CD-Charts Position 21
Average Rating:

Big Blue Ball

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Sinead OConnor, Karl Wallinger, Various Artists Peter Gabriel

Release Date June 24, 2008
This album is an excellent blend of both world music and classic Peter Gabriel sounds. You'll hear his sounds blended all through the album. Altus Silva is a beautiful melody with gaelic charm. This will not disappoint those looking for a different flavor.

CD-Charts Position 22
Average Rating:

Art of the Ud

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Munir Bashir

Release Date October 09, 2001
Often in the world music arena one has to have some exposure to various works to enjoy them. This one will be easily assimilated by those who enjoy string instruments. I would recommend sampling the CD before you buy to ensure it is what you are looking for.

CD-Charts Position 23
Average Rating:

Putumayo Presents: North African Groove

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Various Artists

Release Date June 20, 2005
Another one of world music label Putumayo's regional compilations exploring the music of North Africa, this CD has everything you've come to expect from a Putumayo compilation. Focusing on some of the big regional names in Arabic pop music, as well as cross cultural fusion, this album will not doubt be of great interest to anyone who enjoys Middle Eastern/North African music. As could be expected, Algerian Rai plays a big part on this album, including the hot track 'Ya-Rayi' from Khaled's most recent album, but Faudel, Cheb Mami and Libya's Cheb Jilani all make contributions as well. Egyptian pop music is the other big influence here, with Amr Diab's hit 'Nour el Ain' and Algerian-born pop star Sameera Said. Another pop star, Tunisia's Amina, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 24
Average Rating:

Best of Bellydance from Egypt, Lebanon, Arabia & Turkey

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Various Artists

Release Date March 12, 2002
I am glad I bought this. It is a great CD. I am a beginner and will use this to practice.

CD-Charts Position 25
Average Rating:

Concertos From My Childhood / Perlman, Foster

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Lawrence Foster, Jean-Baptiste Accolay

Release Date March 09, 1999
There's a lot of composers who wrote pieces especially suited for students. Many of those pieces are relatively "easy" to play, but are also very beautiful compositions. These pieces, and their composers, deserve to be discovered by a larger public. Thanks to Ytzhak Perlman.
I recommend this album to any violin student of any age.
Caroline Lapointe

CD-Charts Position 26
Average Rating:

Ozomatli

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Ozomatli

Release Date June 16, 1998
Ozomatli, how could you go wrong? Tasty latin, world, jazz, hip hop, salsa. How many bands can play that many styles? Ozomatli can.

Ozomatli show how you should do a 9 piece band. Please, let's not even mention Slipknot. This band actually uses each band member, you know, instead of Slipknot, who sound like they use one of their guitarist, corey, and the drums pretty much the whole time (come on, you have a sampler, a dj, two percussionists, two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, you idiots. USE THEM!!!). It's really some interesting stuff to listen to. Though the songwriting sometimes seems to falter. I don't know, but it sometimes seems to be a bit okay, not merely awesome, either great or good.

BAH! I've lost it! ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 27
Average Rating:

Bellydance Superstars 1

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Bellydance Superstars

Release Date November 12, 2002
This music is American - Arabic fusion; even Arabic classics are remixed and given a modern - sometimes techno - beat, and an electronic feel which is very far away from what one associates with Middle Eastern music. It is true, nevertheless (as has been said by another reviewer) that American colonization of Arabic, Indian and African music is widespread and now even the people of these countries themselves tend to prefer the Americanized version of their own culture. I understood the whole concept one day in India, more than ten years ago, on a very very hot day, when I was grateful for my sandals and pure cotton loose Indian clothes, when I saw Indians parade happily in blue jeans and heavily padded sports shoes, although they must have been sweating ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 28
Average Rating:

Desert Crossroads

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Etran Finatawa

Release Date April 22, 2008
"Desert Crossroads" is an oasis in the sands of music. Etran Finatawa of Niger unites the Touareg (the legendary "blue men" of the Sahara) with the Wodaabe. There's electrifying guitar wedded to the sounds of the calabash. "Desert Crossroads" is a fertile musical union between two nomadic peoples.

"Kel Tamasheck",an ode to the Touareg people,has rocking,bluesy guitar reminiscent of Mali's Tinariwen.
"Jama'aare" is a rhythmic,pulsing anthem to bringing people together. "Tekana" is a trancey ode to the beauty of the desert. The songs aren't the usual fluff fare: they are about keeping ancient cultures alive, respecting family, care for the environment. Unlike Tinariwen, Etran Finatawa is more primal and ritualistic. The rhythms of the calabash ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 29
Average Rating:

Bellydance Superstars, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Various Artists

Release Date February 24, 2004
I enjoyed this disc as much a volume 1...I know some disagree, but I liked it very much. A little different from Volume 1, but very nice in its own way.

CD-Charts Position 30
Average Rating:

Rough Guide to Arabic Cafe

CD-Charts > Music > Middle East
by: Various Artists

Release Date May 20, 2008
Following hot on the trail of 'Rough Guide to North African Cafe,' this album continues Rough Guide's move towards themed or mood CDs (as opposed to their earlier releases which tended to cover specific geographic regions). This time around, we're treated to a broader sweeping coverage of the modern Arabic and Arabic-fusion music scene, transporting you to smoke-filled coffee houses in Cairo and Damascus, cutting edge night clubs in Dubai and Beirut, and the bustling streets of Jerusalem, Marrkech and Baghdad. So what sets this CD apart from the dozens of other 'Arabic lounge' type albums out there, some of which are indeed pretty good? Well the selections for one. Rough Guide compilations tend to feature outstanding selections, living up to their name, and this particular release ... Read More: