Reviews (2)

Movin'!
From the first time the noticable break beat kicks in, this CD flows. Techno beats, acoustic strumming and bangin bass, this CD is fast moving and gets you jumping (literally). Pretty good tune my friends. BANG ON infact!

If you like techno mixed with metal, this is the cd for you
what is really cool about this single is that this band uses elctronic and techno beats and rhythm, and mix it with heavy metal riffs. It's really cool and sounds like everyone will like it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before music journalists were throwing around terms like "drum & bass" or jungle, the Prodigy's Liam Howlett was creating high-energy dance music by marrying sampled, pitch-shifted beats to all manner of electronic timbres. This album has it all: complicated break beats, housey piano riffs, lush analog pads, frenetic and computeresque melodies, and subsonic bass. In fact, the mélange is so dense that the material demands full attention and repeated listenings to gain a complete understanding of the rhythmic interplay. --Michael A. Massa ... Read more

Reviews (48)

A sweet start to a long and prosperous journey
This being Liams first album, it reflects what he and the other memebers in the band were into at the time - pure, solid rave. It rocks, Out Of Space is excellent. Liam changes the mood of the track time and time again, with pretty raw edges to each change, but he gets away with it. Charly, trip into drum and bass version, has seen nearly all the original lyrics from the cat taken away, probably so people would stop giving the four hassle about being, "The Band That Killed Rave" - which we all know isn't true, no one said anything until the cash-in one hit wonders hit town. Liam Howlett did a great job mixing that one. As with all Liam's albums there is a great variety in his work, from the fairly chilled Weather Experience(in Prodigy terms anyway - indie kids take note, you'll still be blown away with it's speed and power), to the hard beats and raw lyrics in Death Of The Prodigy Dancers. This track is recorded from a live gig, and changed my idea of typical rave bands forever. That should be so though because The Prodigy was not a "Typical Rave Band". Each album has been a new step for the band, with their styles dramatically changing, but the hardness, and technical skill of the music never fluctuates. The album may have been around a few years, but for those of you who are slow to catch on, and still haven't got it, I think it's about time you did, it'll be money well worth spent! Get ready to have your mind blown!

Zany and Crazy
This is an album that you really have to listen to several times before you can really appreciate it. If all you know about Prodigy is Breathe and Firestarter, then you might be disappointed by this album because it is nothing like The Fat of the Land. However, in my mind, that is a good thing. This CD is close to 10 years old and it's still amazing the sound that Liam Howlett creates here. The first 3 tracks are the best especially Jericho and Wind It Up. By the end of the CD, the music gets darker and doesn't seem like anything from the beginning of the album. Highly recommended for fans of the techno/electronica genre. Don't be expecting a Fat of the Land, though.

Balancing Artistic merit, With 90's Rave anthems....
The first Prodigy album (Hardcore Enthusiasts considered it their best album), was an album that perfectly reflected the rave scene at that time (admittedly the album is hugely influenced by breakbeat techno), so the slightly happy-hardcore-esque "Your Love", the drum 'n' bass remix of the "Charly" anthem, the ragga-dancehall sampling of "Out of Space" , or the flat out breakbeat of "Wind It Up", showed and beautifully illustrated what many of the more underground clubs when playing at that period. The prodigy (or more importantly, "Liam Howlett", who produced & arranged all the Prodigy tracks), show not only exemplary production skills, but a keen eye of current musical trends & the ability to seamlessly integrate obscure samples into a prominently dance oriented template with (predictably) remarkable results.

Its 10th Birthday....
and it still sounds great!! It really is hard to believe that this cd is 10 years old, can you imagine what all the ... 'dance' music that gets in to (at least the English) charts will sound like in ten years. This sounds fantastic listenin to it (as i am right now) even today. It's a great example of electronica you can actually dance to which also qualifies as great music on its own in your bedroom. I own a lot of electronica from the likes of underworld, orbital, the orb etc.. and although i really love that sort of music theres no way, if i were a dj, i'd be confident enough to play it at a party/disco. But I'd have no problem playin this. Its just 110mph all the way through (apart form weather experience, which slows it down a bit) it makes you wonder what Liam Howlett was trippin on at the time he was makin this album, also makes me jealous that i missed all the wild raves that inspired this cd in the late 80's, thats a pretty good word to describe this album actually...wild! Its about as far removed from 'The Fat Of The Land' as the same band could make any album so if thats the only experience you have of the prodigy your not absolutaly garenteed to like this, but i can't see why any one wouldn't. In my opinion, it's also Prodigy's best album with hardly a moment, never mind a whole track, worth skippin.

