Amazon.com

So there's this pop singer... you may have heard of her? Madonna, she's called, and the word is that she's basically all image; she went through a put-your-hands-all-over-my-body phase, then she got spiritual, and then she started wearing cowboy hats. Between all the gossip columns and photo shoots, though, she's left an unmatched trail of devastatingly wonderful singles--roaring dance records, tender ballads, and a curious combination of the two that is her personal specialty ("Secret" and "Ray of Light"). How many artists' best-of-the-second-decade collections crowd out legitimate hits? ("American Pie," anyone? "This Used to Be My Playground"?) Unlike 1990's Immaculate Collection, GHV2 doesn't have any new material; "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," from Evita, and the glorious '60s pastiche "Beautiful Stranger" are the only songs that haven't appeared on a Madonna album before. But it compresses her past 10 years worth of records into an hour of one peak after another. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (249)

Good compilation, probably not for the collectors
While not nearly as instantly gratifying nor as cohesive as The Immaculate Collection from 1990, GHV2 is still a satisfying retrospective of Madonna's 90s+ work.

A number of musical styles characterized much of her music during this time, producing an interesting diversity of work; a little retro club here ("Deeper and Deeper"), some R&B there ("Secret", "Human Nature"), a sprinkling of torch-song ballads ("Take a Bow", "Don't Cry for Me Argentina") and a good dose of electronica for good measure (everything else). Not everything fits well together, but the songs on their own are good and show considerable maturity in songwriting and vocal performance.

The collection is a little top-heavy on selections from Ray of Light and Music. If you have those two albums, you basically have half of this CD. Minor hits "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (a non-US single), "The Power of Good-Bye" and "What It Feels Like For a Girl" could have been swapped for the more commercial "Fever," "Rain," and "I'll Remember" possibly balancing the collection a little better. But the former tracks were likely included to capitalize on the artist's Drowned World Tour, occurring around the same time, which largely focused on her latter work. Not a bad idea.

Most of the tracks found on GHV2 are edit versions, geared towards casual listeners. Some of them are not so good, like the butchering found on "Ray of Light." And "Frozen's" haunting, symphonic solo has also been trimmed to a mere few seconds.

Single remixes fashioned like The Immaculate Collection may have jazz things up a little, and accommodated a wider buying audience. The package design is attractive with a nice collage of pictures, chronicling Madonna's photographic evolution (I don't know about her Cher impression, 1st pic on the bottom row).

Overall, a solid and listenable collection.

A great follow up to "Immaculate Collection"
Ciao! fellow amazon reviewers and shoppers.

Madonna has done it again with this thrilling and different collection of hits. I am very happy to learn that Beautiful stranger made it to the track list!

Out of all the songs, I personally think that Madonna's MUSIC, THE POWER OF GOODBYE, BEAUTIFUL STRANGER AND BEDTIME STORY ARE my favorites.

If you don't know the track list, it is as goes:
1) Deeper and deeper 7" edit 2) Erotica radio edit 3) Human nature clean radio version 4) Secret 5) Don't cry for me Argentina original non dance version 6) Bedtime Story 7 The power of goodbye 8) Beautiful stranger 9) Frozen 10) Take a bow 11) Ray of light 12) Don't tell me 13) What it feels like for a girl non dance mix version 14) Drowned world/Substitute for 15) Music

The photos inside the booklet are amazing and they show her in all imaginable poses and styles. Actually, the whole concept of the artwork is Madonna's different looks from the start up to the present. Even the graphics on the cd itself are cool and offer a bold and new look to the incredible Queen of Pop's journey of success.
There is a song for everyone. If you like serene and serious stuff, "Don't cry..." is for you. If you like moving, unearthing trancelike music, Bedtime story is for you. I liked the idea of Madonna continuing right from where she left off with the "Immaculate Collection.

Unfortunately there are no remixes on this compilation. It would have been fun to find the remixes from her new singles here. Oh weeeeellllll. It's okay because whatever the Queen of Pop does suits me fine.
Upon reading the writeup inside the booklet, I first thought it cool that Madonna wrote something for her fans, but instead, it was written by Dan Cadan. The writeup was interesting because I learned a little more about Madonna than I knew already.
I think you will appreciate her a whole lot more after reading it.

The cd cover is an unusual for Madonna. Usually we see her whole face or her whole body. Here, she is close up and dramatically made up, and I find her expression both seductive and shy.
This woman knows what music is and knows how to make it. 5 big huge gold stars for this collection.

Sing on Madonna, and hope you will come up with another collection some time in the future.

Enjoy the cd and hope my review helped you.

Almost Complete
The amazon.com reviewer is right. This compilation is missing two great singles "This Used To Be My Playground" and "American Pie." Another complaint is that the single radio version (Miami Remx) of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is not included--it's the soundtrack album version. But still a good buy for Madonna fans. A-

More crap from an old woman doing music for old people
Same old same old from Madonna. She mainly appeals to unhip people over the age of 47 now. She looked about 57 when this album was made.

You can pick this one up and her others at the local used CD stores for $1.00. They have dozens of copies.

Madonna's Greatest Hits Volume 2
Definitely better than the over-hyped travesty known as 'The Immaculate Collection,' which is nothing a but a collection of over-chopped over-remixed classic tunes. GHV2 does a rather good job at showcasing Madonna's high points in musical culture during the fabulous 90's. Despite some MAJOR omissions in regards to HITS (i.e. I'll Remember, Rain, This Used To Be My Playground, etc.) this album focuses on all the different genres the Queen of Pop embarked upon during those years. Maybe not a great effort to a diehard, but pretty dang good for a beginner or a casual listener. Give it a spin! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With songs that fall exactly in between Michael Jackson's Off the Wall period and A Taste of Honey, Jamiroquai's Synkronized is a funk-disco inferno that is distinguished from its 1970s counterparts only by its 1990s production. It contains all the same ingredients: wah-wah guitar, electric piano, soft-sided strings oozing out melody, pot-bellied bass, and a blasted-out horn section that evokes images of three guys stepping in sync while their sequined flairs swipe over white patent-leather loafers.While the funk is steamy enough to flatten the tallest 'fro, Jay Kay's impeccable ability to emulate Stevie Wonder's vocals brings on the cool side. But the album isn't all about a time warp. Just when you think Jamiroquai isn't going to step a toe beyond 1978, "Supersonic," the seventh track, throws down an acid-house riff that works in didgeridoo and a synthed-out cow bell. "Where Do We Go from Here" rocks with a leap-frogging blues piano and tangy bongos. The album's grand finale, "King for a Day," is a regal rock-operatic excursion embellished with fully orchestrated piano and strings. Overall, this Jamiroquai jamfest is an irreplaceable summer-in-the-city album. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Great !
Even though it's not as good as Travelling without Moving or Return of the Space Cowboy, Synkronized has some really great tracks. The best being Butterfly, Canned Heat, and Falling. This CD has more slow songs than some of his other albums, and i can't say i have a problem with that. The only song i don't really like is Supersonic, even though I can stand that.

