Sony Schallplatten & CDs

Review: This two-disc compilation serves as both a tribute and a comprehensive dive into the legacy of one of hip-hop's most influential groups. A Tribe Called Quest were instrumental at the start of the 90s for helping the hip-hop genre move into more conscious lyrics that thanks to the members, took storytelling to a new level. Creating some of the most catchy tracks in hip-hop history, the group continue to grow in respect as one of the best acts in the genre of all time. With a mix of career-defining hits, rare B-sides and fresh remixes, this package is a rich exploration of their artistry. Tracks like 'Can I Kick It?', 'Electric Relaxation' and 'Scenario' stand as monuments to their enduring impact, racking up millions of streams and inspiring new generations of listeners. Previously unreleased gems 'Mr. Incognito' and 'The Night He Got Caught' feel right at home alongside anthems like 'Award Tour' and 'Bonita Applebum', highlighting the group's versatility and storytelling prowess. The inclusion of remixes, such as 'Lyrics To Go (Tumblin Dice Remix)' and 'Oh My God (Remix)', adds layers of freshness to timeless classics. The attention to detail in this collection is remarkable. Tracks like 'Jazz (We've Got)' and 'Check The Rhyme' sound revitalised, with crisp production showing their intricate melodies and sharp lyricism. From the playful narrative of 'I Left My Wallet in El Segundo' to the bold swagger of 'Buggin' Out,' every track contributes to the story of a group widely considered to be one rap's all time greats.

Review: The hip-hop legends' fourth album, released in 1996, marked a pivotal shift in their musical journey. The production, led by The Ummahia collective including Q-Tip and the late J Dillaiintroduced a more minimalist and darker tone compared to their earlier, jazz-infused works. Tracks like '1nce Again' and 'Stressed Out' exemplify this evolution, blending introspective lyrics with innovative beats. The reissue offers a renewed appreciation for the group's willingness to experiment and evolve, highlighting a significant chapter in their discography.

Review: Tina Arena's career-defining album takes listeners on a journey of soaring ballads and infectious pop, remaining one of Australia's most loved records. Anchored by the powerful 'Chains,' the album re-established Arena as a force in contemporary music, earning her five ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year. With six singles and a legacy of ten times Platinum status, it's no surprise the album continues to stand the test of time. Now, 30 years on, Arena's emotional connection to the music remains as strong as ever, with a national tour set to mark this iconic anniversary.

Review: Following on from last year's triumphant return to pop-punk glory that was Blink-182's ninth overall full-length One More Time (yet seventh with original vocalist/guitarist Tom DeLonge and first since 2011's Neighbourhoods), the band return to remind fans that the extensive good will they've been awarded by their devout followers on this comeback is very much reciprocated. Too early to drop another full-length, yet clearly rejuvenated to the point that new material keeps rearing its head during their continuing global tour, the trio opt to meet themselves in the middle with One More Time Part 2, which is essentially a mega deluxe version complete with ten bonus tracks, adding an additional half hour of new material (a new album in pop-punk terms). Boasting refined anthems such as 'No Fun' and 'All In My Head', while making room for darker synth-laden moments such as 'Can't Go Back' and even more Box Car Racer indebted buzzsaw post-hardcore in the form of 'Everyone Everywhere', this definitive collection offers far more than a forgettable batch of cutting room floor B-sides, and provides a comforting notion that this (one more) time around, Blink are back for themselves and the creative reward as much as for the fans and the payday.

Review: Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas 30th Anniversary edition is a refreshing exception to the typical re-release. This beautiful picture disc is a great show piece and collector edition to have. Featuring timeless tracks like 'All I Want for Christmas Is You,' 'Miss You Most (At Christmastime),' and powerful renditions of 'O Holy Night' and 'Joy to the World.' One of the most popular Christmas songs of the last 30 years, 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' is a staple during the festive season. Come celebrate one of the best Christmas albums of all time. Tis' the season! This edition is truly a Christmas gift.

Review: Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) highlights her unmatched festive spirit, establishing her as the quintessential Christmas icon. Initially hesitant about her Christmas album, she embraced the challenge, crafting timeless arrangements of classics and integrating gospel influences. The defining 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' stands as a cultural phenomenon, embodying joy amidst heartache. With a mix of nostalgia and new tracks, Carey's passion for Christmas shines through, making this anniversary edition a must-have for fans and a celebration of her enduring holiday legacy.

