Don't ask me how I discovered The Ting Tings cause I honestly can't remember. I heard their name mentioned somewhere and one day, I was looking for some new music to listen to and I tried their name in a Youtube search. The first song I listened to was 'Shut Up And Let Me Go' from their first album. I was hooked. The relentless and infectious beats layered in the fantastic rhythm guitars and the most interesting vocals I've heard in a long time. This is their second album and first one I'm actually reviewing. I've become such a huge fan of this group I purchased their entire catalog in the same week. A little bit of research helped me determine this version of the album was the one I wanted to buy. It includes a whole slew of bonus tracks. Most of them are mixes, but there's also a couple of b-sides included. The album starts off with 'Silence'; which sorta reminds me of one of The Chemical Brothers' stadium anthems. It seems they always include one semi-slow song that builds and ebbs, like 'The Private Psychedelic Reel'. It's usually quite long. Even though 'Silence' doesn't fit that criteria, the progression and keyboards remind me of these tracks. And then, we're right into the funky pop rock The Ting Tings do so well. 'Hit Me Down Sonny', 'Hand It Up' and 'Give It Back' are like a power trio of funky fun goodness you can't help but shiver and shake to. All three of them are amazing by themselves but even more satisfying when you put them together. 'Guggenheim' is a bit of an anomaly. It fits the format of those old girl groups like The Shangri-Las' track, 'Leader Of The Pack'. Infused with some punk aggression, this track is definitely a stand out and quite powerful. It's followed by one of the more funky typical TTT track, 'Soul Killing'. It's probably my favorite track on the album. I love this one, but to be honest, I usually let the disc play through without skipping or playing individual tracks, that how solid I think the album is and how much I like the entire disc. 'One By One' ventures into a more electro style and the vocals are much more subdued than usual. Adversely, 'Day To Day' relies on an acoustic guitar played over some synth sound effects patches and the vocals are more soulful and layered. 'Help' is another anthem-like track, but it's also the only song I would actually consider a ballad on the album. It's followed by 'In Your Life' which I can only describe as something like Nancy Sinatra's cover of 'Bang Bang'. Originally written by Sonny Bono for Cher, Sinatra's version features a tremolo guitar and that's the prominent instrument on this track. It's a very haunting track. This would constitute the main body of the album, but then you get all the bonus material on the deluxe edition. There are two additional songs, 'Hands' and 'Ain't Got Shit'. 'Hands' is actually a mix and it sounds almost like an 80's single. There's a fun beat driven by the keyboards. Not much there, but still quite fun. 'Ain't Got Shit' is probably the most experimental track on the disc. It utilizes a simple electro beat throughout and Katie White's vocals sound rather distant because of an echo effect. It takes the tone of an old spiritual, but at the same time sounds mysterious and strange. I actually really like the song! I think it's a highlight on this disc. The rest of the tracks are mixes and a demo version of 'Give It Back'. I quite like the mixes. They're all decent and enjoyable. I'm super excited about the demo for 'Give It Back'. It's a rockin' track by itself. The demo only gives it more of an edge. It feels somewhat raw and that unpolished sounds makes it even louder, stronger and energetic. I can't recommend this group enough. They've got a style all their own. They're crossing genres and sounds to create some excellent material for your ears. I'm always surprised by the variety I hear in their music! You need to check them out. Like right now. My final words: YOU WON'T MISS WITH THIS DISC. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING NEW GROUPS I'VE HEARD! THE TING TINGS - SOUNDS FROM NOWHERESVILLE 01. Silence 02. Hit Me Down Sonny 03. Hang It Up 04. Give It Back 05. Guggenheim 06. Soul Killing 07. One By One 08. Day To Day 09. Help 10. In Your Life 11. Silence (Bag Raiders Remix) 12. Hang It Up (Inertia Remix) 13. Give It Back (Demo) 14. Hang It Up (Abacus & Vargas 'Predator' Remix) 15. Hands (Mixed By Calvin Harris) 16. Guggenheim (Andy Taylor 'Got It Right' Remix) 17. Hang It Up (Shook Remix) 18. Ain't Got Shit 19. Hang It Up (CKB Remix)
The "AmericanEP" is an EP/single from the album "Come With Us". I believe it was the final single released from the album. The same cover was used for the non-US single release "Come With Us/The Test". The difference is the color of the cover art. It's blue on all non-US single releases. I think this is a phenomenal compilation! There are 7 tracks listed on the back cover. Two of them are multi-media tracks containing the official videos for 'Star Guitar' and 'The Test'. Both of these videos are amazing. 'The Test' is a visual depiction of a young girl at a rave tripping on acid. It starts with her swimming in beside a whale and then diving into the whale's open mouth. Once inside, she's surrounded by neon jellyfish that strobe along with the beat. It continues to other scenes like her moving her hand through the air and watching it turn to smoke. The clip loses its momentum about half way through, but the imagery is nonetheless amazing. I genuinely like this video and I'm very happy with it. The other video, 'Star Guitar' is more interesting. If you've ever worked in electronic music you'll understand the intricacies of how this video was made. Music is generally a collection of simple motifs combined to make a larger piece of music. Electronic music is a more extreme example of this in that a digital motif is played or programmed once and then copied to repeat at different times over the course of the song. Additional motifs or sound effects are then added to complete an entire composition. In the same way these musical elements are combined to create a song, the 'Star Guitar' video uses visual elements to represent the various sounds you hear in the song as it progresses. Using train ride as the scale the song is travelling along, various items, people, landscapes, buildings and objects seen through the window represent individual drum beats or synth lines. It's simply fascinating! You have to watch it to get the full impact. This is also a great release because it contains all of the elements I love to see in a single. There's mixes, b-sides and even a live track. The first track is a mix of 'Star Guitar' and it's a great track. More mainstream than The Chemical Brothers usually create, but the cross over appeal to dance clubs at the time would've made this a very successful mix. There's also a mix of 'Come With Us'. However, this is a low key mix and isn't nearly as good as the original track. It's not that it's bad, but it lacks the energy, build and excitement of the album version. The b-sides are 'H.I.A.' and 'Electronic Battle Weapon 6'. Now if you know anything about The Chemical Brothers and their Electronic Battle Weapon series, you'd know that most of these songs are actually extended or remixed versions of other songs. 