1. Canned Heat - Great Up-Tempo song. Off "Center Stage" soundtrack. 10/10.
2. Planet Home - Another Upbeat song, though not as good as Canned Heat. Still good. 8.5/10
3. Black Capricorn Day - Not one of my favorites. A little too rockish and the song is too slow. It's like a fast song caged in a slow beat (hard to explain). 7.5/10
4. Soul Education - Great Song. Typical Jamiroquai funk. 9/10.
5. Falling - I personally love this song. Slow, & jazzy. 9/10
6. Destitute Illusion - Upbeat. Good song to dance to. 8.5/10
7. Supersonic - Strange, electronic beat. Not Jamiroquai's best. 7/10.
8. Butterfly - Best Jamiroquai song I've heard. The lyrics aren't impressive, but the beat alone merits a 10. AMAZING. 10/10.
9. Where Do We Go From Here - Decent. 8/10.
10. King For A Day - Has almost a halloweenish, scary beat. Even still, it's not bad. 8/10.

If you don't have enough money to buy all the Jamiroquai albums, you can skip this one, but it's still a sound investment.

The Lords of Funk Return Once Again
As the band's fourth studio effort, "Synkronized," truly validates Jamiroquai's status as the most popular and gifted soul group out there. Fresh from the success of their best selling "Travelling Without Moving" album, Jay Kay and his band return with a fresh sounding sound that no one can try to imitate.

The first single "Canned Heat," is a high-tech, funk creation that brings the bands to their roots. Fast, beat-laden rhythms and Jay Kay's moving vocals made this song a hit during the summer of 1999. Other tracks such as "Planet Home," show how Jamiroquai is able to use various international musical styles (in this case their use of salsa in the third-quarter of the song) really can rock a crowd without them really knowing what they are hearing.

Other songs as "Supersonic" and "Butterfly" are some of the album's great tracks, however unlike their previous album, this album is short on songs that made "Travelling Without Moving" such a huge international hit. Nevertheless, "Synkronized" is an awesome album. Give this and all of Jamiroquai's albums a try, and I can guarantee that you'll become bonafide fans. No one can resist the power and sound of Jamiroquai.

What happened J?
This is the point where I simply said ciao to being a Jamiroquai fan, because this album is really poor. I was hesitating on giving it 1 star, but that would be unfair because it does achieve some sort of music flavour, but following on from Travelling, Jamiroquai had totally lost their creativity with this one. Strings have totally taken over where horns and synths used to rule, and make this album depressingly flat. Rather than being in any way cutting edge, the obvious characteristic from the 1st 3 albums, it turns into a really bad version of Earth, Wind & Fire. It simply doesn't compare to earlier work, even Travelling, but especially Emergency and Space Cowboy. Maybe it was Denise, or maybe it was that JK became closer to his cars than his supposed environmentalism, but whatever the guy lost it with this one.

Funk Never Left Planet Earth
Funk, disco, dance, the list of genres can go on and on... Jamiroquai is no fad band caught in a time warp. They are the current real thing giving their own unique and sophisticated spin on these styles of the 70's and early 80's...Some of the productions like the opening track Canned Heat should make Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson proud since you can hear the strong influences. But make no mistake, it is STILL Jamiroquai's own material and sound ! There is something familiar but yet oh so futuristic. Highly infectious grooves with a little dash of some early and late 70's Motown feel on some tracks that do indeed harken back to the day when Stevie Wonder was feelin' Superstitious...Out of all the Jamiroquai cd's or productions I find myself always going back to this one from 1999. You will too !

Worth adding to your collection!
I agree with others that this isn't as good as some of Jamiroquai's earlier albums but it's still worth adding to your collection. It has some real "classics" that you will play over and over again. In fact, the last song "King for a Day" os probably the one track that was a let down, that plus the fact that this CD appears to be shorter than others. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The U.K.-based Sneaker Pimps combine standard rock guitar parts with trip-hop beats and clear white-soul vocals, and, when strumming an acoustic guitar (as on the first single, "6 Underground"), the trio is virtually indistinguishable from Luscious Jackson. While using electronica's signifiers--jungle's rattle, trip-hop's dark churn, ambient's synth washes, hip-hop's samples--Sneaker Pimps never stray far from the comfy world of the pop song. Becoming X's opener, "Low Place Like Home," is only one step from Alanis, while the rousing closer is as breathy and sunny as the Cardigans. --Roni Sarig ... Read more

Reviews (74)

Beautifully Dark
I bought this CD because I heard "6 Underground" and liked it. It turned out that every other song is good too, and the album maintains the 6 Underground feel. This is the CD that first got me hooked on the trip-hop/downtempo genre. I describe Becoming X as a melodic version of Portishead's Dummy. The CD creates a dark, moody atmosphere which Kelli (Vocallist) tops off perfectly.

Compared to the other Sneaker Pimps CD's, this is my second favorite, second to Splinter. It is the only one with a female voice, but the voice isn't what makes the band. I'd rate Becoming X a 9.5 out of 10 and Splinter a 10 out of 10. Becoming X is more bass line and drum heavy, while Splinter relies more on melodic guitar riffs and orchestra clips.

I's reccommend this album to anyone who listens to music to feel Zen. Buy it if you like Radiohead, Portishead, Hooverphonic, any other Sneaker Pimps, or any other Trip-Hop.

Uneven, hints at greater promise, still worth a listen.
I bought this CD on the strength of its second single (but the first I can recall hearing in the US) "6 Underground", which in my opinion was one of the best songs on the radio from late 1996 through Spring/Summer 1997. There are two versions of the song appearing on "Becoming X", including the "Nellee Hooper Edit" which was released as the single.

The truth is that the rest of the CD doesn't approach the level of "6 Underground", however...and in fact doesn't come close. That's not to say that there aren't worthwhile points of interest elsewhere on the album, though..."Postmodern Sleaze" being chief among them.

But the album never completely finds its own identity; the use of organic instruments such as the acoustic guitar among an electronic armada of sequencers, samplers, and other assorted synthesizers is a difficult mix to master (and very rarely executed to perfection...see "Personal Jesus" as the one standout example). "6 Underground" pulls it off well, but it's almost as if the band didn't want to push the envelope any further. Kelli Dayton's vocals are also hit-and-miss, ranging from sultry and soulful to aggressive and enigmatic. It seems she can't decide whether she's Tracey Thorn or Bjork. She doesn't seem quite comfortable with all the songs on the CD, but it has to be said that there are moments when she's quite inspired.

I will say that this isn't one of my favorite CD's, but it must have some hold on me as I also bought its pseudo-sequel "Becoming Remixed" when it was released in 1998. But so much of "Becoming X" seems as though it was remixed from a previous, more organic project that remixing it seems to be a redundancy. It's not the most shining example of trip-hop that I've ever heard, but any Massive Attack or Portishead fans won't be completely disappointed with it. Kelli's subsequent departure means The Sneaker Pimps now have a markedly different sound, so associating their latest efforts with their first would be an oversight that the curious music fans would do well to avoid; give it a shot.

Fan at 1st Listen
I became aware of this group about 6 years ago when I saw the video for "6 Underground." I instantly became a fan! This album infuses the lead's voice over bass, drums, synthesizers, etc. The songs make you feel something deep within your soul like "Post-Modern Queen" and "No Place Like Home." I recommend this album as an introduction to anyone who wants to know what electronica and trip hop is about.

kelly dayton
Sneaker pimps f'ed up when they kicked Kelly Dayton
now they have stupid vocals and ok beats
this is without a doubt the best album ever released by them
dispite lame attempts to progress as seen in ALL other sneaker pimps albums splinter and bloodsport and i think 1 more?? hmmm i guess it doesnt matter since I know they all SUCK

maybe one day they will work with kelly again and moke a second jewl but till then this is the 1 to get

Becoming X
I've only heard 2 songs from this album, but both are excellent. i find my self often adicted to the electronic sound, and Kelli Dayton's haunting vocals in "Becoming X". And "6 Underground" has the feeling of regret to it, and the lyrics are amazing. THIS IS THE ONLY GOOD SNEAKER PIMPS ALBUM. THEY SUCK WITHOUT KELLI DAYTON. she started a solo career i believe, and changed her name to Kelli Ali. (im not sure why) but i highly recommend this cd. ... Read more

Album Description

58 all-time disco classics in a deluxe 3-disc set!

