: Tim Hart The ‘80s were, in my opinion, pretty dismal for music. Michael Jackson ruled the pop scene, Bon Jovi and Twisted Sister vied for rock status, and Tears for Fears were considered punk. Labels for the type of music a band fit into at that time were somewhat confusing. The Fixx could be called new wave, or even synthpop. With a darker sound than bands like Duran Duran, Men at Work, or Depeche Mode, they were able to differentiate themselves somewhat in a crowded market of bands that sounded a lot alike.

artist: Donald Fagen 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 Nightfly format: DVD-Audio label: Warner Brothers Records release year: 2002 performance: 6.5 sound 8.5 reviewed by: Jerry Del Colliano As part of the dynamic duo known as Steely Dan, Donald Fagen has had a successful career as a solo artist keeping true to the jazzy-pop stylings of his former band. The Nightfly is an album that Fagen muses in the liner notes is autobiographical, containing reflections of a boy growing up in the late 1950’s and early 1960s. Originally released in 1982, The Nightfly was re-released for DVD-Audio in 2002 and includes a stereo track, a DTS 5.1 default track for DVD-Video players and a MLP high-resolution surround sound track, along with a bonus video of “New Frontier.”

artist: REM album: Automatic For The People format: DVD-Audio label: Warner Music Group/Rhino Entertainment Group release year: 2003 performance: 7.5 sound 8.5 reviewed by: Bryan Dailey Although bands like Radiohead and Coldplay dominate the category known as “college rock” today, you could make an argument that R.E.M. was the most popular group of this small but important subgenre of alternative rock radio. To see where the trends in popular music are heading, you need look no further than the campuses of American institutions of higher education. For a span of well over 10 years, R.E.M. were critical darlings and sat in the CD jukeboxes of sensitive Gen X’ers alongside their Cure, Morrissey and Sonic Youth discs.

artist: Yes 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: Fragile format: DVD-Audio label: Rhino (WMG) release year: 2002 performance: 9.5 sound 9.5 reviewed by: Jerry Del Colliano Yes’ 1972 album Fragile is perhaps the quintessential example of the merger of virtuoso musical talent being blended together in a cohesive ensemble. At the time, Yes didn’t really understand or care about matters relating to “commercial” issues in rock ‘n’ roll. They were the youngest, hottest band in a new genre called “Progressive Rock.” The album Fragile would ultimately be recognized as the cornerstone of Prog Rock – living on for eternity on Classic Rock radio playlists with hit tunes like “Roundabout” and “Long Distance Runaround.”

artist: Joey Ramone 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: Don't Worry About Me DVD-Audio format: DVD-Audio label: Silverline Records release year: 2002 performance: 6.5 sound 6 reviewed by: Bryan Dailey Anyone who knows anything about the history of punk rock knows that the late Joey Ramone was one of the founding fathers of the genre. With their raw, straight from the garage sound and boatloads of enthusiasm, the Ramones forged a name for themselves, despite not really being too good on their instruments. Although this is not a Ramones album but rather the first solo album by Joey Ramone, it seems a strange choice to release on the DVD-Audio format. Distorted guitars and ever so slightly out of key vocals don’t make you think hi-res music, but nonetheless I opened my mind and ears to the Joey Ramone DVD-Audio experience.