'Electronic Battle Weapon 6' is actually a remix of the "Come With Us" track 'Hoops'. I like 'Hoops' and so I dig this version. 'H.I.A.' is also a great track and sounds a lot like the music they were doing on the full album. This was an interesting period for the Chems and it's one I personally enjoy quite a bit. They were still pushing the envelope of electronic music composition and this track was no exception. The last track to kinda discuss is the live track. It's a medley of sorts they were playing on tour during this time. They combined New Order's 'Temptation' with 'Star Guitar' and the result is stunning. I think they were also supporting New Order on a tour and working on remixing one of their tracks around this time so the inclusion of 'Temptation' in their set may be a nod to that collaboration. All of the elements of a great single are present and I'm absolutely thrilled by the contents of this awesome release! My final words: AN ECSTATIC DANCE ORIENTED MULTI-MEDIA RELEASE BY ONE OF THE BEST ELECTRONIC ARTISTS OF OUR TIME! THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - AMERICANEP 01. Star Guitar (Trisco La Funk Dub) 02. H.I.A. 03. Come With Us (H Foundation Remix) 04. Electronic Battle Weapon 6 05. Temptation/Star Guitar (Live From Brixton Academy) 06. Star Guitar (Video) 07. The Test (Video)
The Crystal Method are a Vegas band who went to LA to get famous. They came out of that same electronic music movement that spawned The Chemical Brothers. In fact, they are most often compared to The Chems. I remember the days of Napster... And Limewire... People used to list TCM tracks as Chem tracks and vice versa. Always somebody who wants people to think they've got something no one else has. Or to trick people into listening to a different group. I discovered TCM on the local Las Vegas Alternative Rock station. Xtreme Radio actually played them back in the 90's right alongside Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Nirvana. Over the years, I've purchased a lot of their material. My opinion of them is a bit skewered. Because they're so heavily compared to the Chems, I get caught up in comparing them as well... Which, is stupid because they're actually very different bands. I think the only thing they might actually share in common is the equipment they use and the fact they're both mostly electronic bands. The Chems seem to be influenced by math and anthem stadium rock. They're psychedelic. TCM is another creature entirely. With TCM, I hear the distant influence of house music floating in the background, but what really sets them apart is the fact this band is focused on the beat. They're songs are written with rhythm in mind and the beat is often the biggest part of the song. Everything else takes second place. On the other hand, what sets them apart is the soul I hear when I listen to them. They incorporate a lot of R&B/Soul sounds in their songs. From vocalists to beats, you can hear it bubbling up. Let's face it, they're funky. And that's where their edge comes from. The first song on "Tweekend" is 'PHD' and it's a groove if ever there was one. I think this is a great opening track because it doesn't overload you, but it reeves the engine and gets you going for something more substantial like track #2, 'Wild, Sweet And Cool". This is one of the funky numbers and they don't so much play the song on the album so much as blow it up in your face! This is the game changer song. It immediately flips you on your ear and sets up the rest of the disc. 'Roll It Up' keeps the beat rolling along. This is another great tune and one you could imagine yourself blasting out the window of whatever vehicle you're driving. 'Murder' features former Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman, Scott Weiland on lead vocals. It's a decent track. I feel like it sorta drops the bottom out of the momentum though. Still, it's got a deep bass sound if you pump your speakers up. The next track is probably the strongest on the disc. 'Name Of The Game' is the reason this disc gets a parental warning sticker so if you're listening to the disc with your kids, you might want to skip this one. Even though the song is kicking and the best on the album. 'The Winner' is a track that starts off slow, but has a decent build and eventually gets the sound back on target. I actually think this song would've been better if they'd put it right before 'Name Of The Game'. You'd have the breakdown bit where everything seems to slow down. This track would gradually bring the tempo back up and the punch of NOTG would've been much more exciting. 'Ready For Action' pounds in like a military maneuver from Call Of Duty. It's just so dang funky once the beat solidifies. 'Ten Miles Back' tones everything down and actually starts off sounding like TCM are sampling sounds from old Casio Keyboards, but then their rich, textured beats jump up and you're deep in the track. I love this one too. The female vocalist is subdued and her levels are perfect for the track. She's singing about something left behind and her vocals can sometimes sound distant. At the pace this track moves, it's not hard to imagine you've left something behind. It's followed by 'Over The Line' and this groove is one for chillin'. You can listen to this number while relaxing and it will get your feet stomping without making you move your butt. It's just a nice, calm groove. Sometimes, these are the best kinds. 