Many rock critics declared "death before disco," but the general public knew better. Disco was catchy, exciting, and most important, fun. Shout! Factory celebrates disco's '70s explosion and peak, as well as a few early '80s aftershocks, in the 3-disc set Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion. Each disc is crammed with the biggest hits of the day, as well as cult favorites. This companion set to the PBS concert special of the same name is a blast from the past that still sounds amazingly fresh today. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It didn't take the postmotherhood Ray of Light to prove that Madonna is a big softie; this collection of ballads and slow jams had already done that. Somewhat confused in intention--the scalding ache of "Oh Father," a 1989 song for her own dad, is shoved between the sex of "Rain" and a version of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You"--this is nonetheless a highly listenable album for those who dig Madonna for her music as much as for her cultural significance. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Truly something to remember!
An amazing album by Madonna, filled with a collection of slower tunes/ballads by her. Also included are some new tracks never heard, or remixed, which truy make this album special.

Some standouts include:
"I want you", a remixed song of Marvin Gaye, done with Massive Attack, who made this track absolutely awesome!!!! 10/10

"I'll remember", the theme from the movie "With Honors". Really nice song 9/10

"You'll see", a great slow song, kinda similar feel to it as "take a Bow" 8/10 (Also check out the fast version which is great)

"This Used to be my playground", theme from "A League of their own", slow, sad song, but nice. 8/10

"Love don't live here anymore" - a remake of the song she did in the 80's, however this version is a remix, and if u take the time to listen u'll hear the different beats from the original, and will really like it 8/10

Forbidden love - pretty song 9/10

Oh Father - check out "Like a Prayer" album for reviews 9/10

Some things to remember....how about more new material????
For the average person who doesn't buy every single Madonna release out there, this collection of Madonna ballads is a treasure trove.

It includes great songs that were released but not included in her studio albums (I Want You (two versions), I'll Remember, This Used to Be My Playground, Crazy For You (also previously included in Immaculate Collection); two new songs: You'll See and One More Chance; some of her greatest ballad hits like Take A Bow, Live to Tell, and Rain. Also some other notable album tracks like Love Don't Live Here Anymore (newly remixed here, from the Like A Virign LP), Forbidden Love (from Bedtime Stories, and I really don't care for this one), Something to Remember (from I'm Breathless).

Other ballads were curiously omitted, like "Promise to Try" from Like A Prayer, "Sooner Or Later", "The Look of Love" among others.

However, for die-hard fans, this album may be a little disappointing because we have heard it all before. In her previous hit collection, "The Immaculate Collection", at least the songs were remixed so they sound different, here, the old tracks that are in this collection are really nothing new. Also it is jarring to listen to Madonna's You'll See and then switch to Crazy For You, recorded at a time when Madonna's voice was higher...giving the album a patchwork feel.

I also wished that more new songs would be included here. Sure, You'll See emerged as one of her best ballads, but One More Chance leaves a lot to be desired.

I just can't help feeling that not a lot of effort was put into this album. It came across like a quickie production made for a quick buck.

The Ballads
This is a collection of Madonna's best ballads. There are 10 of her ballad hits, and some new tracks. I think that her version of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" is the best cover song she's ever done. The video clip is good too, very rarely seen but it's beautiful. She also updates "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", which was originally from her 1984 album LIKE A VIRGIN. The new version is nice I guess. The other new song is a David Foster ballad, the acoustic "One More Chance", which shows off her vocals a little more. This album obviously was released to try to recoup some of her fans she lost over the EROTICA and Sex Book projects, perhaps reminding people why they loved Madonna. "You'll See" is an excellent ballad, another new song. Then you have other ballads like "Oh Father", "Rain", "This Used To Be My Playground", "Live To Tell", "I'll Remember", "Forbidden Love", "Something To Remember" and more. Overall a nice collection of ballads from Madonna.

This CD Is Truly Is Something To Remember; 4.9 Stars
By 1996, much had been made about Madonna the celebrity, but little is said about Madonna the artist. While some of her songs remain some of the greatest pop records ever, many people tended to focus on her "SEX" book and her risque stage antics than her music. Many people never realized her sensitive, loving side. In 1996, she decided it was time to do it. So what better to release a collection of ballads? "Something To Remember" was the result, and it was truly memorable.

This cd has some of Madonna's finest ballads and biggest hits from the 1980s' and 1990s'; "Take A Bow" (her biggest hit ever with 7 weeks at number one), the chilling "Live To Tell", the captivating "Take A Bow" sequel "You'll See" and of course, the classic, timeless "Crazy For You". This song was all the rage at high school dances in 1985. Also, Madonna recorded new songs like the pretty "Forbidden Love" and the eerie cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You". The album's title track (originally from the "Dick Tracy" soundtrack) is among Madonna's best works.

The reason I gave this cd 4.9 stars rather than the full 5 stars is because there are several songs I would have loved to have seen on this collection. For instance, I would have loed if "Cherish" was included. This is possibly Madonna's purest love song, a celebraion of love power. And while it's a great dance song, "Like A Prayer" is in the same vein. There are plenty of other songs here I could list but it would take up to much space.

Overall, a worthwhile collection of Madonna love songs. Let's hope she releases a volume 2 of her ballads. These songs are among her best, and let's hope she makes more like them.

Madonna - Something To remember
After the "not so succesful"(but intelligent) Erotica it was time to turn back to "not sex-related" music. Bedtime Stories was the first step, then the second is "something to remember"
STR is a collection of old madonna ballads plus some new material.
The old material is placed correctly to keep old fans, then the new to take some new...and it works! (STR sold more than BS and erotica)
The overall result is an album that sounds really simple and good, really listenable and enjoyable.
The collaboration between Madonna and Massive Attack (I Want You) it's one of the best madonna tracks.
Other Highlights include "You'll see" , "I'll remember" (the first time on an album) and the remix of "love don't live here anymore". The old tracks are ok.
This is to proove you that madonna is not only a "sex about woman". ... Read more

Amazon.com

After rocking the suburbs with the infectious and persistent "Da Funk" (with its amusingly pointless Spike Jonze video), Gallic pranksters Daft Punk unleashed Homework, an album that combined everything good about house music with everything bad about French pop and changed the face of dance music in the process. The sound of production duo Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem is a raw and dirty collage of cheap drum machines (wired for maximum swing) welded to endless filtered loops and embellished with everything from guitars to talk-box vocals. The beats are lifted straight from the Chicago House textbook, but the simple bass lines and catchy hooks make a listenable pop song from what would normally be a stripped-down DJ tool. Uncompromising yet totally accessible. --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (116)

Teachings of The Old School
Daft Punk's debut Homework, is without a doubt one of the most essential albums to own in the genre of Electronica. It has undisputedly revolutionized House music and is considered one of the most influential recordings in the Techno world. The two singles here (Around The World and Da Funk) are responsible for epitomizing dance music for the mainstream audience.

