by Van Morrison List Price:$13.00 Our Price:$10.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Label: Geffen Records
Average Customer Review: 4 Based on 25 reviews.
Sales Rank: 15
Tracks
1.
Stranded
2.
They Sold Me Out
3.
This Lion This Time
4.
This Love of Mine
5.
Magic Time
6.
Lonely and Blue
7.
Keep Mediocrity at Bay
8.
Just Like Greta
9.
I'm Confessin'
10.
Gypsy in My Soul
11.
Evening Train
12.
Celtic New Year
13.
Carry on Regardless
Editorial Review
Like a human infusion of chamomile tea, hearing Van Morrison's voice has the effect of instantly soothing even the most stressed listener. That said, some of his releases have been so mellow that they muted the '60s soul influences that had been a part of Van's appeal. Not so with Magic Time, a wonderful balance of groove and smoothness, with a "live off the floor" feel evident throughout the disc. Right from the start "Stranded" shows Van at his crooner best--relaxed, present, and joyful. "Celtic New Year" comes next with a very Astral Weeks feel, leading one to believe that this disc might be sedentary through and through… until "Keep Mediocrity at Bay" kicks in, a feisty blues romp proving that though in his sixties, Morrison still has the sass of his best previous days. Morrison's cover of Sinatra's brassy "This Love of Mine" and Perry Como's "I'm Confessin'" are full of cheek and charm. Morrison-as-producer has chosen stellar horn sections that elevate the music from good to great and come from an obvious deep love of classic blues and soul. He's a lover and a fighter (the disc has two references to his disdain of the music industry: "They Sold Me Out" and "Carry On Regardless"), but ultimately true to his own musical vision. This destined-to-be-classic release will please a wide variety of his fans. --Denise Sheppard
Essential Van Morrison
Astral Weeks
Moondance
It's Too Late to Stop Now [LIVE]
Tupelo Honey
Into the Music
Saint Dominic's Preview
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
3 Is It really Magic?
What magic hath this drunken old Irishman wrought here?...... Magic?.......It seems more like lounge-lizard dripple to me. Yeah I know I'm going to get blasted by all the "Van-The-Man" fanatics out there....But I just can't help but wonder why Van continues to put out mediocore jazz fusion crap like this. And if you doubt the varocity of my little review, then do yourself a favor. After listening to Magic, give St. Dominicks Preview, Veedon Fleece, Tupelo Honey or a little masterpice called Astral Weeks a spin. Then ask yourself....Is it really magic?
Rating:
4 still carrying the torch
Strangely enough, the problem with Van Morrison's music is his own fans. Those who persistently hang on to Astral Weeks or Moondance like a grubby child with sticky candy. Doubtless, these are towering works and arguably his best, but that does not mean that the man has no right to put out a fresh catalogue of albums, rather good ones at that.Re: Magic, this album is worth having on the merits of the first two songs (Stranded and Celtic New Year) alone. The man, who it is said, can wring out your emotions singing the London telephone directory, the man who has reignited the beauty of words like "wonder" and "contemplation" has done it once again. I detested Van Morrison when i was first exposed to his burly presence singing "turn your radio on" in Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz"., looking like an overfed character from the Flintstones. Thanks to the insistence of well meaning friends, I gave "TB Sheets" a listen. It left me shaken. After "St. Dominic's Preview" , I"ve carried a torch for rock's greatest voice. May his Irish soul live well beyond a hundred and one years. Sunu Charles, India
Rating:
5 Can Van Morrison Make a Bad Album?
I believe not I love this disc I play it when I'm sitting in my pool and I just hear the sweet melody of "Celtic New Year" or "Stranded" this CD is great believe me I love every single track and it is a powerful CD! I just can't believe he doesn't sell alot of records expcept Moondance which sold 10 million world wide. But I'm angered in the fact that people don't find his music good! Or maybe they just never really heard of him well in my eyes this is just as good as any other Van Morrison CD ENJOY!