'Blowout' is up next and it starts off sounding like the opening theme to a science fiction series. There's some drawn out keyboard notes playing over and over until Boom!!!! The beat drops in and suddenly, you're off! This is another one of those funky beats that make TCM so groovy. It's a driving machine of a beat. 'Tough Guy' is the last track on the disc and as it starts you suspect it may also be the only ballad on the disc. And you'd be partly correct. The track is ambitious in that it's constructed of a series of movements rather than a straightforward beat or song structure. And each one has its own tempo. Still, it's probably my least favorite track on the disc even though I appreciate it the most. "Tweekend" throws you a final curve in the form of a remix of 'Name Of The Game' as a hidden bonus cut. That's always a treat and I like it when groups do stuff like that. Bonus tracks are always awesome! I quite like this disc and I like TCM so it's not a huge surprise. I don't think they're doing anything unique or different in electronic beat music. But they are the best at what they do. They're out to make you dance, not challenge preconceptions and that being the case, I think they succeed famously. My final words: GOT NOTHING TO DO THIS WEEKEND? TRY TWEEKEND! THE CRYSTAL METHOD - TWEEKEND 01. PHD 02. Wild, Sweet And Cool 03. Roll It Up 04. Murder 05. Name Of The Game 06. The Winner 07. Ready For Action 08. Ten Miles Back 09. Over The Line 10. Blowout 11. Tough Guy 12. Name Of The Game (Remix)
By the time "We Are The Night" came out I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I was already living in St. George and the only record store was this tiny shop located in a small shopping center next to the Red Cliffs Mall. I pre-ordered it in case the owner wasn't going to bring it in as a new release and when the day arrived, I left work long enough to run over and pick it up when they opened. That's right, folks... I paid full price for this disc! I later found a UK promotional copy with different artwork on eBay so I have two copies of this disc. Hence, the two pics you see for the covers. Just because I was excited doesn't mean I fell right into the groove with this one. When I first started listening to it, I wasn't feeling a few songs. It wasn't until I'd lived with the album for awhile that I started hearing the whole disc and getting into it. That's one of the things I really love about them. Instead of just throwing a huge wall of beats at you and getting you to dance, they challenge you. The music can be radically different for what you'd expect from a group considered a dance music band. For example, the very first track on this disc, 'No Path To Follow' is sorta creepy. It consists entirely of a distorted, slow voice repeating the line, "There's no path to follow." Eventually, a normal singing voice joins in and sings the line along with the effected voice. Willy Mason is the vocalist and he appears again later on the album and we'll discuss him further then. A buzzing sound launches us into a strange effect patch of bleeps and blips with a beat playing underneath that is slowly growing in volume. An ex of mine once said he hated electronic music because once the melody and the beat were established, there wasn't anything different. It never progressed beyond that. Although that's quite common with most electronic bands, it's not the case with the Chems. 'We Are The Night' hops all over the place. From the odd "Legend" quote, "Black as blackest night" to twittering birds, this one goes all over the place. It's complex and challenging. For those of you wondering what the heck was going to happen after listening to 'No Path To Follow', the Chems deliver something you can definitely consider a path. It may be random and free flowing, but there's also a lot of structure here. It even has a breakdown about three quarters of the way in. 'All Rights Reversed' features both writing and performances by the Klaxons and Lightspeed Champion. This was one of the songs I didn't really like the first time I heard it. After subsequent listens, it's become one of my favorites. I love the hypnotic feeling it creates with the vocal delivery. The music is aggressive and highly punctuated. It's got an excellent build and flows brilliantly from start to finish. 'Saturate' is up next and this is one of those songs like the original communication from the aliens in "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind". It's got a simple melody that's repeated over and over. And it's a melody that seems timeless. One that's always existed and we've all known it in our heads but never realized it in actual sound until the Chems put it out there. It's a basic scale run repeated, but still incredible. The build of the song happens not in the actual music, rather it happens with the addition or subtraction of instruments and sounds. It's such a dynamic way of composing music and adds a dimension very few artists ever achieve. The Chems seem to look at music and composition from a completely unique perspective. They don't few the music as simple compositions, they see them as artistic structures and things they can apply various scientific principles to. In this case, using instrumentation and sound to create a climax rather than changing a lot of notes. I simply don't have the words to accurately express what they've done here. It's so far beyond what anyone else is doing. 'Do It Again' features Ali Love and was the first single from the disc. It's a great track! The beats are there, the vocals are energetic and exciting... It has all the elements of a fun dance number and it delivers on the Chems reputation for making excellent dance music. It's followed by a song that's not exactly challenging, but thematically interesting. 'Das Spiegel' or the mirror as it would be in English is a mellow beat with all kinds of sound effect patches running throughout. You hear a girl giggling and making noises throughout. At one point you hear someone inhale and exhale. This is a groove you can really just sink into and enjoy. It gives the impression of someone smoking out and just being chill. Fat Lip appears on the next song, 'The Salmon Dance'. If you thought the rest of the album was strange, this song takes you to new heights of wondering what the heck is going on. Fat Lip raps about a new dance he's invented and how he introduces it at a club. All the while an electronic voice appears alongside him quoting facts about salmon. And we're talking facts. Like National Geographic facts. Now just from that description the song doesn't sound cool at all. It sounds kinda nutty and weird. And yet, it's easily one of the best cuts on the disc. The next two tracks flow into each other and they're a dynamic duo! 'Burst Generator' starts off with a subdued beat and what I can only consider to be the electronic equivalent to vocal scatting. Once the build erupts into the full musical track, the energy leaps out of the speakers like an actual burst! I'm hugely fond of instrumental music with titles you can actually relate to the sounds you hear and this one does it. With natural builds throughout the song, the number is filled with climactic bursts that explode! Like all things that climax, the tune eventually fades out and 'A Modern Midnight Conversation' kicks in. Another incredible number with an awe inspiring tempo and ecstatic beats. The two of these together are simply unbeatable. Willy Mason appears again on 'Battle Scars'. It starts with the repeated lyric, "There's no path to follow" and now you know where the first cut comes from. This was another track I didn't really like until much later. In fact, this is probably the track that took me the longest to appreciate. And it wasn't until the remix was released later on that I actually discovered how cool it is. 'Harpoons' is an ambient sound wave that just kinda washes over you. An interesting song coming off of 'Battle Scars'. In 'Battle Scars', Mason uses a couple lines that make you think of a beach and this track carries that over. In fact, together the two bring to mind sandcastle kingdoms at war. The final track on the disc is 'The Pills Won't Help You Now' and features Tim Smith on vocals. Smith was working with a band called Midlake at the time. There's one thing you can say with absolute certainty... The Chems know how to create dramatic musical builds. All of their songs seem to have this organic, natural progression that builds and crescendos. Considering the medium they work in, (electronic music), that's an amazing quality to possess. There are all kinds of standard tricks electronic artists use. It's like a government issued howto manual some of these artists use to compose. They repeat certain counts, use certain beats to transition, etc. etc. Although you can hear things like that from time to time in Chemical Brothers material; more often than naught you hear something different. Something new and inventive. When I hear people compare The Chemical Brothers to other electronic acts I cringe. They're not in the same league as many of these other bands. They're so far ahead of their time it's impossible to categorize them. And this final number is the perfect example of how they create a truly moving and powerful build in a song. Like the final scene of a movie, 'The Pills Won't Help You Now' closes out the album on both a somber and energetic note. Thematically, you may think this is a rather negative record. Some of the songs venture into dark territory and the lyrics are sometimes confusing and at odds with each other. But therein lies the true theme. The night hides all sins. Each one of these songs is a moment happening in the night. Everything from a dance floor revolution ('The Salmon Dance'), sitting around talking ('A Modern Midnight Conversation'), walking along a beach ('Harpoons') to the quiet desperation of a lost soul ('The Pills Won't Help You Now')... Every song could be seen as a glimpse into a life of someone in this fateful night. On the cover, we see a far off mountain range. Our destination? And constellations mapped out in the sky to help guide our way or our destiny. But like the opening lyrics proclaim, we learn that in the night, there really is no path to follow. I'm not convinced that's a bad thing. My final words: A UNIQUE CONSTELLATION OF MUSIC BRILLIANTLY DESIGNED AND EXECUTED! THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - WE ARE THE NIGHT 01. No Path To Follow 02. We Are The Night 03. All Rights Reversed 04. Saturate 05. Do It Again 06. Das Spiegel 07. The Salmon Dance 08. Burst Generator 09. A Modern Midnight Conversation 10. Battle Scars 11. Harpoons 12. The Pills Won't Help You Now
I have three versions of this album. One is the standard US edition. The other two are advance promo issues. One is the US advance promo and the other is the UK advance. Both versions have slightly different covers. The UK being the most unique of the two. It's a cardboard sleeve made from recycled material. At least I think it is. Musically, this album is another triumph for the Chems. The opening track is 'Music: Response' and it features a vocal sample by Missy Elliott. This is a deep track that starts off somewhat light but falls into bass rhythm section that's off the charts. It's absolutely brilliant. The second track, 'Under The Influence' is just as smart. It's got a driving beat that picks up right where the first album leaves off. There's a girl saying over and over, "I was under the influence" and the frantic keyboards and beats makes you feel almost entranced as well. I should not, on the US advance promo, this song is titled, 'Influenced'. I should also note, 'Music: Response' was released as a single E.P. towards the end of the album's promotion period. 'Under The Influence' was released almost a year before the album as 'Electronic Battle Weapon 3' in an extended version. The next track is another single, 'Out Of Control'. I like the music, but I'm not a huge fan of the song. Bernard Sumner is best known for his work with New Order, Joy Division and Electronic. He's worked with The Chemical Brothers before and he's done good work with them in the past. 'Orange Wedge' features some island sounding percussion with some high pitched synth lines playing over the drums. There's also something sounding vaguely like dogs barking. 'Let Forever Be' is another single and features Noel Gallagher on vocals. Gallagher is the lead singer of Oasis. And he does a great job here. 'The Sunshine Underground' starts off with a keyboard line that evokes the anthem quality of many previous numbers. The build is slow but cheerful and when it finally explodes, it's absolutely wonderful. It has a similar quality to 'The Private Psychedelic Reel'. These anthem tracks seem to have a 70's sound to them and they are positive and completely uplifting. 