Daftendirekt - 8/10 A rather strong beginning. Decent samples and beats. Leads directly into the next track.
WDPK 83.7 FM - 6/10 Extremely short. Not much purpose since "Daftendirekt" already serves as an intro.
Revolution 909 - 9/10 One of the most solid tracks in this disc. Simple, straight forward, yet effective. Genuine dance music with an emphatic base beat.
Da Funk - 10/10 This song is simply ground breaking, the peak of Homework's success. Perfect acid drops juxtaposed against an ingenious rhythm. Unquestionably Daft Punk at its best.
Phoenix - 9/10 The beats are absolutely intoxicating. The audience will be utterly lost in the enchanting baseline. One of the highlights of Homework.
Fresh - 6/10 Average. The sound of water falls tends to get a bit tedious over time.
Around The World - 10/10 The second best song on Homework. Length is a little long, a few conversions would have made it much better. Still, an unforgettable masterpiece.
Rollin' & Scratchin' - 3/10 Loud, overly repetitive, obnoxious.
Teachers - 8/10 Just as innovative and inspirational Daft Punk is considered to up and coming DJs, the guys pay tribute here to the pioneers before them. Very original, amusing, and done in good taste.
High Fidelity - 7/10 Average. A fair effort.
Rock 'N Roll - 2/10 The lowest point on this disc. Incredibly abrasive. Complete filler. Skip.
Oh Yeah - 4/10 Mediocre at best.
Burnin' - 5/10 Satisfactory. Barely acceptable.
Indo Silver Club - 9/10 One of Daft Punk's most underrated songs. Bouncy beats with club atmosphere, just as the title suggests.
Alive - 6/10 This track is reminiscent of an Adrian Sherwood (A sound engineer for Nine Inch Nails) remix. Boring, lacks progression and variety.
Funk Ad - 7/10 This should have been looped to the end of "Da Funk" with a intuitive transition. Combining both elements here would have helped catapult the song into new heights.

An important thing to keep in mind is that Daft Punk's Homework consists of a good group of songs which are immediately appealing. They tend to build up to a climax where the least bit of detail, transition, or alteration would have produced immense improvement. However, despite the above statement, do not be fooled of the quality of this cd.

For those whom dare to enter the world of House music, your Homework starts here.

- ToS.

Revolutionary
Before I start the review I must state the following -BUY THE CD.

Now,

Daftendirekt- 4/5 stars Not a bad beginning, leads straight into WDPK

WDPK 83.7- 4/5 The sound of tomorrow. the Music of today

Revolution 909- 5/5 Dance music, straight out. Not much other than a heavy bass beat but extremely good even then.

Da Funk- 5/5 Song that made Daft Punk what it is, excellent. Fast, acidy, Jimi Hendrix with a synthesizer. If you like it, I suggest you check out the Chemical Brothers remix.

Pheonix- 4/5 Good song, immediately likeable.

Fresh- 4/5 Like Pheonix, excellent also.

Around the World- 6/5 Best on the CD. Seven minutes of delirium. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE REMIX

Rollin' and Scratchin'-1/5 Skip, thats all I have to say

Teachers-4/5 Wierd, but I like it.

High Fidelity- 3/5 Solid, definetly not bad.

Rock and Roll- 0/5 Even worse than Rollin' and Scratchin', lowest point on album

Oh Yeah- 5/5 I think this song is not generally liked, however I don't see what they are talking about, awesome. One of the few songs that was fun to listen to the first time through

Burnin'- 2/5 Not extremely great, but bearable

Indo Silver Club- 5/5 Great dance song

Alive- 3/5 Ok

Funk Ad- 4/5 Why couldn't they add this on to Da Funk? Not bad, a little short

DAFT PUNK ROCKS!
When I bought this album I listened to it and was amazed. I love the songs on this album. Here is a list on a scale 1 to 10.

Daftendirekt-10/10 (Solid beginning, nice beat.)
WDPK 83.7 FM- 8/10 (Sounds good, a little short but good.)
Revolution 909- 10/10 (Awesome song. Like the beat.)
Da Funk- 10/10 (Excellent. This is probably the best.)
Phoenix- 9/10 (I like it, but it can't beat the others.)
Fresh- 9/10 (Like Phoenix, good but doesn't get 10.)
Around the World-10/10 (One of the best, it gets stuck in my head all the time, even after not listening to it for awhile, iy always finds it's way back inside my head.)
Rollin' & Scratchin'-8/10 (Some people say this one bites the dust, but I say it's only for the true DJ. I like the scratching, but this one is a little too long. Solid 8.)
Teachers- 6/10 (It was hard to rate this one. After listening to it over and over, I decided that the background sounds together deserved a 9, but the weird voices drops it 3. Still trying to get used to this one.)
High Fidelity- 8/10 (I liked this one, but I don't know what it is, this is just a little bit less than the rest.)
Rock & Roll- 8/10 (This is another one that goes a little unliked. I would say that is because it's a little too long, and a little repeative, like Rollin' & Scratchin'. I still liked it though, but it is a little long.)
Oh Yeah- 8/10 (I like the beat of this one, but those kids saying "Oh Yeah" brings it a down a couple points. I still like this one though.)
Burnin'- 7/10 (I like it, but it just doesn't quite have what the others have, so I give it a 7.)
Indo Silver Club- 9/10 (I love this one. Not exactly a 10, but it's close. Great for dance clubs.)
Alive- 10/10 (Cool song, it sounds good too like the other 10's.)
Funk Ad- 10/10 (Great way to end the album, this album starts you off with some funky ones and ends you with it too.)

Overall:
I really liked this album. I usually listen to this one when I'm sitting around doing nothing, or (like the album's name states) doing homework. I usually like listening to music that people dance to at clubs with some dj and techno. Two other Daft Punk Albums I would recommend which I own are Discovery and Daft Club. The overall grade for this album would be an 8.5. Most of the album is awesome but there is always those one or two songs that always have an effect on the album. This is from Daft Punk's earlier years, but I still say this one is really good.

ALIVE
I really dig this CD because it has one of my favorite techno tracks of all-time on it, "Alive", which is worth the price of the CD alone. However, extra suspicious Prodigy fans may hate this CD because every track is too repetitive, but isn't every piece of music repetitive in one way or another? Support musicians, especially independent musicians like mr.deviant, and don't trade music on the internet.

Oh and as requested, I want to recommend another instrumental CD, a killer instrumental CD, by Mr.Deviant called "Techno Obsession". It's a killer mix of power rock and hard dance music. Check it out if you don't fear any conspiracies.

The most vivid music ever
If you ever want to return to the old days when the scene used to be about music and nothing more, when all that matter was the vibe, then this is the cd to have for your collection. It will take you back to the days of old. Nothing beats this cd. They are the original house of house music. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Saturday Night Rocks!
i love aaron carter. his CD is so great! i love that song!

Tight
Tight its allthat needs to be said aaron carter sucks well that what i thought until i herd this i jst got from Amazon.com and its worth the money.... get it....

Aaron's Still Bopping
Nice to see Aaron Carter back as it's been a while since he has recorded any new material.Saturday Night hasn't been released here in the UK and I only got to hear this track online by chance.
I find Aaron Carter's voice like his older brother Nick to be rather nasal in tone, and this is as evident as ever in saturday Night.But having said that, I quite like the song....it's very catchy which is an essential ingredient for all commercial pop music.Aaron himself is the full package I think for a teeny idol, he's very good looking just like big bro Nick and of the two, I prefer most of Aaron's records to Nick's solo efforts.
Aaron will always be popular and saturday Night is the best single he's recorded for a while, and it's a shame it hasn't been on air in the UK.

Simply Amazing!
I heard "Saturday Night" for the first time a few weeks ago on the MovieTunes network that you hear in many movie theaters. As a 21-year-old college student, hearing this song was nostalgic for me! I was big on the teen pop scene during my high school days, and it tickles me a new generation is embracing this music. Aaron Carter is an amazing talent and "Saturday Night" makes me want to not just jam but to also get up and dance! If you are reluctant to listen to "Saturday Night" because you are not a fan of teen pop music, give the song a listen. You will not be dissapointed.

aaron carter
i think that ppl dont give aaron enough credit. he is a good singer and he actually cares about his fans. i went to one of his concerts a few weeks ago and he was really nice cool and dedicated to his fans something that u might not find in some other celebs. i think his new singe;' saturday night' is hot and awesome! a great song to 'jam' to.and i think ppl should not say that he is like 10 yrs old cuz hes not. hes 17. and im not just defending him cuz im a 13 yr old who think hes hot. i think he has great talent or in adults words' potential'
peace out ;} ... Read more

Album Description

Rendezvous Lounge is the first in a series, and features the mixed beats and atmospheric sounds of downtempo electronic music. The artist lineup showcases some of the most talented and renowned artists in from their respective countries including Holland,France, Italy, Norway and the UK. Compiled by Mark Gorbulew and produced by Frank Cody, the team that brought you Praful. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very Cool Album, but Angry About One Track
I came to this album through one of Amazon's sideways recommendations for people who'd bought stuff like Cafe del Mar, Buddha Bar, Hotel Costes CDs, and I wasn't disappointed. I find it hard to comparatively rate some of these chill albums, so I agonized over whether to give it 5 stars, but if you like some of the compilations that I mentioned above, I think you'll like this one.

My only beef is there's a track on here called "Ocean Beach" that I reckon is largely plagiarized from one of Henry Mancini's tunes called "Lujon" and doesn't give him any credit at all. If you're lucky enough to have a copy of Mancini's album called, "Mr. Lucky Goes Latin," give it a listen and see what you think. I guess RCA (or the copyright holder) must be asleep at the switch.

A journy to a special place
Finaly :)
Mark Gorbulew knows how to make the prefect cd.
After hard day work or just on a beutyful day, allways when i put it on i go to this special place where i feel free and it is so so beutyful. The prefect mix of 14 beutyful songs.
Buy it and find your special place.

Great Chill Out collection
This is one of the most wonderful compillation of chill out music (arranged by Mark Gorbelew) I have encountered. Every track leads smoothly into the next with flow and sensuality.
The music "takes you away" to another universe.
It is magical and inspirational, transcending and spacious.
Congratulations for a great album!

Dorit

Smooth ride..
Another outstanding selection from a chill expert. Mark Gorbuleuw has the touch when it comes to compiling great music from across the globe.Rendezvous Lounge disappears the trials and tribulations of my life with a soothing blend of musical stylings that's peppered with a splash of downtempo beat and groove. What I love is that here isn't one throwaway track on this collection. It's a smooth ride from beginning to end. I also admire the import flava and the domestic pricing!
This one's a keeper!

Amazing compilation
The Rendezvous Lounge is an amazing album. A truely great compilation of unique and interesting songs. EVERY song is awesome. The tracks flow from one to the other with out skipping a beat, taking you on a very relaxing, hypnotizing journey. The perfect background album for a romatic dinner, or just enjoying the company of friends. If you haven't expereinced any music from the "chill" genre....you are missing out. A MUST HAVE!! A+++ ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Spice up your life," the Spice Girls advise on the first single from Spiceworld, their second album, which was made quickly to capitalize on the movie of the same name. If that sounds more like an advertising slogan than a call for variety, solidarity, and fun, it's not the only time the disc echoes the language of a carefully planned campaign: The chorus of "Move Over" is built around the phrase "Generation Next," the rallying cry of the Brits' Pepsi spot. And if, in turn, you come to the conclusion that this record isn't nearly as much fun as its predecessor, you're right. Any question about the creative input of Scary, Posh, Baby, Ginger, and Sporty into their own music is moot; like "Candle in the Wind 1997," Spiceworld was made to be bought, not listened to. Sure, they trade vocals this time, leaning less on the Bananarama-style gang approach of their debut, and yeah, the Motown-lite confection "Stop" doesn't exactly hurt the ear, but this disc is ultimately a bigger insult than anything a bunch of diehard anarchists such as Chumbawamba could imagine--without the kick of "Tubthumping." It also ends on a note so jarring as to settle the group firmly in the avant-garde with the fake-lounge "Lady Is a Vamp," which unfortunately praises Jackie O and Marilyn Monroe in the same verse, then ups the ante with a shout-out to Sandy Denny(!) as a Spicy role model. All together now: Uh huh. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (440)

Superb follow up to the ground-breaking debut album
When someone mentions a certain year or decade, I instantly think about the artistic creations that were influencing me at the time. For example, when I think back to the years of 1996-1998, the Spice Girls instantly spring to mind. Before this pop phenomenon, I had no interest in music what so ever. Then I heard "Wannabe" one day on the radio and was hooked. The Spice Girls were brilliant, every young kid in the world was in love with them and they made me happier than I had ever been. At 10 years old, I didn't understand that they were obviously ruled by the record company and seen as total pop-puppets by anyone who wasn't a screaming teenage idoliser. Looking back, I think of how innocent the whole thing was; I had no idea of their money-making and manufactured image. All I cared about was the music...and Geri, but that's a different story. This band rocked the world - more so than Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Madonna, Mariah Carey and even Michael Jackson ever did. They were simply the biggest pop phenomenon since the Beatles, at least in the UK. Their run of nine UK No.1 singles in the space of just over four years and album sales exceeding 50 million with just two albums proved their popularity. The girls swept the board at the 1997 Brit Awards in which the band performed the classic Who Do You Think You Are. Geri Halliwell appeared in a Union Jack mini-dress and blew the minds of millions of teenage boys the world over. From then on, I was totally in love with the woman - yes, a guilty truth...but I wasn't the only one. The dress is simply iconic the world over and fetched more than £40,000 at auction a few years later - more than double than what Madonna's 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour conical bra fetched! The endorsement factor of the Spice Girls was also a big franchise; deals with Sony PlayStation, Walkers crisps, Pepsi, Impulse deoderant body spray, Polaroid cameras, Mercedes cars and much more netted each girl millions. A lot of this occured in 1997, but the girls also released their much-awaited second album, Spiceworld, in November of this year. Obviously, the album went to No.1 all over the world and sold almost 20 million copies - a significant drop for the almost-30 million sales of their debut album, Spice...but still a staggering amount compared to most other acts around.

