Sheet Music

Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage
$14.99
I checked this book out of the library about a year and a half into my marriage. I had heard about it from other couples that had read it as part of their pre-marital counseling. I heard nothing but good about it. The content I found was less than riveting. If you have studied about sexuality before in any detail you already know the things he will say. It may be insightful for your spouse. My husband learned some things. However, it did not improve our sex life at all. Knowing names of things does not make things work better.
He went into berating Christian parents for raising their children with a "guilt" complex, and puts far too much stock in the idea that sexual suppression stems from there. Perhaps it is because I am from a younger generation that I felt so offended. So that very well might be helpful to those that felt like they were raised by people that believed in the stork.
Furthermore, I would not call this a "Christian" book. I am sure the author is honest in his claim to be one, but this book ought not to be categorized as one. He equates masturbation as a valid medical procedure. Let me clarify he supports the spouse going off alone to masturbate in order to "improve" the couples sex life. This was by far the most damaging thing he could have ever put on paper. Medically it is not wise for a man to reach an orgasm outside of sex in order to 'last longer.' It will work only in the short run, and in the long run it will make sex shorter, and possibly lead to premature orgasms, because the mind will separate the orgasm from sex. I could not believe he did not know this FACT. Not to mention the very real danger of lusting. How is it wise for a man or woman to seek out arousal AND satisfaction without their spouse around? Who or what on earth is arousing them? Perhaps it is a valid medical procedure for women in general, but I would never want to act adulterous by seeking sexual pleasure without my husband. He does not even seem to understand how very real a danger this is.Finally, it is horribly sexist. He pushes the idea that woman ought to be sexually available to some extent for their husbands 24/7. No matter what the circumstances. I understand that it is considered by many men to be an emotional need. However, deep talking is an emotional need for woman generally. This does not mean that I require my husband to be available for a deep talk 24/7! That would put a horrible strain on him. Talking does not generally come easy for men. Just like sex for many women does not come easy. This book has a terrible double standard. It comes across in other far worse ways, but I'll keep this short. Two stars for some insight.

10 for 10 Sheet Music Classical Piano Favorites: Piano Solos
$9.99
Some of the most beloved piano pieces in the world and easy to read. Just keep in mind that the pieces are arranged for intermediate players, not original arrangements.

The Best in Movie Sheet Music
$11.95
In case it wasn't clear from the other reviews, the version of the book sold here is intended for EASY PIANO. It's fulfilling in that regard, but that means the arrangements struggle to create easy rhythms (which barely match the original composition), and are often transcribed for an easier key (or in order to avoid a key change). With a little effort, many of these can be adapted to provide the richer melodies & tonalities that you would expect to find in other arrangements by Dan Coates. The selections are diverse to the point where it's hard to determine what makes any of these the "best" -- it just looks like stuff was picked randomly to appeal to a wider audience. If I'd been able to flip through this in a music store, I probably wouldn't have bought it. The book's binding is decent, but from my experience with similar books I wouldn't give it daily exposure to the sun due to the weak type of glue used.

Sheet Music
$18.98
Like some of the other reviewers for this album, I had the vinyl when I was young. I liked it but it was only when I listened to it with older ears that I realised how truly brilliant it was/is - I 'got' the references and jokes; but more than that, I was able to immerse myself in the nostalgia and wistfulness of songs like 'Somewhere In Hollywood' and 'Old Wild Men', and see how hilarious (but still rockin'!) 'Worst Band In the World' (wonder if Malcolm McLaren listened repeatedly to this song...) and 'Silly Love' are.

Clever without being pretentious, they were four talented musicians and songwriters who couldn't put a foot wrong - if you haven't at least listened to their first four albums (before Godley and Creme departed) you're missing out on some of the best music of the 70s or any other decade: their 1973 self-titled album (perhaps a little too jokey for mine, but still great), Sheet Music (perfect, less referential and more original and mature), The Original Soundtrack (anyone with anything resembling a heart should buy this album for the song 'I'm Not In Love' alone) and How Dare You (probably the most accessible of the four; still very artistic and smart though).

My only complaint with this CD is a technical gripe - I've got the Repertoire version released in 2000 and there's some less than wonderful remastering on a few tracks. 'Silly Love' suffers in particular - on vinyl it used to have really punchy, up-front guitars, but now it sounds like a blanket's been thrown over the mix on this track - the drums have been made to sound sort of distracting and 'doofy' too. Still an amazing song though. But Eric Stewart must be peeved at what's been done to some of his awesome production work. I'd love to hear (and buy of course) a properly remastered version of this incredible album. If anyone has both the new Glam / 7t's version and the Repertoire one could they please let me know via 'comments' at the end of the review if anything's been done to fix it...?