'Asleep From Day' comes up next and features another vocalist. This time, it's a singer who's also worked with the Chems before. Hope Sandoval, the dreamy singer from Mazzy Star lends her talents to this odd little gem. I'm not exactly sure what the song is about, but it's quite relaxing and serves as the first true slow song on the album. It's followed by a tune that builds the beats back up with a repeated scale building into a cascading collapse of sound. 'Got Glint?' is an interesting number and certainly adds to the conceptual nature of the album. It's followed by the album's biggest and most well known single, 'Hey Boy Hey Girl'. This is one of those tracks people expect to hear in concert and during live performances of any sort. It's a staple of the Chemical Brothers discography. And well deserved. This number rocks the beat relentlessly. Next up is another interesting track. It's 'Surrender'. The title track from the album. It should be noted, on the US advance promo, the song is titled, 'Racing The Tide' and truth be told, I feel it's the more appropriate title. When I hear this tune, I can imagine running along a beach jumping out of the path of oncoming waves early in the morning. As the sun is coming up. After a long night of merriment and happiness. The peaceful come down for a crazy trip. Jonathan Donahue, of Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips adds vocals to the final farewell track, 'Dream On'. If 'Surrender' was the gentle come down from the trip of the album, 'Dream On' is the clear bird song of the morning lulling the night time revelers to sleep. We truly become the Sunshine Underground. Finding our peaceful places to dream while the day emerges and spreads out before us. I don't need to go on and on about this album. Pick it up, listen to it and find yourself convinced as much as I am. My final words: THE PERFECT MUSICAL TRIP FOR THE OPEN MIND. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - SURRENDER 01. Music: Response 02. Under The Influence (Influenced) 03. Out Of Control 04. Orange Wedge 05. Let Forever Be 06. The Sunshine Underground 07. Asleep From Day 08. Got Glint? 09. Hey Boy Hey Girl 10. Surrender (Racing The Tide) 11. Dream On
I have two versions of this single. The US and the UK. The difference is between the covers. The US version was a limited edition printing and features a box with the number on the cover. The US edition was also released in a cardboard gatefold package while the UK edition was released in the slim case edition. I'll include pics of both. The single only features two songs. There's a slightly edited version of 'The Private Psychedelic Reel' and a live version of 'Setting Sun' recorded at the Lowlands Festival in Holland on August 24th, 1997. 'Setting Sun' has never been my favorite track, but it is enjoyable on this release. And it's exciting to have an actual live official recording from the group. There will be more detailed descriptions in the regular albums. So there's not much to say here. The only rare track is the Live Version. Still, it's unusual and for a collector of Chemical Brothers, it was an exciting release when it came out. I was always excited to find a new disc. I remember finding this single and being so thrilled. My final words: WORTH EVERY PENNY! THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - THE PRIVATE PSYCHEDELIC REEL 01. The Private Psychedelic Reel 02. Setting Sun (Live Version)
Each year, Astralworks releases a sampler of albums they're planning on releasing. I picked up this sampler because it had an edit of The Chemical Brothers track, "The Boxer". I later got a version of the single with the edit on it, but I still have this interesting piece of music in my collection. The opening track is enjoyable. K-OS delivers a strong vocal on this number. It features a rapped verses over a sung chorus. I quite like it. The VHS Or Beta track sounds like a total Cure ripoff. It's ok, but the similarities in vocal delivery with Robert Smith makes it almost unbearable. The next track by the Caesars is also ok. Nothing to write home about. The 22-20s sound like an alternative country band circa The Cult. I like this number a lot. In fact, I could picture this number in an episode of 'True Blood'.
The Röyksopp song is also nice! The lead singer reminds me of Teri Nunn and some of those early 80's female new wave singers. Except she has an accent. Still, it doesn't detract from the track. A Band Of Bees sound like something from the 60's. They have that whispy sound favored by bands from that period. I can't even think of a band they resemble because I've never been partial to that sound. The Gabin song however, is another track I like. Dee Dee Bridgewater has a great voice and she delivers an excellent performance on this track. I could take or leave the Turin Brakes track. It's got elements of country. But nothing overly fascinating. The Athlete song sounds almost like Owl City. It's followed by one of my favorite tracks on the entire record. It's by Audio Bullys. It's a techno remix of Nancy Sinatra's "Shot You Down". I just love these old songs remixed and new versions released. Someone did it with a couple of Elvis Presley songs not too long ago and I loved them.
The Black Dice number sounds like something you'd unleashed a two year old on an unsuspecting synthesizer. Very incoherent. The Juan Maclean number is fluff electro at its finest and enjoyable to listen to. It has a wonderful bass line and features shouted party lyrics. The Ben Watt number is probably my second favorite number on the record. It's different and features a spoken narrative over the sparse arrangement. Next up is Kraftwerk's live version of "The Robots". This number is entertaining and exciting to listen to. Makes me wanna hear Kraftwerk live. Shape:UK's offering is another example of fun house party beats in the grand tradition of C&C Music Factory and Black Box. The vocals are great and you will totally groove to this number. It's definitely one to blast out the window. The Beta Band sound like a grunge leftover band trying to sound important after their genre collapsed. It's not a bad song, but it's not exciting or remarkable either. Why Astralworks chose to include some of these songs and not others is a giant mystery. It certainly shows a broad spectrum of styles, but also demonstrates a limited vision on what the label is producing as far as artists. Still, not a bad listen and fun to have.