Spiceworld opens with the fabulous song Spice Up Your Life (10/10). The first single to be taken from this second album, the song rocketed straight to No.1 in the UK in October 1997. Even more spectacular, the song dislodged the biggest selling single in history off the No.1 spot; Elton John's Candle In The Wind. You know they're doing something right when they can achieve a feat that grand. The song itself has a fantastic cultural beat to it with a swirly jungle-boogie beat as a backdrop. The video is also brilliant and looks very expensive. They rule the world in the video, with Spice all over the place. This was a reflection on their real lives and the power and control they had over the world. Stop (10/10) was the third song to be released as a single from Spiceworld and shockingly peaked at No.2 in March 1998 in the UK - their only single not to go straight to No.1 in the UK. The song has a very retro, 1960's feel to it which works wonderfully with the mood of the song. Too Much (10/10) is one of the best Spice Girls ballads to date. This absolutely superb song was released in December 1997 and became the Spice Girls' sixth consecutive UK No.1. The vocals of Geri Halliwell and Melanie C are particulary outstanding on this smash hit. Saturday Night Divas (9/10) is another brilliant song about the girls getting down on the town on, surprisingly, a Saturday night. Never Give Up On The Good Times (10/10) is the best non-released song on Spiceworld and simply swings with funk and glamour. The addictive dance beat that starts off the song is soon replaced with a classy string arrangement and the foxy vocals of Geri Halliwell. The chorus is incredibly catchy and the percussion interlude halfway through is another highlight. Move Over (10/10) is the shortest song on Spiceworld at only 2:46. The song was originally called "Generation Next" and featured in the girls' Pepsi TV advertisement. The blend of hardcore rock and funky dance beats work very well and make for another highlight from Spiceworld. Do It (9/10) and Denying (10/10) are another two superb songs. The former has a very dancey and happy feel to it, while the latter is more laid-back and relaxing with a striking R'n'B style - much better than anything on Forever. Viva Forever (10/10) is just absolutely stunning - definitely one of the best ballads I've ever heard. Released in July 1998 after Geri Halliwell's legendary departure from the Spice Girls, it stormed to No.1 in the UK shifting almost 300,000 copies in its first week of release and became their seventh UK No.1 single. The Lady Is A Vamp (9/10) is a good song to close this ground-breaking album, but not quite as good as If U Can't Dance; the closing song from the Spice Girls' debut album, Spice.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Along with Spice, I consider Spiceworld to be amongst the greatest pop albums you can ever buy - and definitely the best by an all-female grop in history. All this recent news of the Spice Gils getting back for a last album and world tour would be absolutely fantastic, but I just can't see it happening. I'd love for it to happen, but the way Mel C's successful solo career is going, I don't think there's any chance. Still, we can always re-live the memories of the greatest female pop group of all time by listening to their first two albums - buy Spiceworld from Amazon now!

Definition of a guilty pleasure.
No, it's not "War and Peace," but then, you didn't really expect an All-Spice rendition of "MacBeth," did you?

The plot? Well, that's beside the point, isn't it? Something about a tour film, something about birthing babies, something about an evil tabloid plot to break up the Spice Girls (perish the thought!). What miniscule plot there is serves mainly as an excuse for random cameos, multiple costume changes, and self-spoofing fantasy sequences, e.g. the girls as Charlie's Angels style fighters in "SpiceForce 5". Oh yeah, there's music, too. (Forward through the concert scenes if you're not a devotee of Spice sound or you just aren't really in a masochistic mood.)

It's all in high spirited goofy fun. Even the always reliable Richard Grant looks like he's having a hoot. As someone who doesn't own a Spice album (or even cooking spices for that matter, but that's a different story) and can't call herself a fan, I was genuinely surprised to find this movie so darn enjoyable. I'm not saying I'd start a grass-roots campaign demanding a sequel (er, Spice Universe?), but this flick's amusingly silly and benignly entertaining -- not unlike the Spice Girls themselves.

Spiceworld (1997)
In 1996, the Spice Girls saw the beginning of their fame when they released their first album, Spice, which produced the five spin-off singles, Wannabe, Say You'll Be There, 2 Become 1, Who Do You Think You Are, & Mama. Now, exactly one year after their first album's release, the girls brought us their second album, Spiceworld. The album as to coincide with their movie of the same name and was also made the soundtrack to the movie. Very much like what The Beatles did back in 1964 when they did A Hard Day's Night (both album and movie) and in 1966 when they did Help! (both album and movie).

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
The first single from the album. I first heard this on Q-102 (for those of you who don't know what Q-102 is, it is a Philadelphia FM Radio Station). But the version I heard on the radio was kind of a mix in a way and it led me to believe that it was done by a different band. When I heard this version, which is the album and single version, I was proven to be wrong about thinking it was done by somebody else. It's a classic song and consists of every girl power hype sound within it. The song means you have to have fun in life. Life is too short to be bitter, so, Spice Up Your Life.

STOP
The third single from the album. The single was released in early 1998 and it was to be Geri's last single with the girls. I have heard three different reasons to why Geri departed from the band. The first is that she and Melanie B. had a serious outting. The second is that she tried to be the boss of the group and was kicked out by the other girls. The third was that Geri had musical differences. The third reason is what I believe is true and that is because it is true. Anyhow, this is a great song.

TOO MUCH
The second single from the album. This is a beautiful song and the jazzy sound is unbelievable. In the video. The five have their own individual scenes, but never a scene where they are together. Geri has a black & white scene, where she is dressed up as Marilyn Monroe (her idol) as in one of her movies. Victoria is in a factory, where she is dressed up like Catwoman, although the outfit is not like the original TV series Catwoman outfit or Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman outfit. Melanie B. has scene out of the Mad Max movies, where she wears a bikini top, black baggy pants, and bullets around her shoulder. Melanie C. has a scene from Lord Of The Dragon, wher she wears a red-magenta colored muscle half-top, black baggy pants that show here shins and ankles. She wears hair extenstions that are the same color as her top. Emma has a scene from Poltergeist, where she is in a room where objects float around her, while she wears a plain white nightgown.

SATURDAY NIGHT DIVAS
Not bad.

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE GOOD TIMES
They should have released this as a single. It's a great song. It is like a sequel to Spice Up Your Life, (even though this one has a fun Pop like song) where they say that you can't give up on the good times you've had.

MOVE OVER
In their short time together, the girls recorded two songs for Pepsi. The first would be a song called, Step To Me, which is an album cut. The second be this one right here. Although, they did not release it as a single, the girls, however, filmed a Pepsi commercial, using this song within it.

DO IT
Not bad.

DENYING
This one is not bad. Still holding onto their girl power sound, but the girls threw in a bit of R&B into it.

VIVA FOREVER
The fifth and final single from the album, although it is not a US single. The girls released this a few months after Geri's departure and was the first single where they used an animated video. It is a beautiful song and I always make sure to listen to it before turning off the album.

THE LADY IS A VAMP
Geri was big fan of everything that had to do with entertainment from the 40s, 50s, & 60s. This song consists of a sound from the 40s, but talks about everything from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, like Elvis, Ziggy Marley, Bond Girls, Charlie's Angels, 60s model Twiggy, Jackie-O, Marilyn Monroe (but addressed by her real name, Norma Jean Baker), Sandy and Danny (from Grease), etc. The song's finale fit the song perfectly, where they call out their Spice names.

Still filled with their girl power sound and remains as their second best album.

sPiCe GIrLs fOr evEr baBy!!!
spice girls was a hit, and even though they aren't popular anymore, i know that if they went on a reunion tour it would be sold out so boo-yall who don't like them. They rock because they are just so cool, spicy, and cute. hahaha but yeah i give them 5 stars for their cd and their movie, it's one of the best movies in the world.i lOvE tHe sPiCe GIrLS!!!!!!!!
shoutout to my best homeboy,juan jimenez!!!

Hopeless
God! What was I thinking when I decidedto watch this movie. Oh yeah! I was a big fan of Spice Girls and I wasn't really thinking.