Very good rave collection
This sounds nothing like Prodigy's most well-known album, The Fat of the Land. For one thing, there is almost no rapping or singing. It consists of all samples and drum n bass effects. However, that is not a bad thing. This is excellent music to dance or work out to, but you can also sit back and take it in as well. Savvy and stylish. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

They've got rohypnol
Wow. Remember way, way back in 1997 when Prodigy released Fat of the Land and people thought that "electronica" would sweep the nation?

No? Well, this single will bring you back, since it sounds like it came off the cutting room floor of that album.

Apparently Baby's Got a Temper was released to fulfill some record company obligation or other. I believe it, too. A long silence from this somewhat questionable "band", the song offers nothing new or interesting.

Prodigy is basically one man, Liam Howlett, who is all of the talent behind the act. The rest of the cast are just there to sing and dance and be there. But the music (this is really just big beat techno) is sometimes fused with the rasping voice of Keith Flint (you know, the guy with makeup and spikes on his head) who sings about rohypnol on this song. And people wanted to make a stink.

Don't bother. This single came and went. Perhaps The Prodigy will release a new album, although outside of their home UK they will most likely fight a very steep uphill battle to be relevant anymore.

So it's basically a one-off single and some mixes. Really recommended to Prodigy fans who want to hear it all, but this is blatant MP3 material.

Baby's got a temper
Although I reckon this is a pretty similar track to Firestarter I like it none the less. It's creepy lyrics and violent threatening tempo are pretty good, and I guess when it's on the dancefloor, pretty ironic.

Check out the video with the cattle milling around; you don't have to hear the Ropyhnol lyrics to understand this one. Although somehow it's never been contraversial in the sense that the slightly mis-aligned smack my Bitch up was.

It get's the party going so you can forget it all and enjoy the rest... ;)

Not bad, but still the Worst Prodigy Single
BGAT is a nice bangin' track and it's got a great video. But that is pretty much everything nice to be said about this single. The track sounds exactly as if taken off The Fat of the Land (which is not what Liam intended); the dub remix is plain simple and repetative (in comparison to Any other Prodigy track). The instrumental version is completely useless as the lyrics are so few. The acapella version is not simply not worth listening to, it is trully rediculous (having an acapella version of track that has 3 lines of lyrics, predominately non-sense, is hilarious). The video is not included, which makes the single even less desireable. Liam Howlett himself said in an interview that he hates this track, that they released it under pressure from XL Recordings and that it won't be on the forthcoming album. It think that sums it put the best. Recommended only to Prodigy fanatics.

prodigy gets back on track
Prodigy's first single in 5 years is certainly nothing ground-breaking, but it's still good and certainly indicates some growth in the group's sound, as opposed to some people who say it sounds like a half-baked Fat of the Land song.
True, it does have plenty of familiar FOTL-style ingredients: Keith Flint's crazed shouting, guitar usage, and relentlessly fast tempo. However, the differences can be found in the details, or rather, the way these elements are used. The lyrics are a dramatic improvement over anything from FOTL, which had nothing but a few lines in each song that got repeated ad nauseum. Here, there are more and more varied lyrics, which helps the song tremendously, in that it does not get old as quickly. Deep and meaningful they still aren't, but the effort's there, and it's well appreciated. Similarly, the guitar work is slightly more varied and more effective, giving the song a great punk-rock flavor.
The song also seems to indicate that Liam Howlett is trying to ditch techno elements as much as he can in favor of becoming an electronics-based rock group. Except for the keyboard pattern used throughout the song and the drum machines giving the song its rhythm, there are no techno sounds or elements in sight. By contrast, Firestarter contained several detours into techno effects and atmospherics that balanced out the rock stylings. Though the song still sounds good without these effects, it's somewhat worrisome to think of them being gone for a whole album, as they help to give FOTL's rock tracks their edge.
The only flaw with this single is that it contains no good b-sides or remixes, just cut-up versions of BGAT(instrumentals, vocals), which are pretty boring and don't add anything. Aside from that, Baby's Got a Temper is a decent comeback and drops some good hints about their upcoming album's direction.

Just what'd you'd expect.
If you're a fan of the prodigy already you'll definitely like this single. I don't know why people are putting it down so much though I do agree just as with Firestarter Kieths vocals do get annoying which is why the instrumental version is a must. My only criticism is that htis single is exaclty just what you'd expect and nothing different.. hopefully we'll hear a new sound from the prodigy with the release of their upcoming album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There have always been at least two meanings to the words "alternative rock"- -hat the indie kids consider to be left of the mainstream dial, and what MTV considers to be to their left. MTV's version usually incorporates artists that have already received tons of press and are pretty much part of the mainstream already. Even MTV2, supposedly the hipper sibling of the original, plays it very safe with new artists. Handpicked is MTV2's collection of what it calls "fast-breaking talent," but there's no smoke and mirrors here--most of these bands and songs have already been played a ton by both by MTV and commercial radio. Represented are heavyweights like Radiohead, Brit crooners Coldplay and Travis, singer-songwriters David Gray, Pete Yorn, and Ryan Adams, and comedians Tenacious D. There are also a few acts more realistically called newcomers, such as Mystic and Lostprophets. (And then there is Cake, who had their time in the sun years before this compilation came out.) Handpicked is an extremely straightforward album--these are the acts that MTV2 has put in heavy rotation at one time or another and don't fit in the nu-metal, rap-rock, or teen pop genres, making this album a condensed soundtrack for the channel's 2001 broadcasts. --Jennifer Maerz ... Read more