My final words: EXCELLENT DEAL SINCE IT WAS FREE. I MIGHT CONSIDER PAYING FOR IT. ASTRALWORKS - FOLLOW OUR TRACKS: 2005 01. K-OS - Man I Used To Be (Edit) 02. The Chemical Brothers - The Boxer (Edit) 03. VHS Or Beta - You Got Me 04. Caesars - It's Not The Fall That Hurts 05. 22-20s - Devil In Me 06. Röyksopp - What Else Is There? 07. A Band Of Bees - Those Are The Ghosts 08. Gabin Feat. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Into My Soul 09. Turin Brakes - Over And Over 10. Athlete - Half Light 11. Audio Bullys Feat. Nancy Sinatra - Shot You Down (Edit) 12. Black Dice - Snarly Yow 13. The Juan Maclean - Give Me Every Little Thing 14. Ben Watt Feat. Estelle - Pop A Cap In Yo' Ass 15. Kraftwerk - The Robots 16. Shape:UK - Back To Basics (Edit) 17. The Beta Band - Dry The Rain
Beth Orton came into my field of vision through The Chemical Brothers. They collaborated with her on a couple songs. She always had an interesting voice, but her tone and delivery are so subtle it never really caught my attention. I finally saw her perform on the television show Charmed and that was what really caught my attention. Her performance was so stoic and simple. She came across unassuming and completely lacking the pretentious flash and glamour of a rock star. In that shiny moment, I realized she was something completely different.
Orton's approach to this record is much like the cover photo... It's real and genuine, yet looks so much like a watercolor painting you catch yourself second guessing and taking another look. The music is beautiful, passionate and full while at the same time coming across like something non-committal. She leaves you almost wondering what comes next. 'Paris Train' is the opening track. Between the flowing, yet dismal pace of the song, you catch a glimpse of something Orton is setting you up to discover. She narrates her songs as much as sings them. There's a story happening here. The most beautiful line is, "I see right through the scenery". That line to me is perfect for how one views the world outside a train window. It slips past you so quickly it seems surreal. The follow-up number 'Concrete Sky' features Ryan Adams on vocals. It's a ballad but the combination of the two singers make it a compelling number. I really enjoy this number. 'Mount Washington' is an odd number but it has a wonderful chorus that redeems it. 'Anywhere' has a 70's soul feel to it. Orton sings it with sincerity and delivers a lovely performance once again, salvaging a potential stinker of a number and making it sweet. 'Daybreaker' is the odd man out on this record. It sounds more like something The Chemical Brothers would do for her than something Beth would choose for herself.
'Carmella' is the first truly infectious song of the album. The guitar strums in and Beth starts singing in falsetto before the meat of the verse kicks in. She gives it a driving stare and it transforms into something truly amazing. 'God Song' features a duet with Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams appears again offering some background support. It's a down home kinda song, but it's lovely at the same time. Orton proves even as an British pop singer, she can hold her own with American superstars of country music. The next song is actually written by Ryan Adams for Beth. It's called 'This One's Gonna Bruise' and it's magnificent. That's almost an unfair statement when you consider how much I normally love Ryan and his material. But Orton takes the number and makes it her own without sacrificing the integrity of the music.
'Ted's Waltz' is another minor keyed number that's off center and strange right up until Orton's light voice caresses the music and gives it some heart. She transforms a lackluster number into something truly beautiful. The last cut, 'Thinking About Tomorrow' is one of my favorite songs of hers ever. I love the chorus, "This habit's so hard to break but it's easy to make..." Truly insightful and wonderful.
Beth is on my radar and I'm following her work now. Loving what I'm hearing and really getting into her. She's brilliant. My final words: PEACEFUL SERENITY. BETH ORTON - DAYBREAKER 01. Paris Train 02. Concrete Sky 03. Mount Washington 04. Anywhere 05. Daybreaker 06. Carmella 07. God Song 08. This One's Gonna Bruise 09. Ted's Waltz 10. Thinking About Tomorrow
It's been a few days since I've written a review. It's taken me that long to move past the new Chems CD long enough to pick up something else. But finally, I've been able to set it aside long enough to write about this little release.
The Fonky Bald Heads are a band formed by New Power Generation members Kirk Johnson, Kip Blackshire and Mike Scott. Rapper DVS is also a member though I'm not sure he's famous for anything else. He may have a local reputation. This disc never received national distribution. This is another record you had to buy directly from the group.
So the inclusion of NPG members isn't enough to make me pick up a cd. But Prince wrote a song on this record and it isn't available anywhere else. An edit of the track was released as part of the NPGMusic Club back when that was going, but it wasn't the complete song.
I originally bought this disc as a digital download and then found it on Amazon.com a year or so after. I picked it up and my impression then is the same as now. There are certain tracks on this disc I absolutely love. And then there are songs I don't care for either way. What does surprise me is the material I do like.
