Search - Alex North, Marvin Hamlisch, Johnny Alfred Mandel :: The Boston Pops: Romance Classics

More does not necessarily mean better

Little Bird | Hub of the Universe | 09/21/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording sounds less like the Boston Pops and more like 101 Strings. (That's not a compliment.) In fact, I know there are better performances of each one out there. These are actually all pleasant, familiar pieces which I like. I'm not at all sure they should all be on the same album. If you want background music while you're reading, or making love, this is perfect. If you're driving late at night and trying to stay awake, not so good! In short, the sum is less than the total of its parts. But I'm giving it a 3, because I do like most of the individual pieces, and I never give more than 4.





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Better than you think ...

bibliogal | Chevy Chase, MD | 08/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It really did not get a fair shake from the other review - with titles like "The Way We Were", "Moon River", "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing", and "Evergreen", why would you think you could do anything else that required you to pay full attention to it - like drive? I pull music like this from my shelves when I want to study or when I want music but don't want to fingerpop - I don't choose music like this if I have to drive - especially for long distances. They're soundtrack pieces played by the Boston Pops led on some songs by John Williams, and on others by Arthur Fiedler, and while you would reach for it only when you need or want nice easy background music, some do grandly soar (the love theme from Superman, the West Side Story medley) - just like you heard it in the movie at the end. That song that made you stay until the last note was done. That song that made you wonder where you could get it without the entire soundtrack. You just might find many of your favorites all conveniently here on one disc. They have a coolness to them (temperature, not attitude). They're just the thing for a lazy afternoon - or morning, or night - when you want to do absolutely nothing but listen to music that doesn't impose. So buy it. It mellows you. It does its job."