Reviews (2)

C
This c.d has some great songs on it. The main thing that i like about this c.d. is that it really isn't pop. My favorite songs would have to be "Yellow" by Coldplay, "Sing" by Travis, and "Life on a Chain" by Pete Yorn.

Great Compilation album
...Concerned about buying an album from a one hit wonder? Have you noticed that compilation CDs are increasingly doing better on the billboard charts, especially around the holiday season?

There is one reason for it. VALUE. Compilation CDs enable an artist to reach a big audience through licensing out a song that has already been released as a single. In doing so they hope to increase their individual record sales through drawing in new listeners to their music. By the time the CD is released the single should have already maximized the revenue potential for the record company and, at the same time, the music fan like us gets to buy NUMEROUS songs for an incredibly reasonable price. In this case, MTV2 has licensed the 18 tracks shown below, of which at least 8 of them kick butt in my opinion.

When it comes to music reviews, I don’t do many because tastes vary DRAMATICALLY from person to person. Kind of ironic given it takes less time to listen to a CD then read a book, huh? Or maybe it is that people want to express similar attitudes with books do to the time invested in reading it. Anyways, BUY THIS CD. IT ROCKS. I have the albums for 3 of these artists as I was a fan of Dave Navarro, Pete Yorn and Ryan Adams but there are TONS of great tracks on this CD.

1. Sing - Travis
2. Life On A Chain - Pete Yorn
3. Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake
4. Rexall - Dave Navarro
5. Yellow - Coldplay
6. Save Me - Remy Zero
7. Sometimes - Ours
8. Idioteque (Live) - Radiohead
9. Name Of The Game - Crystal Method
10. Sleeping Faster (US Mix) - Lo Fidelity Allstars
11. Babylon - David Gray
12. New York, New York - Ryan Adams
13. Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five For Fighting
14. Screaming Infidelities (Remix) - Dashboard Confessional
15. The Life - Mystic
16. Pain - Stereomud
17. Wonderboy - Tenacious D
18. Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja - lostprophets ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic standout album
David Holmes has outdone himself. Under his new "Free Association" monicker, he has collaborated with some singers to produce a fantastic album. Very cold and dirty sounding through-and-through, the album seems to want you to hate it, but you just can't. Some may classify it as drum'n'bass, but I really don't know what to call it.

The variety of music here isn't diverse, but each song definately has its own sound. It starts off loud and hard with "Don't Rhyme No Mo'" and then drifts into the harsh but beautiful "I Wish I Had a Wooden Heart" - and by then you're already into the album, so the following "Le Baggage", "Free Ass-o-c-8" and "Somedays" slip by without incident, until you get to perhaps the best and most unique song of the album, "Everybody Knows". This track is so much different than anything I've heard in a long time - a very refreshing change. Combining almost goofy, stressed vocals along with heavy bass and dirty organs, this is definately the standout track of the CD. "Pushin' a Broom" and "La Dolce Vita" continue the album until you get to "Paper Underwear", another standout track. No vocals, and a bit warmer than most the other tracks, "Paper Underwear" is almost misleading as to what the rest of the album sounds like. Then, the finale track, "Whistlin' Down the Wind" is almost a bit dissapointing. It's very calm and almost quiet, and doesn't fit with the theme of the album, but I suppose it is nice to be brought down easy from such a harsh high.

This album is worth whatever you pay for it. If you like the sounds of RJD2 and maybe some hip-hop artists, then you'll most likely find this CD as great is I do. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Pick
This cd is a little above average.It is fast and very pulsating, quickly putting you in the mood to go to a club and get wild.However it lags in the middle.The start is strong with more of a funky freestyle breakbeat type of music, the end is a mixture of some overplayed trance and house songs with a few twists and energetic remixes that make some of the songs ring through as if new. The middle though is boaring and very bland, causing you to either loose interest or skip to the end. With just a few song replacements this cd would be unbeatable when in the mood to get down.

DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP
Maybe because I saw Fatboy's remix of Renegade Master or Planet Rock 2000that I thought that this would be the techno compilation I had to have. However, I was, needless to say, disappointed.Don't get me wrong, thisalbum has its share of great tracks.Besides the two I just mentioned, thefirst 8 tracks are definately worth listening to.But from there it sortof drops off.Everything starts to run together and my interest waned. They went from energy-packed ,toe-tapping, unmistakable tracks like Funkyinto some cookie-cutter, "heard that a million times" tracks likeLe Plasir and Break it Down.It began solid but they should have stuckwith the same style they started the CD off with.

A Must Have for Any Breaker/B-Boy
From the first time I heard the Renegade Master and the Planet Rock Remix I knew I had to have this cd. Great from #1 to #18. If you are a B-Boy or love Breaking you must get this cd.

This cd is awesome!
You've got to pick this one up. All the tracks are slamming, especially Reach Up High.The mix of it is outstanding and gets you pumped from the very beginning.Ravers and clubbers have to get this one!

absolutely fabulous!!
the songs are great! propellorheads and fatboy slim are awesome.. great buy! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great CD For People who like Digital Music
I thought this collection was great, but not as good as the first one. It has some pretty hot beats like Cetch Da Monkey, Believe, Luv Dance, 3lectro, and Dub The Dice, and even comes with a pretty good sampler. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because CD 2 completely sux. There is nothing good on there, and the first song - (where the hell did that come from???) Still, I am looking foward to future Digital Empires

Excellent CD
"Aftermath" features the next step from "Digital Empire-Electronica's Best". Released in the same year, this cd features more selections from the previous cd's artists. The fatboy slim "big beat" edits are definitly my favorite on all the "Digital Empire" cd's. On this cd, BT's "Godspeed" definitly gets my attention as well as "Florr.i.d.a", "Deep Sky" and definitly Crystal Methods "Coming Back". If you like the first DE cd, you'll like this cd. Check it out! Bi Bi from BoBo

wow.. just... wow
i gave this one 4 out of 5 cuz regardless of your taste, this cd has such a wide variety that SOMETHING isnt going to be cool for you.
lemme jus say that Back On a Mission (DJ Dan Remix) is one of the best house tunes ive heard in quite a long time oh WOW what a buildup! aside from that, there are quite a few killers on this collection. pick it up!

Quite a Well-Rounded compilation.
Disc one, opening up with "Crystal Method's Comin' Back" an excellent track! Although, I must admit it gets repetitive after a while. Its hardly one of the highlights of this compilation. The next two tracks are kewl within themselves. You have to listen to them for a while to "catch on" Propellerheads remix of Velvet Pants track four, isn't really impressive... Still its a good track for the compilation. I think the original is like 10x better though. Frankie hits you constantly with claps on the fifth track, I dont recommend that one for pleasurable listening. If you like headaches, well... the rest of disc one besides "GFS's Creep" which seems to be a form of D&B, I kinda like to listen to it while im chilling out, and "Deep Sky's Legend" If you are a fan of dreamy trance. This song kicks you have to hear it, it's on my favorites list!

Disc two is definitely the better of the two! It opens up with some happy techno music I dont even really want to analyze... I guess if your in a really trippy mood... Anyways, Track Two *Another highlight of this compilation* Roni Size keeps you moving with this track, its a killer! From the beginning he starts out relatively slow.....building you up for this total lapse into tha kewlest beat! Its definitely going to make you move! The Third track, a remix by the chemical brothers (I find it to be apparent) They just have a way of twisting the beat into their own sound. Its a very likable track, a little selective but listen to it a few times you will start to love it. Now, the fourth track is a Dance killer. From the beginning the beats seem to be sending earthquakes right through the floor! Turn this shi0t up because the track is going to level you! The Mantronik Track *highlight of the compilation*, has some of the coolest vocals you will ever hear, this track definitely did "blow my mind" Its VERY addictive. Even if you dont buy this compilation, hear this track because its worth your attention! Cirrus track, on a mission... not very kewl... its a little too cluttery sounding for me. Expansion Union! Playing with lightning! This track, omg talk about building the sound, throwing you all over the place! Another *highlight of the compilation*. Juan Atkin's skyway is a chill out track...play it low and stay layed back... Well, we made it to the absolute *best track of the compilation* Transeau's Godspeed. This guy does trance like nobody else, besides maybe van Dyk. BT's trance is a little less traditional but nonetheless very enjoyable! Listen for the climatic sound building.... The highlight of all trance tracks. That drum roll prelude, you know? The next two tracks are pretty kewl but not worth noting, the last track of the compilation, Dont stop by the freestylers... Pretty uplifting I would say! It sounds like it could be a cheerleader music or something but its worth a listen!

Well you've heard my direct opinion on this compilation. Go ahead. Buy it. I have bought lots of music and I recommend this compilation to you. It has those tracks that "keep it active in your cd player" Peace all.....

11 OUT OF 10!
This compilation gets bonus points from me. The previous compilation was a "best of" set, giving new electronica fans a wide variety to listen to. Meanwhile DE II takes it a step further, exploring smoother and harder sounds than before.

All the returning artists did well with their second contributions, except for Rabbit in the Moon. "Floori.d.a" lacked the consistency of their previous releases on "Digital Empire" and "Urbal Beats" (another great comp). It wasn't what I expected to hear from past comps, but was okay.

Roni Size's "It's Jazzy" did excellent with its fast moving drum loops and sharp cuts into the sound.

But the highlight of it all was probably the contrast between neighboring songs "Playing With Lightning" by Expansion Union and "Skyway" by Infiniti. It goes from the hardest sound to the smoothest sound on the album and they (strangely enough) fit together in the lineup like key to lock.

And finally, I received a nice little surprise inside the 2 CD set--a CD sampler titled "In The Mix," which covered more of the club scene that DE II didn't really cover.

So, considering the total package deal, I give it an 11 out of 10 with a bonus point for it's depth and value. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Carter does it again
This is a great tripped out dub/ragga/bigbeat/whatever album. Blistering bass beats, wicked vocals.

Lion in the Hall is monster. As are Jah Music, Steppa's Ball and Ward 10.

Carter really needs to get that new album out.

Work Your Body...
A stunningly brilliant combination of electonica, crunching big beat and tripped out dub. A great disc for the car, the dancefloor or for just chilling at home. Jon Carter's ability to mix so many different styles and vibes successfully must be heard to be believed. If you dig 'Death in Vegas', 'Crystal Method', 'Chemical Brothers' or just about any of the groovier downtempo or heavy dancehall reggae, check this one out.

My favorite Big Beat CD
No CD in my collection gets me moving like this one. I recommend it to anyone interested in big beat, electronica, etc. . . Great diversity of rhythms and emotions. Simply terrific from start to finish.

An undeniably dark and dubby, provocatively sexy album
The bassy madness of The Whore of Babylon with it's immense build up makes you want to throw yourelf around your bedroom, whipping your hair around your head in a manic frenzy. Retreat Wicked Man is so filthy you can't help but move to it. It makes your very skin quiver with excitement while rocking you upwards and leaving you yearning for more. Blow the Whole Joint Up just takes things to where they should be when you're out and about in any decent club. Just feel the cool vibration of the bass and allow it to twist you up into this whirlwind of thunderous, wondrous, thought provoking sound before it gently, but sadly, drops you back down, exhausted. These songs are so low down with bass and yet move with such agility you are left no less than beguiled, sweaty and mesmerised.

same comments
hey on my last review I credited Barry Ashworth of the Dub Pistols. The mastermind behind Monkey Mafia is Jon Carter. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get your go-go boots!
Yeah baby! The Shirley Bassey influence continues on on this hip shaking cd. Lost loves that result in an "I"m gonna getcha back" lyrical attack and tribal drums that set your head a-bobbib'. The bass lines walk up and down the neck making this cd one for the mods! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Breaks, Bass, Melodies, and Scratches
I can simply describe this mix in two words: pure genius. The track selection is essential and will please just about anyone. Simply Jeff will have you thinking the tracks were meant to be played together when they were originally made, with each track complementing the next in the transition. The scratching on tracks 4 and 10 are incredible with their funky sounds and wicked patterns, I often find myself playing the scratches over and over. So get Funk-da-Fried and listen to one of the best breaks mixes ever.

Also, if you like breaks, be sure to check out Adam Freeland and his nu school breaks. Tectonics and Coastal Breaks (1&2) are all good. :-)

Simply the Best
I first heard Simply Jeff at Club Utopia in Vegas. Ever since then, I've been a fan of his. This cd is just awesome. I think it's one of the best ever...if you're into breaks, you will not be disappointed.

Funk Da Fried 2
I spent a weekend in Chicago (home of acid house) and a buddy of mine turned me on to this cd. Holy Cow is this awesome! This is the evolution of acid house! Totally tripped out (like the title suggests) from beginning to end, you will be "rolling" your head wondering what planet this music comes from! This is the best music I have heard in a long time!

Buy this CD!
If you like electronic music especially Breaks you will love this CD. His first one Funk Da Fried was good, But this one just kicks a**. It has it's more Newschool style get up and dance, tacks and then the trancey beautiful track. But not stoping with the breaks once. If you are going to buy one electronic breaks Cd, buy this, I swear you will not be disapointed.

This CD is a lean, mean funk machine.
Simply Jeff is livin' the funky life with a strong, eclectic blend of beats on "Funk Da Fried Vol. 2." He gets things rolling pretty quickly after a simple introduction track of his own making and I would advise hanging on to the nearest barstool during the next eight tracks. S.J. unleashes a brilliant mix of funk during the first half of this CD. He does a fantastic job of blending tribal beats with kickin' futuristic sounds. The downfall of this mix, however, is that the momentum is somewhat lost during the latter half of the CD. Don't get me wrong though. There are still some fairly amazing tunes flowing through it, but overall the mix drops in velocity. All in all, this doesn't mean much because the first stretch of funk makes it worth the purchase. If you dig DJ John Kelley, Uberzone, or the like, don't hesitate to give this a good listening to. It will surely bring a sexy little smile to your face. ... Read more

Album Description

Fatboy Slim bounds into 2005 with the third single from his critically acclaimed album 'Palookaville'. A jaunty cover of the Steve Miller classic, The Joker features the legendary Bootsy Collins (Parliament/JBs) on vocals and is infused with quirky humor vintage Fatboy, and a track repeatedly singled out for praise from the album. Skint. 2005. ... Read more

Album Description

International version from Richard Fearless and Tim Holmesaka Death In Vegas follow up to 2000's critically acclaimed Contino Sessions. Guests include Liam Gallagher, HopeSandavol and Paul Weller. Featuring the single 'HandsAround My Throat'. BMG. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Please People...........
.........if you MUST criticize DIV for being too 'retro' because of an appearence by Liam Gallagher (hipsters LOVE to hate Oasis) at least prove to me you can spell his name correctly. No, it's not spelled 'Galagher'.......but thanks for playing.

As for my two cents on the album - it's top. It mixes electronic and transient-style to create an aural ambience all it's own. Blending 60's psychedelica (GASP! How COULD they?) on some tunes and more modern noise on others, it's a winning combo.

Cameos by Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) Paul Weller (the Jam) and yes, Mr. Liam Gallagher are all first rate: It's Liam's punk rock-style that hits home hardest to me on the title cut "Scorpio Rising." He sings with a venom he hasn't had since 'Definitely Maybe.' Awesome. Weller's cut, a re-working of Gene Clarke's "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" is another gem. In fact, it's one of the strongest Paul's put his vocals to since his solo career started. Hope Sandoval contributions are angelic yet rough, creating just the type of contrast DIV want.

Make no mistake - this isn't retro (and if we're using that godawful label, isn't ALL music really retro?) at all - DIV are doing their own thing, which to me, can only be right.

Don't listen to detractors who can't even spell the name of the artist they're bashing. Just check the album out and judge for yourselves.

NO FILLERS OR REDUNDANCY HERE!!!
I'm actually shocked that some reviewers are calling this release redundant or say it's containing filler material. Nothing could be further from the truth in my opinion.I was anxiously awaiting the release of this CD and I wasn't dissapointed one bit.I had already purchased the 2 "Hands Around My Throat" single CD's & DVD and SCORPIO RISING lived up to my anticipations.
"Leather" is an instrumental(most groups don't have the intestinal fortitude to release instrumentals at all)that starts out as annoying fuzz and ends with annoying feedback turning into fuzz that becomes the opening of the second song, "Girls". What more could anyone ask from a song? "Leather" builds to an eighties underground pop(yes, there really is such a genre)feel.
"Girls" builds itself with electronic and vocal layering until it becomes a fast-paced worthy of any dance floor and then BAM...DIV masterfully brings it down to minimalist style to end.
"Hands Around My Throat" is the first song on the CD to actually feature vocal leads. It starts out with the irksome(read that as great) click of a scratched vinyl disc which soon becomes part of the beat.This is a tremendous song.
"23 Lies" is a slower paced offering with some great vocal work by Susan Lillane.
The title tune, "Scorpio Rising", is reminiscent of a drug induced journey back to 1966 and the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Liam Gallagher's vocals add the perfect touch here.
"Killing Smile", featuring Hope Sandoval on vocals, fits the style & sound of the music to a T."Killing Smile" is a bit of bluegrass meeting the underground with a little classical reinforcement.
"Nalja" certainly isn't filler material by any stretch of the imagination. DIV has always dared to be eclectic. You never know what's coming next, but you can always count on the musical excitement it will bring you, without fail.
"So You Say You Lost Your Baby" is a true classic that never made it.Paul Weller stops in to add his vocal touch on this 35 year old gem originally written and recorded by the late Gene Clarke of the original Byrds. This is another great trip back to '66 Hollywood.
"Living Horses" slow moving, moody sound accentuates Dot Allison's beautiful vocals. This is another masterpiece not to be missed.
The final song "Help Yourself" had Hope Sandoval returning to do the singing. This is yet another great song that builds in just the right places at just the right times, right up through the stylish, softened conclusion.
I don't know what DIV fans were expecting, but I fail to see how this CD could be much better than it already is. There's absolutely nothing wrong with looking to both the past and future at the same time, and this CD does just that. The mix and production could never be improved upon, and for me to say that is almost unbelieveable in itself. "SCORPIO RISING" is a major music lesson for all who dare listen.

Floating away into mushroom Hell
This album gets 3 stars for "Hands Around My Throat" and the last track alone. Other than that, what we have here is a band that seems to be trading in musical innovation for redundant experiments in psychedelia. It almost makes the gutsy "Contino Sessions" LP look like a fluke. It's tough to tell if they'll pull it together for the next album, and for now I'm just going to assume they recorded this album while on a very bad, very extended mushroom trip. Because they really have proven themselves to be a great band in the past. Check out "Contino Sessions" and "Dead Elvis." They don't disappoint the way "Scorpio Rising" does.

A good mix
This album offers a great mix of musical styles, though some of the songs occasionally sound a bit to much like fillers in between the better tracks. Hand around my throat is a great old style track and I even liked the beatlesque title track with a cameo by Liam Gallacher.

Great Album!
I have to start with the last song in the album. It is a master piece. With vocals by hope sandoval this (over 10 min long) song makes you understand the true power of music. you have to hear it to understand what i'm talking about.

and now to the rest of this great album:
the first song "Leather" is like a brilliant long opening to the second song "Girls" which is very good. "Hands around my throat" and "scorpio rising" are the most radiofriendly songs and they are really great. the rest of the album (with the exception of "natja") are songs with an alternative feeling and a great sound.

this is one hell of an album.
buy it. ... Read more

Album Description

Lee Coombs delivers his eagerly anticipated debut artist album Breakfast of Champions and tears through a torrid throng of musical genres, crashing through every box on his way.

Seb Fontaine and Pete Tong noted Coombs as the ‘man to watch’ after his Future Sound of Retro album was released on Finger Lickin’ in June 2001. Remixes including Quivver and Sister Bliss set the stage for success to follow. Soon his talents were being called upon to put his twist on everyone from New Order to Lamb to Moby.

For this album, Lee has collaborated with some of the finest producers around including Dylan Rhymes, Christian J, Andy Gardner (Plump DJs) and Jem Panufnik (Soul Of Man). Breakfast Of Champions captures the carefree sunshine of Ibiza’s Space terrace towards dark ebbing klaxon horns and sleazy tribal echoes with "Black Elk Speaks". The album’s eponymous track takes on grimy acid house that would send the freaks down at DC10 running for cover before the soothing vocals and glinting guitar twangs of Coombs’ remix of New Order’s "Crystal" lends sanctuary to the sinister breaks of "Dubhead" and the Axel F-styled electro of "Would Be True". ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Florida style at its best
This is one of my fav albums by babyanne.I can actually call this a mix,in which I can let the entire thing play and not get bored! If your a breaks fan go pick this one up

Not the best, but still good
I bought this after buying her Mixed Live in Las Vegas CD and I truly feel spoiled by the Las Vegas CD. "I'm About to Break," lacks the intensity that Las Vegas has right from first track all the way through the whole CD. I.A.T.B. does not really get going until about half way through the set and when it does get there it feels like it still has not quite hit that peake you would expect from mid-point of the set. For me this CD is good for backround music because it just does not make me want to move my a** like the Las Vegas set does. But it is still a good set of tunes to hear while you are already preoccupied with something else. Avoid this if you are only a casual breakbeat/techno listener. I Highly reccommend the Mixed Live in Las Vegas release to anyone remotely interested in any type of high energy dance music. This one is really only for devoted Baby Anne fans.

Ghetto breaks :)
We all love baby Anne- shes great at what she does and as far as ghetto florida breaks go, shes the bst. But in all honesty I was a bit dissapointed in the track selection this time around. Though Im not sure thats really her fault, Florida breaks have kind of been lacking for a few years, in my own opinion.

Also, I wanted to quickly state my opinion about the review before mine...to the "club dj" who cant say who he is...what are you doing mixing already mixed cds? And why cant you name the names of the tunes, and not call them by numbers? In any case, I do not think you are for real and next time you shoudl at least try to write a more convincing review :)

But, back to baby anne...if you like this, then I recommend grabbing her bass queen in the mix cds. Both are absolute gems and she absolutely shines on both disks.

BREAKBEAT QUEEN
As a club DJ, (sorry can't say who I am) working at club SPACE in Miami, I love using this CD in my mixes, my favorite tracks are track 11 turn the lights down and track 15 on the dance floor.
Track 11 has an upbeat feeling to it but it also mellows you out and at the peak of the song, (where the vocals are) it brings you to an emotional high that is hard to come down from.

When I first heard track 15, it thought, oh great a filler track. howver when i heard the entire track i fell in love with this CD, this track makes this CD the BEST BABY ANNE has come out with. I have seen her preform live at different venues. At icon in orlando, at Ultra 2000 and 2001 at, level, the tunnel and space. This CD comes real damn close to her live performances which are breathtaking in energy and bass. at the 3 minute interval of the song, it drops into a piano chorus that brings you to a relaxing melody but soon turns into a crazy energized beat around the fourth minute and doesn't stop until the end of the song.

"FLORIDA BREAKS FOR KIDS"
Once again the bass queen hits the shelves with a new cd. Since Moonshine seems to be signing every decent breaks dj there is........the message is clear.....breaks are going to be the next big thing. If that is going to be good....decide for yourself but now back to the cd. Anne is dropping a ton of bass heavy unreleased florida tracks. There are a bunch of corny tunes on there but it seems like that's the way Florida Funky Breaks are going right now. Her tune "Fury" simply sucks and so does Icey's release for her cd "Thor". The Icey tune is still a bit better but both of them sound like a 15 minute production. For me the cd really peaks when Anne drops her new mix of "She Said" followed by a new Dynamix II tune. The cd is certainly a must for funky breaks fans but it is aimed at the younger crowd. For those who are fed up with the current Florida sound check Simply Jeff's new mix cd.......guess what.....yes out on moonshine as well.
The cd is ok as far as the mixing goes....I mean she never was a especially great mixer. The mastering and sound quality are great just the way you would expect it from a moonshine release.
All you electro breaks heads watch out for Uberzones first Mix Cd coming out in August.........guess what........right on Moonshine. It seems like Pete Tong signing Icey has woken up a few minds.
All in all Baby Anne's CD is not for me anymore I guess. An OK booty party breaks when you are in the mood for it. If you want to hear more intelligent breaks check Rennie Pilgrems "Tribalizm" CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Mix of a Great Song
I normally don't purchase singles. But when I finally broke down and got the US Release of "DecksanDrumsandRockandRoll", I couldn't get enough of it. So, I decided to hunt down every single I could. I found this one for $2.99 and it's one of the best $2.99 I've spent on a CD. The 2 track (Take California and Party with Jungle Brothers) single really makes this one worth it.

Back to hunting down more singles :) ... Read more

Amazon.com

After 2000's incredible 3-disc set Xen Cuts, Zen delivers another journey into turntablism as only a label like Ninja Tune can provide. With such wildly creative artists spinning under their banner, it's no wonder the label loves a good compilation. Artists like Coldcut, Kid Koala, and The Herbalizer compose in their sleep, dreaming of wax like the rest of us do sheep. Zen focuses on those dreams, cherry-picking some of the more ambient breaks for a mix that hovers over the decks, like a ghost, sampled and spun along with the music. The tracks here are a bit overly-familiar; Amon Tobin's "Get Your Snack On," brilliant though it is, has been included on comps like this once too often already. Still, the 2-disc set has a plan: Disc 1 is the smooth one, the yin to Disc 2's yang, which cuts and scratches with more edge and "street" experimentalism. Sometimes, the smooth and the edgy tangle up, like Sarah Jones' eyes-wide-open rhyme in DJ Vadim's otherwise sleepy "Your Revolution." Those looking for an introduction to such turntable jumbles would do well to start here. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (3)

great compilation...
this is a great double disc set to listen to in the car. a little bit of everything in here. enjoy!

Alarming lack of reviews for this one...
so feel obliged to add one. Very tight and imaginative electonica and breaks; the finest of the ninja tune label on two tidy cd`s. If you`re even reading this then there`s bound to be something on here that you like and you`ve never heard anything like before. Genres get annhilatled and blended to perfection with none of the patchy lack of quality that you`d expect from such an ambitious compilation. This is very strong make no doubt about it. The feeling for me is that of a very groovy party, the kind where every tune interests but few are familiar. Play this when your mates are round and sit back while they admire your good taste!

Dope turntabilism.
Very good, with the like's of kid koala and dj krush on it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Best Chems single ever!
This is simply the Chemical Brothers' finest single of all time among their many landmark releases. It is the only place you will find track 2, 'Prescription Beats', a monster of a track that will leave your body and nerves a mashed mess on the dance floor, maybe their hardest track to date, but still funked up like only the masters can do. Also on track 3 is the awesome funk fest that is 'Morning Lemon', featured on their mix brothers gonna work it out. 'Morning Lemon' is in my opinion their best b-side ever, easily being featured on an album if they chose to. Track 4 is a fun and memorable mix of block rockin by the Micronauts.

ITS AWESOME
i can listen to this cd over and over and it just doesnt get boring, how the hell do they do that?

Block rock my mind!
Play it on a dancefloor and you can then seperate the musiclovers from the ordinary greyscale.

Although I've listened to this song over 1'000 times, I still get excited like the first time.

If you don't already own it - buy it!

Block rock n beat's
As far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best song's ever created!

The song has a hiptonic effect!

CooL!!!
To my opinion it's the best song EVER released by Chemical Brothers! It catches your mind, your soul & your body...

...cool CD! ... Read more