The first track is a segue into the album and sounds like something you'd hear from George Clinton. It's spacey, grandiose and not a little pretentious. It's followed by 'Soundasame'. For those people following Prince since the inception of the New Power Generation as a band, this concept isn't anything new. He used to go on and on about real musicians who played real music and didn't lip sync onstage during a concert. 'Soundasame' basically accuses all boybands and groups that don't actually play music live as being fake and they all sound the same. I don't agree with the statement and I find this number a little tedious. The next track is a power ballad of sorts. And this one I do like. 'Under The Same Clouds' has a lovely chorus and a spirited rap by DVS that accentuates the drama revealed in the lyric's story. 'Fonky Like A' is an awesome track! It's got the funk and the groove to really make you get up and shake. I've heard three versions of this number and I like them all.
The next track is one of my favorites. 'Passin Your Name' is another awesome ballad similar to 'Under The Same Clouds'. DVS raps the verse and then the chorus is sung by Kip Blackshire I believe. It's got a wonderful story, but the deal clencher is the chorus hook. I sing along at the top of my lungs. Now that's a good tune. The next track, 'Sex In My Bones' is one I'm not partial too. It's boring and like 'Soundasame' and 'If Ya'll Wanna Rock', it tries to blend elements of hard rock into the song to give it more power. Instead, it just sounds like overlayered instrumentation. None of those tracks appeal to me and they really leave me disappointed. I should mention... 'If Ya'll Wanna Rock' is a hidden track at the end of the disc. The title comes from the internet, so I'm not even sure what it really is. But I'm guessing it's correct.
'Rowdy Mac' is the Prince contribution and is pretty good. It doesn't stand out too strongly and also includes some harder sounds but for some reason, they actually work on this track. I doubt Prince had much to do with it other than contribute to it. It doesn't have a strong Prince feel, though does remind me somewhat of 'Mad Sex'.
So my overall opinion is mixed. I certainly really like the songs I like, but I'm indifferent to the ones I don't. So I'm leaning more toward the positive here. It's worth the purchase if you stick to the songs you really enjoy and let the rest float by. My final word: FONKY. FONKY BALD HEADS - THE SELF TITLED ALBUM 01. Introdukshun 02. Soundasame 03. Under The Same Clouds 04. Fonky Like A (Remix) 05. Passin Your Name 06. Sex In My Bones 07. Fonky Lyka (Live) 08. Rowdy Mac 09. If Ya'll Wanna Rock
Well, anyone who knows me knows I've been waiting with baited breath for this disc to come out. I just love me some Chems... I've always been fascinated by what these two guys create. They do more than just write dance music. There's a lot of thought and art in what they're doing. Visually, they are just as stimulating as they are groovy. But let's talk about 'Further'...
My initial reaction to the tracks I heard before the albums release; 'Escape Velocity' and 'Swoon' was kinda mixed. I liked them, but I wasn't really counting on something as anthem-like or larger than life. The Brothers always produce music that is huge, full and often powerful. Both these tracks seemed more on the weak side and I felt a little discouraged by the potential of this disc. That was until I actually heard it.
'Snow' starts off with some odd distortion and the repeated line of "Your love keeps lifting me... Lifting me higher". Not a very unique theme in dance music. But the odd mixture of subdued instrumentation and the almost insane way the vocals are delivered gives this track a sense of apprehension. It also reinforced my initial opinion that I was about to hear some really low end dance tracks normally reserved for Top 40 pop rather than the strong, psychedelic beats of previous efforts. 'Escape Velocity' segues from 'Snow' and is actually very exciting. Especially when you're driving around in your truck with the volume up at earth shattering decibels. 'Another World' starts up and right away I thought to myself... "Hunh?" But once the song kicks in, I was nodding my head and bouncing along for the ride completely in tune with what was happening. 'Dissolve' had me literally coming out of my seat. I was so excited by what I was hearing. When the drum beat kicks in, you just can't help but feel like exploding. "Gir, self destruct." "Finally, Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
'Horse Power' seems like an obvious attempt at high octane rock with heavy beats and the song doesn't disappoint. The sinister repetition of the melody motifs and the heavy build on the drum track, make this song one of the most powerful on the disc. It forces you to take notice and get the "blankety-blank" up off your butt and get to shakin'. 'Swoon' feels like a wonderful fluffy cloud afterward and is both melodic and beautiful especially when taken in context with the rest of the disc. 'K + D + B' is an amazing tune that has all kinds of African drum sounds. It starts off as something tribal but ends up in a more traditional space. It definitely keeps the momentum of the disc moving right along. 'Wonders Of The Deep' is another 'Private Psychedelic Reel'... It has all the mystical sounds and feel of an arena rock anthem, but in The Chemical Brothers own unique style. It's wonderful, surprising and a beautiful conclusion to what I can honestly say is one of the most exciting discs I've heard in ages.
So what about track #9? Well, kiddies, this little number was what I got for buying the digital download early from Itunes. Just my crappy luck to have to buy the album twice for the special song. I hate money grabbing ploys like that. It's like being punished for wanting a CD copy of the disc. But let me be honest... 'Don't Think' is probably my favorite track from this collection. It starts off as a really cool and interesting beat track. It has some nice moments and a great build, but all of a sudden, it changes. You get some spoken lyrics, then a snippet of classical music I can't quite place and finally, a deep funky beat you gotta stick your fingers in and sniff cause it STANKS of funkiness!!! I wish the last two minutes of this song could be taken and made into an entirely different track cause it's the meanest groove I've heard in ages.
I spent two hours driving around in my truck listening to this thing. And it hasn't left my player yet. If you haven't given it a try, I suggest you do it asap. It's one of the most amazing pieces of ART on disc! If I actually rated my discs, this one would get the highest score. It's a winner, so you can't lose. My final words: PERFECTION PERSONIFIED. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - FURTHER 01. Snow 02. Escape Velocity 03. Another World 04. Dissolve 05. Horse Power 06. Swoon 07. K + D + B 08. Wonders Of The Deep 09. Don't Think 10. Pourquoi
So I knew some of the songs off this album from Xtreme Radio down in Las Vegas. They played 'Smack My Bitch Up' and 'Firestarter'. Then my friend Tony asked me to buy this disc for his birthday and I did. It was shortly afterward that I picked the disc up for myself and was completely blown away.
I'd been listening to a lot of electronic music at this time. I was really into Juno Reactor and through them, I was embracing other groups like Crystal Method, Chemical Brothers and a whole slew of compilation discs with various electronic bands. It was the rave scene and I was clubbing all the time. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this disc as well. Seems like everyone was up in arms about 'Smack My Bitch Up'. Which I just thought was ridiculous. Why all the fuss? Bands like Prodigy weren't out to make misogynistic statements, they were just reflecting a certain vibe.
The disc starts off with the pounding 'Smack My Bitch Up' and moves into 'Breathe'. Two very strong, beat heavy tracks right of the bat. 'Diesel Power' maintains the deep bass heavy groove, but slows the pace down to an almost funky level. 'Funky Shit' kicks in immediately afterward and takes you right back into the moment with some skippin' beats looping around some old school sampling. The next track, 'Serial Thrilla' sounds almost like something Rage Against The Machine would come up with. It's got a strong guitar sample playing heavily over the crashing beat.
'Mindfields' takes off at an epic pace. It's like the build in a horror movie. The anticipation builds with eerie sound and hyped synth lines before an abrupt funk beat kicks in and digs a trenching groove that cuts deeper as the song progresses. This track has the most natural and exciting build of all the songs, but is by no means the most exciting track. 'Narayan' is perhaps the least interesting track. It sounds almost run of the mill compared to the rest of the beats on the album. It segues into 'Firestarter'. This transition is perhaps the only thing that saves it from being completely mundane. 'Firestarter' on the other hand, is an extremely forceful and angry tune full of jungle rhythms and furious spoken lyrics. 'Climbatize' is the albums huge anthem song of sorts. It has a great build and moves into a steady, but lush beat structured around some classic rock hooks that eventually take on a Middle Eastern feel. This would have been a great end to the disc. But the final track is still to come. 'Fuel My Fire' sounds almost like a punk rock tune thrown in for fun. It would have come across as a hidden track with a longer break in between the two songs. As it is, it kinda destroys the rounded off ending created by 'Climbatize'.
Overall, this is one exciting and fun disc. It starts off strong and maintains a beat throughout. They rarely drop the bottom out of a song or break down into meaningless nothingness... It stays powerful throughout.
It seems like every group has one disc or album that really defines them. For Prodigy, 'The Fat Of The Land' is it. You may not like them or even approve of them, but it's a fun disc and one that should be in every rock n' roll fan's collection. Even if you don't like electronic acts. It rocks! My final word: POWERFUL. PRODIGY - THE FAT OF THE LAND 01. Smack My Bitch Up 02. Breathe 03. Diesel Power 04. Funky Shit 05. Serial Thrilla 06. Mindfields 07. Narayan 08. Firestarter 09. Climbatize 10. Fuel My Fire
Pizzicato Five is a Japanese band who gained some success in the USA when some of their songs appeared on soundtracks and in TV shows. I first heard them in the movie, "Ready To Wear" a Robert Altman film. 'Twiggy Twiggy' is played during Issey Miyake's fashion show. I really like the sound of the tune and eventually tracked down the group.
The sound of this band is retro but in an interesting way. If you take pop music from the sixties hipster scene and released brand new material today you'd have this band. Other groups have done similar things mostly using the style and imagery of this time period with new music. Bands like Deee-lite and The Chemical Brothers, but though those other groups only incorporate elements of the 60s sound, Pizzicato Five blend it completely with modern equipment to make something new and innovative.
There are lots of great tracks on this disc, which isn't surprising when you consider it's actually a compilation of their previous Japanese releases. Each track is fairly strong and catchy. If not avant garde. 'I' musically sounds like a French street musician standing beside an outdoor cafe playing the accordion for Francs. 'Sweet Soul Revue' captures the musical feel of the Motown era. My favorite tracks are 'Catchy', 'Twiggy Twiggy' and 'Magic Carpet Ride'.
I've never been a huge fan of modern Asian culture. Anime, Manga, Retro Bands... But for some reason, I really dig what this band accomplished. I was disappointed to hear they'd broken up. I'd have liked to see them in concert. Irregardless, this is a group worth checking out. It good clean fun for the whole family. My final word: NIFTY. PIZZICATO FIVE - MADE IN USA 01. I 02. Sweet Soul Revue 03. Magic Carpet Ride 04. Readymade FM 05. Baby Love Child 06. Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy Vs. James Bond 07. This Years Girl #2 08. I Wanna Be Like You 09. Go Go Dancer 10. Catchy 11. Peace Music