Review: CHANNEL TRES releases his debut album Head Rush, accompanied by the vibrant new single 'Berghain.' This latest track features fellow South LA artist Barney Bones and provides a fresh glimpse into Channel's evolving sound. Building on the sonic foundations established by his iconic 2018 single 'Controller,' Head Rush introduces new influences that signify an exciting musical shift. 'Berghain' captures the essence of freedom and unity experienced within the famed club, highlighting the pivotal role music plays in that environment. Fans eagerly anticipate this new chapter in Channel Tres's artistry.

Review: A refined reimagining of his 2020 album 3.15.20, Childish Gambino's evolution both musically and personally has come full circle. Originally released during the early pandemic, 3.15.20 was a raw, unfinished work, but Atavista polishes its predecessor, adding clarity and finality to Gambino's bold vision. The album retains its experimental nature, ranging from vintage soul to dark, electronic soundscapes, with tracks like 'Psilocybae' (formerly '12.38') and 'To Be Hunted' now more defined and impactful. The refined vocals and instrumentals elevate the emotional depth, while the stripped-down tracklist favors the fresher sounds like the title track and 'Human Sacrifice'. While the album doesn't stray far from its predecessor, the tweaks are significant. Gambino's collaborations with Ariana Grande, 21 Savage, and Summer Walker shine and tracks such as 'Time' and 'Final Church' demonstrate his ability to blend sweet melodies with dark, experimental energy. A powerful prelude to what could be his final album, coming next.

Review: Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway, reissued on vinyl for its 20th anniversary, remains a hallmark of pop-rock excellence. Selling over 12 million copies globally, it features iconic singles like 'Since U Been Gone', 'Because of You' and 'Breakaway', featuring Clarkson's powerful vocals and emotional depth. The album is a transformative journey, marked by Clarkson's desire to break free from the constraints of her label. Collaborating with notable songwriters like Ben Moody and Avril Lavigne, Clarkson delivers a diverse range of tracks, from the soaring ballad 'Breakaway' to the edgy 'Since U Been Gone'. Each song resonates with authenticity, revealing her songwriting strength alongside her impressive vocal range. Highlights include the heart-wrenching 'Because of You', which addresses personal trauma, and the infectious pop-rock anthem 'Walk Away'. Breakaway stands as her most important album, embodying her evolution from reality show winner to a formidable musical talent.

Review: Miles Davis' performance at the Paris Jazz Festival, Salle Pleyel, on October 1, 1964, is one of the many pivotal moments he was involved with in jazz history. The live recording features Davis' "Second Great Quintet," including Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums) and Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone). This quintet pushed the boundaries of jazz with its innovative approach to improvisation and rhythm and the concert showcases Davis' evolving sound as he transitioned from his earlier modal work into more abstract, avant-garde territory. The setlist features dynamic interpretations of jazz standards and Davis' originals, both highlighting the ensemble's remarkable chemistry and individual brilliance.

Review: The debut album by hip-hop duo Dead Prez was released in 2000 and quickly earned critical acclaim. Praised as a "return to politically conscious rap," it drew comparisons to acts like Public Enemy, Brand Nubian and The Coup. Let's Get Free features stark, direct lyrics delivered over sparse beats with M-1 and stic.man addressing issues like media manipulation, the music industry, poverty and systemic oppression - all of which remain relevant battlegrounds to this day. They advocate for socialism and black power while condemning societal inequalities and for that, Rolling Stone awarded the album four stars, highlighting its powerful commentary on the connections between classrooms, prisons and systemic control

Review: This record from Dead Prez is a landmark in politically charged hip-hop that blends sharp lyricism with bold and unapologetic themes of empowerment and resistance. Released for Black Friday 2024 as a special edition, this reissue on special red vinyl enhances the album's allure with tracks like 'Walk Like a Warrior (feat Krayzie Bone)' and 'Hell Yeah (Pimp The System)' the album fuses militant messages with streetwise beats that embody the revolutionary spirit of its title. This limited-edition re-release offers a chance to revisit or discover for the first time Dead Prez's powerful vision. Listening now reminds of the enduring relevance of Prez's socially conscious artistry.

Review: Released in 1990, the Canadian 'Titantic' legend's ninth - and first English-language - album, was her formal introduction to a broader international audience. While later albums would showcase her powerhouse balladry, Unison is rooted in late 80s and early 90s pop, dance and soft rock, highlighting a different, more youthful side of Dion. This reissue's title track, 'Unison', is a bright, upbeat number, blending slick production with a catchy, danceable groove. Dion's voice is confident but not overpowering, riding the rhythm with an effortless charm. 'Where Does My Heart Beat Now', arguably the album's peak, is a soaring ballad that previews the emotional intensity she would later become famous for i her vocals swelling with a mix of vulnerability and strength. Tracks like 'If Love Is Out the Question' and 'Have a Heart' lean into soft rock territory, filled with shimmering synths and polished guitar work, highlighting Dion's adaptability across genres. Meanwhile, 'The Last to Know' presents a bittersweet mid-tempo groove, layered with heartfelt emotion. Unison captures an artist in transition i blending dance-pop sheen with emotional depth. It's a polished debut that lays the groundwork for Dion's meteoric rise, offering glimpses of the superstar vocalist she was destined to become.