Seriously, I expected more than this. I Thought they could have done better...MUCH BETTER! Before this movie came out, I thought it owuld be brilliant but, I am so god damn disappointed! This came out more of a stereotype of the worse movie ever. The word WHYYYYYYYY comes to mind.

They have the potential to be great actress and they have blew it here! They should have gotten a better script. ... Read more

Album Details

Freestyle, house music's close cousin, exploded in popularity during the early 1980's. With artists like Stevie B, Trinere & TKA cranking out memorable jams like 'Party Your Body', 'I'll Be all You Ever Need' & 'Maria', fans went absolutley wild. This 1997 SPG label four-disc set captures the essence of the freestyle genre, featuring the hits from the artists mentioned above, plus songs by Nice & Wild, Pebbles, X-Posed, Debbie Deb & much, much more. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Freestyle fans this cd is for you
Freestyle was a sound different from the mainstream.It was a latin hip-hop sound in which at times seem like sugar to the ears.But it was the sound that with help shape the eurodance sound of the mid to late 90's.Freestyle was the teen pop of many latino and non latino kids in the city.Withs its theme in love and heartbreak over latin flavored hip-hop.It was a moment in time and a sound of the late 80's teenager. Even know it never got as big as new jack swing it did leave its mark on dance pop.If you listen to the eurodance artists like amber,the real mccoys and labouche you will hear the keyboard licks of freestyle.As an Dj i'm always asked what music did i start playing first when i started djing 16 years ago.Freestyle was the first music i spun back in the day.All the songs on this cd was what i spun and they were popular.For me this cd really gives you the flavor of freestlye when it started going mainstream.Also when the sound started to die out.So pick it up and party your body

where's Coryne Eyse?
This Album could be so much better if u added the song"A little bit of luv" By Coryne Elyse realesed in 1991 on OnnaRoll records!The song is on Metroplolitan presents the best of Onnaroll Vol. 1

An Essential For Freestyle Fans
If you're anything like me and love freestyle but want diversity in the voices you hear - this is the CD set for you! You get all the classic freestyle hits from tons of artists without buying tons of individual CD's. You get some of the best freestyle songs ever made and for around [price]. If you find better -- let me know!

freestyle greatest collecton.#4 cds.
I came from my country in 1985. And I didn`t speak or understand english . I started to listen the radio in english,at that time the music that was playig, it was freestyle.Like I say I didn`t understand english,but all the beat`s,the music,the voices of the singer`s,made me love it till know & forever I used to like disco music,like the BEE GEES,DONNA SUMERS,GLORIA GAYNNOR,THE COMODORES,K.C &THE SUNSHINE BAND.They were good, but like the decade of freestyle,it`s never going to be.I just hope,we the people who like freestyle we never let`it died

A must-buy 4 freestyle fans
This cd set is the best deal around. For under 30 bucks you get 4 cd's with all old school freestyle classics. If you're a freestyle fan you have to get this cd. ... Read more

Reviews (76)

The time before Britney, Christina, Jennifer & Spice Girls
She learn Janet Jackson to dance. She did the dance-scenes in Comming To America. And she had great success with hits like "Straight Up", "Cold Hearted", "The Promis Of A New Day" and "Rush Rush". 'The music takes you back to 1988 and 1991, at that time she was a new Madonna. It's fun to listen her happy dance-pop songs. She is an entertainer of high class. Buy this one to play on you party, and we all will the remember the time, Paula was the dancepop queen. The CD allso includes "Head Over Heals" ballad "If I Were Your Girl", maybe her best ballad todate. There's only one miss on the album, "I Will Marry You" is not on, but you can't get everything, right? Now we just have to wait for new music from Miss Abdul, it's time to show Lopez, Spears and co who was first - and best.

SATISFYING...
Ah yes...Paula Abdul. Before Britney, before Jennifer Lopez, before all the other dance divas of the our time, there was former Laker-girl turned Janet Jackson choreographer turned late 80's early 90's phenomenon Paula Abdul.

She turned out three smash albums during her time - 'Forever Your Girl', 'Shut Up and Dance' (remix album) and 'Spellbound'. There was another called 'Head Over Heels' but...as with the other albums, this Greatest Hits CD takes the best songs - you won't be missing much.

This Greatest Hits CD is excellent. With a lot of collections like these, some treasures get lost - but the damage is minimal here. Here is my recommendation for the full Paula Abdul experience:

Get this CD, and get Spellbound. There are some tracks on Spellbound (namely "Will You Marry Me?" and "To You") that add to what she was - and maybe still is if she's planning a comeback. These tracks didn't make the Greatest Hits CD, but with you'll be missing out if you don't hear them - especially "Will You Marry Me?"

Awesome. A trip down memory lane...nice.

Knyte (Trust Me)

P.S. There is a pretty cool ballad called "Next To You" on 'Forever Your Girl'...that makes that CD worth getting too (or at least borrowing)

Greatest hits collection worth owning
I was too young to buy Paula Abdul's CDs when she was a popular artist, but I had always liked her music. After seeing her on American Idol, I decided to get one of her albums. This was the only one available at the store I went to, so I picked it up and was surprised to like it as much as I did.

Many people complain about Paula's voice. They think she only got where she is because she is pretty and knows how to dance very well and whose music doesn't really matter. Well, I for one happen to like her voice. It may not be the best or the strongest, but it perfectly suits the material she sang. True, she can dance and is good-looking, but her music wasn't secondary. Her songs are some of the best pop music you are likely to find. She can do up tempo songs like "Straight Up" and "Knocked Out" very well. My favorite song of hers is "Blowing Kisses in the Wind". There's just something about that song that is so good. It's by far her best ballad. The real surprises are the songs off her last album. They're actually pretty good. The medley isn't all that great, but you can just skip over it like I do.

This collection makes a case for Paula's career. She may not yet have the respect she deserves, but that doesn't change the fact she made some really good and enjoyable music. If you are a first time buyer of her music like I was, this is also a great place to start. Even if she never gets a chance to make more music and have another hits collection someday, we do have this, which is more than enough.

Almost complete, but still an awesome collection from Paula!
This is the Greatest Hits collection of all (well, most of them) from the dance-era pop queen, Paula Abdul! I adore Paula so I was SO glad that a collection of all the hits (plus some bonus songs) were released! It all began with "Straight Up," which elevated her to pop princess status. One of the greatest perks about this album is all the songs are the radio/video/7" edits, so all the versions we're familiar with from the radio are all in this collection. This collection definitely has its perks and some downsides (which I will get to). Now, here's a song-by-song review of "Greatest Hits"...

Straight Up (5/5) : It's the single that started it all! It's catchy, it's fun, it's everything that a hit single needs. This is the single that almost never happened, as Virgin Records didn't initially push for this song. Backed with great productions and Paula's sassy voice, this song definitely works well. This is without a doubt the first song that comes to mind when you think of Paula. Great pop classic.

Cold Hearted (4/5) : This is another one of Paula's hits from the Forever Your Girl debut album. This is also the version of the song in which Paula's rap is present (which is not on the FYG album). It's a really good song, definitely radio-material.

Forever Your Girl (5/5) : This is one of my favorite Paula songs ever! Some people have complained that Paula's voice on the first album was strained-sounding, which I do agree Paula sounds a little straining in this song in some parts, but for some reason it doesn't seem to take away the likableness of this song. I think it's one of Paula's stronger singles, and it's one of her 6 #1 singles. I also prefer this 7" version to the album version as well.

