Advantages: 2 albums of classic proportions; a rich meal.
Disadvantages: not really backgroud music and demands reflection

...A wonderful introduction into the many styles of the one Van Morrison. A great double album that will appeal to all who like soulful blues with R & B mixed in. Add to this a little jazz and gospel made tender by the man's mystical leanings and you have an excursion into the beautiful and sublime. If there's just one track that you can give an ear to then make it "Take me Back", a powerful pleading for lost moments of the past informed by the environs of Van's beloved Belfast. I have owned this album for nearly a decade now and hardly a month goes by without me dipping into it's evocative and touching depths. Nearly Heaven!! Search it out and pay up!... Read review

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Advantages: Van Morrisons best (probably abum)
Disadvantages: None

.... Barring possibly "Saint Dominic's Preview" this is easily Van Morrisons crowning acheivement and has been revered by the critics since its release back in 1969, I would thoroughly recommend this album to anyone.... Read review

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Advantages: What a voice! That's MOrrison's voice and the music just follow the voice
Disadvantages: To short.

...Born in Belfast (Northern Ireland), Van Morrison was steeped in the sounds of American folk & blues from his youth. By age 11 he had mastered guitar, sax, and harmonica and began perfoprming with skiffle bands in local dance halls. In the swinging '60's he joined the Monarchs and toured U.S air bases in West Germany. Beginning to improve himself versus different public and american buddies. Then he returned to Belfast, he formed Them, one of the best British rock bands of all time. The group scored huge hits like "Don't Start Crying Now", "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Here Comes The Night" and the wonderful international hit "Gloria" so many times covered by main artists as The Doors, Patti Smith, U2 but according to me never as well as Van himself... After Them disbanded, Van Morrison rebegan a solo carreer. And one of the best album... Read review

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Advantages: A beautiful and easy to listen to album
Disadvantages: That it's not longer

...I first heard Babylon on Jo Whiley and fell in love with the beautiful melody and absorbing lyrics. Father's day was just round the corner so I bought the album for my dad. It does not dissappoint, every song lives up to the single. "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" is stunning, but then so is all the album. Gray is the new Van Morrisson. Hopefully his festival performances and Radio One airplay will make him the star he deserves to be. I recommend this album to anyone who loves music, and to those of you who don't it just mught convert you.... Read review

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Advantages: Perfect
Disadvantages: NOne

...Astral Weeks was described by one reviewer as one of the top ten rock albums of all time. He then wrote that this was better. It was and still is a fair comment. Moondance's songs are more defined and less related than the albums predessor, "Astral Weeks". Unfortunately the title track has been hijacked by every MOR singer who thinks that they can sing Jazz. Still all the songs are perfect, from the opening "And it Stoned Me" to "Glad Tidings" at the close. If you listen to the album a few times the somgs will stay with you forever. Another perfect gem from Van the Man.... Read review

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Advantages: Really easy and good to listen too
Disadvantages: cant think of any

...I first heard this album just after it came out. My friend had bought it and told me it was really good. Man was he right. If u like a good piece of music which u can just listen netime this is for u. A real must have of 2000 and now its almost 2001. If ur reading this i strongly recomend like everyone else u go and buy it. As someone said he could be the next Van Morrison and he does have the same raw talent and prospects as Van did at 25. This is his first record and how many awards did it it win i lost count, he really is one to watch because his next album is going to be great. If u liked stuff like Travis The Man Who and Moby Play then i think ull like this record its kinda between the two but with all its own style and real good buy.... Read review

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Advantages: some brilliant songs
Disadvantages: that Cliff duet

...The shops are awash with "Best of" compilations which turn out to contain one top twenty single and a heap of instantly forgettable fillers. It is very rare to find one which is packed full of quality music. The Best of Van Morrison is one of the later. Make no mistake, this is the genuine article. This CD contains twenty mainly outstanding tracks from Ireland's hero. If you think you don't know any Van songs then this recording may surprise you. It certainly surprised me. The majority of these tracks are commonplace on the likes of Virgin and Radio 2's Johnny Walker show. (and no doubt on other decent radio stations I don't get in deepest Aberdeenshire) While a little young for Van at his peak I was aware of his music although I had never bought any. A couple of weeks of listening to a Napster download of "Brown Eyed Girl" persuaded... Read review

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