Review: Divisive in a big way - with outcry in Mexico over national stereotypes and concern from the LGBTQIA+ community due to its portrayal of gender transition - nevertheless Emelia Perez made a massive impact in the movie world when it landed in August 2024. Now the second most nominated movie in Golden Globe history, it tells the story of a cartel boss who enlists a lawyer to help him disappear and transition into a woman. All of which is told in a musical style, with as many tongues in cheek on screen as there are dramatic moments. The soundtrack, then, is a combination of original score composed by Clement Ducol with French singer Camille, and numbers and speeches performed by the cast, which includes Selena Gomez, Mark Ivan, Zoe SaldaNa and Karla Sofia Gascon.

Review: Francoise Hardy En Vogue - Best Of 1962-1967 captures the peak of Hardy's iconic career during her influential years on the Vogue label. Between 1962 and 1967, Hardy emerged as a symbol of French elegance and introspective pop, captivating audiences worldwide with her distinct charm and emotional depth. This compilation features her most enduring hits, like 'Tous les garcons et les filles', 'Mon amie la rose' and 'L'amitie', which embody the heartfelt sentimentality and existential undertones she brought to the French ye-ye scene. Hardy's songs, sung in French, English, Italian and German, highlight her international appeal and versatility, securing her place as a cultural icon from France to Japan. Her timeless melodies have been featured in contemporary films (including Wes Anderson's), TV series and ads, proving her enduring influence on music and style. Known for blending folk-rock, chanson and even touches of psychedelia, Hardy's work from these years reflects her unique voice in 1960s pop culture. This collection is essential for any fan of Hardy's atmospheric ballads and a perfect tribute to her role as a global ambassador of French sophistication.

Review: Allegedly one of the first ever records to make use of sampling, Jean-Michel Jarre's seventh album Zoolook brought with it a unique vibe, one well worth looking back on in light of its latest Sony reissue. In terms of notoriety, Zoolook pales in comparison to the electronic music crackerjack's 1976-8 heyday, which saw to both Oxygene and Equinoxe; but this is understandable, as Zoolook came much later, and sacrificed the grandiose mood of otherworldly space-awe for an eerier menage of playful factory hits and cacophonous dance hubbubery. Perhaps this sound - a jankier one that grew in popularity in the mid 80s - was driven by Jarre's use of the Fairlight CMI workstation and sampler, an example of a piece of gear that had the power to define an entire sound. We'd venture to say that the titular "Zoolook" is a kind of gaze that, by virtue of us living in a machine society, makes animals of us all.

Review: On Alter Ego, LISA steps into a darker, more experimental space, leaving her pop roots behind while retaining that undeniable vocal presence. 'Shadow of Love' pulls you in with its moody synths and subtle tension, setting the tone for the rest of the release. Each track feels like a new layer of her artistic evolution, exploring soundscapes that are as introspective as they are compelling. It's a clear statement of growth, with LISA working with producers who help refine her sound while giving her the room to experiment.

Review: This 15th album from The Manic Street Preachers sits snuggly with all the bands' previous releases. Hints of irony, at times it's anthemic, euphoric, one that's difficult to put down and a collection of music that offers hope and belief yet again that the world can and will become a better place. It's an album bookended by songs with Nicky Wire on lead vocals. On opening (title) track 'Critical Thinking' he tells us "It's OK to not be OK!" and to believe in ourselves. 'Decline and Fall' that follows could be one of the best songs the band have written for years. It reminds us of everything we've always demanded from the band, a rousing chorus ready for airing in large arena's (as do many of the songs on this album) and for a selection of music that may have started a little slowly, 'Brushstrokes of Reunion' continues the comforting audio experience these fifty somethings remain capable of providing after over three decades of their existence. This again boasts another infectious chorus you want to be singing long to after just a single listen. Then we're back with Nicky Wire singing on 'Hiding in Plain Sight', his best vocal performance on the album and 'Dear Stephen', a heartfelt message to Morrissey (but one 'with no moral judgement' according to the writer) inspired by a postcard sent from Morrissey in the early 1980's. The following track 'Being Baptised' boasts a guitar sounding not a million miles away from one Johnie Marr would have put his name to. The second half mirrors the first half dozen songs. 'My Brave Friend' and 'Out Of Time' Revival are certainly songs worthy of being a singles, 'Deleted Scenes' is another arena ready anthem and Late Day Peaks recognisers a decline in the creative industry ("So move indoors, be happy to hide, avert your gaze as the cinemas die") - All vintage Manics material that is just as identifiable as everything the band have provided us with in the past. Final track 'OneManMilitia' is a collection of soundbites that could easily have sat comfortably on Generation Terrorists. It's a great way to wrap up the album. Critical Thinking is an album you won't want to put down after first listen, it's the next chapter of the Manic's story, one that still doesn't feel as though it's about to end and there's nothing on this album gives you the feeling they're not ready to let anyone down just yet.

Review: Jupiter is a radiant return for Noa that signals a new quality to her artistry. Following her 2021 album, And Then Life Was Beautiful, which was shaped by personal challenges and a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Nao embraces joy and healing on this fourth outing. Tracks like 'Elevate' and 'Wildflowers' express optimism with others like 'Better Days' and 'Happy People' underscoring the theme of growth. The album blends funky guitar solos, delicious drum patterns and nostalgic sounds throughout and manages to show up great musical versatility across a rich, emotionally powerful album.

Review: More than half a century after its original release, Pink Floyd At Pompeii: MCMLXXII has returned to cinemas. Shot in 1971 at the haunting amphitheatre ruins of Pompeii, the film captured the band in their pre-DSOTM phase, during which time they were moving away from their originally overt psychedelia and space rock ventures and packing their work with a denser thematic and political verve. The DVD edition represents live versions of 'Echoes' and 'A Saucerful of Secrets', among other ashen, ruinous greats, in newly restored clarity - and that's not to mention its accompanying, behind-the-scenes studio footage of an early DSOTM studio session. This is a full 90-minute cut scanned in 4K from rediscovered 35mm negatives, with Steven Wilson providing a lush new audio mix in Dolby Atmos and 5.1.

Region code: 2

Review: This historic 1972 performance film marked a definitive evolution of Pink Floyd's artistic vision, and is possibly the moment they first truly escaped the more ephemeral pop of the Syd Barrett era and started to become the prog giants that would go on to dominate the 70s both culturally and commercially. The haunting imagery of Pompeii combined with an expertly remixed sound design by Steven Wilson turns this film from a mere document of the past into a multi-sensory experience. Meticulously remastered, each note of 'On The Run' and 'Us and Them' hang with crystalline clarity in the surround mix and the shifts between searing intensity and quiet reflectionifrom the thunderous opening of 'Echoes' to the fragility of 'Mademoiselle Nobs' - are rendered in remarkable detail. It's a profound exploration of Pink Floyd's creative process, capturing the band at a pivotal moment as they craft the sonic landscapes that would later define The Dark Side of the Moon. This release ensures that the film's timeless allure is as potent today as it was over fifty years ago, inviting a new generation to experience the alchemy between image, sound and performance.

Region code: B

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Prefab Sprout's Jordan: The Comeback stands as their most ambitious work, now reissued on stunning translucent blue and red vinyl. This expansive double LP, produced by Thomas Dolby, is divided into four thematic movements, blending pop, samba, and Steely Dan-esque sophistication. Tracks like 'Wild Horses', 'We Let the Stars Go', and 'Looking for Atlantis' showcase Paddy McAloon's mastery of both melody and lyrical depth. The album explores wide-ranging themesifrom the myth of Elvis Presley's resurrection to the complexities of love, heartbreak, and spiritual redemption. The Elvis suite is a highlight, filled with symbolic references to his life and legacy. Ending on a redemptive note with 'Doo Wop in Harlem', Jordan takes listeners on a journey through McAloon's introspective world. This vibrant reissue only enhances its legendary status.

Review: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, known for their remarkable work with Nine Inch Nails and film scores like The Social Network, deliver a techno-charged soundtrack for Luca Guadagnino's tennis-themed love triangle drama Challengers. The score is a pulsating mix of electroclash, synth-pop, and driving techno, expertly weaving traditional instruments with electronic beats. Reznor and Ross take Guadagnino's vision to heart, crafting a soundtrack that not only drives the narrative but also challenges expectations with its bold, rhythmic energy. Tracks like 'Compress/Repress', co-written with Guadagnino and featuring Reznor's vocals, showcase their ability to blend artistic expression with the film's themes of control and power. Overall, this is a excellent soundtrack that works well to support the visual or just listening to it without having seen the movie.