The Way That You Love Me (5/5) : Another Paula classic. This song was actually released twice, the first time it didn't even crack the top 40, and when it was remixed and re-released, it shot to #3. Definitely a fun, upbeat song, like most of Paula's songs especially from the first record.

Knocked Out (5/5) : While many people may think that "Straight Up" was Paula's first single, it actually wasn't. Virgin Records tried launching Paula with "Knocked Out" first, even before she finished her album. Produced and written by Babyface and LA Reid, this was the first song that Paula recorded for the album. "Knocked Out" was first sent out to radio stations across the nation to basically 'test the waters' to see if Paula could make it as a recording artist. Although it wasn't a huge hit (it didn't crack the top 40), it was successful enough for Paula to complete a full-length album (Forever Your Girl). This is definitely another one of my favorite Paula songs, and one of her more edgier songs, mixing in some R&B flavor. The only reason I think it wasn't as successful as it could've been was because Paula was new at the time, and I don't think it was as publicized as her other hits (it had a boring video). I think this song is one of Paula's best vocal performances, it seems her voice fits this song really well. I also much prefer this version to the album version. This version is more energetic and upbeat, well the album version seems to be a little more flat. But both are still great nonetheless.

Opposites Attract (5/5) : I really love this song! Paula and the Wild Pair recorded this song together, and the infamous video features Paula singing and dancing with an animated cat (known as MC Skat Kat - who actually went on to have an album!). Some people say the video is was what propelled the song to #1, but it is also one of Paula's catchiest! The song and video are definitely one of Paula's most memorable!

Bend Time Back 'Round (2/5) : This song wasn't actually on a Paula album, but was released on the Beverly Hills 90210 Soundtrack in the early 90's. I don't think it's one of Paula's best (probably why it never made it to the follow-up album 'Spellbound').

Rush Rush (5/5) : This song was Paula's first single from the follow-up album Spellbound, which was released in 1991. In between Forever Your Girl and Spellbound, Paula worked hard with a vocal coach and Paula's voice REALLY developed. It's very evident on several tracks on Spellbound. This is definitely one of Paula's greatest vocal performances, showing off Paula's higher vocal range and her control. This is a very sweet and pretty song and was her very first ballad she released. I love this song.

The Promise Of A New Day (4.5/5) : Another strong single from Paula. This song also shot to the #1 spot on Billboard, making it Paula's sixth #1 single! I love the sound of this song, there are more wind instruments sounds and percussion, and it really makes the song sound unique.

Blowing Kisses In The Wind (4.5/5) : Another ballad release from Paula. This song is a little bit more haunting and mysterious sounding compared to Rush, Rush. Paula's voice sounds pretty in this song. Peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Vibeology (4/5) : This song is very unique! It's one of Paula's most original and fun, but the song itself is so weird! It doesn't really follow a specific song format (like verse-bsection-chorus). The lyrics seem to be all over the place! There's ad-libing and really funky choir vocals in this song. It's one of those songs that you just have to hear to understand what I mean. It's hard to review this song! I MUCH prefer the album version to this version. This one is a lot shorter and seems to cut out a lot of Vibeology's best parts.

My Love Is For Real (R&B Remix) (5/5) : Paula took 3 years off, and returned to the spotlight with this first single (which Paula co-wrote) from Head Over Heels, Paula's 3rd studio album. First of all, I have to say, I HATE this version! The original version is very Middle-Eastern influenced, bass-driven, very unique and original, and features background vocals from the late Israeli singer Ofra Haza. The original version is supreme, and this remixed version really takes away that special influence that the original had. This version makes My Love Is For Real sound really bland and boring, while the original is really amazing. I don't know why this version was put on the album. I still rate the song 5/5 because it's one of my favorite Paula songs. This is a song that should've been a #1 hit, but still remains one of her most underrated songs.

Crazy Cool (5/5) : Another Head Over Heels single. Not as successful as Paula's previous hits, but still another very underrated song. One of Paula's best. This song really brings Paula up-to-date musically, with more R&B sound, kind of like TLC and Janet Jackson had at the time, and it really works for her! This song is one of Head Over Heels most stand-out songs.

If I Were Your Girl (4/5) : This song wasn't actually a single, but it was going to be. Since Head Over Heels sold poorly (compared to previous albums), Virgin Records decided not to promote HOH any further, and dropped Paula from the label. Although the song is really good, it has some downsides. First of all, I think Rhett Lawrence is a GREAT producer, but I don't like his production of this song. Also, in the bridge right before Paula goes into the chorus for the last time, the vocals and melody should have been arranged to be stronger, so it could've really given more power to the song. I still love it though, and Paula's voice sounds great.

Megamix Medley (1/5) : I'm not a fan of medleys and this one isn't an exception. It's paced very fast, and some of the songs just don't work in this medley (Rush Rush especially). Not even the uptempos sound good in this megamix. Could've added 10 minutes more of other songs instead of this.

Crazy Love (5/5) : This song was on the Japanese version of Head Over Heels, but I can't see why it was included on the US version of Head Over Heels. I think this song could've been a single! Recorded, again, with the Wild Pair, this song is very catchy and fun! Well, at least it was added to this album!

Overall - Great album!! Although there are some things missing. The beautiful song "Will You Marry Me?," which was a top 40 hit, is not included in this collection. Maybe Paula was fed up with marriages and didn't want to include this painful song, which possibly could've reminded her of her previous affairs?! Who knows?? Another song that was forgotten was "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up" which was Paula's last single to date. Even though it wasn't much of a hit, it still should've been included. It's one of my favorite Paula songs.
I would definitely recommend this upbeat and fun album, which definitely takes you back to the days when Paula's music filled the airwaves, and her amazing choreography was all over MTV.

Reacquainted With Paula
I was only 3 when Paula began her singing career. After seeing Paula on AI, I decided to give her music a try. Her Greatest Hits album was the only one available, so I got it, and loved most of it. It's a great intro for anyone wanting a taste of what made Paula such a super-star years ago. Her early dance hits seem to be the most popular, and they are extremely catchy, especially Straight Up and Cold Hearted, but my favourite songs are actually those from her second album, Spellbound.. the sweet ballad Rush, Rush, and Promise of a New Day are terrific songs. Although Paula does not have the strongest voice, her music suits her. She is definitely qualified to judge AI! Songs that I skipped after the first listen are Bend Time Back 'Round and the annoying Megamix Medley, which is just long and headache-inducing and shouldn't have been included. After buying this album, I managed to download the song Will You Marry Me which was unfortunately not included here... It's a joy to listen to compared to Bend Time Back 'Round. In conclusion, this album is an okay compilation of her hits, but not as good as it could have been. Virgin should have included more gems from her overlooked Head Over Heels album that never made it as singles, like 'U'. I would have preferred to buy her original albums, if they were available here. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The brainchild of producer/songwriter Frank Farian--best known for later coming up with Milli Vanilli--Germany's '70s hit machine Boney M scored a string of disco singles with a strong Caribbean flavor. Granted, it takes an iron will to stomach upbeat numbers about the troubles in "Belfast" or such endearing figures as "Ma Baker" and "Rasputin," but at their best, Farian and the four West Indian session singers he recruited made a great dance-music outfit that was able to give an over-the-top Euro-disco spin to pop nuggets ("Sunny") and infectious originals ("Gotta Go Home"). If you want to send your next '70s-themed party into overdrive, give this 18-track hits collection a try. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Danceable to anyone
When I was a high school student,I liked disco music
very much.And I like their S&M taste album jacket so much.In the 21st century they still shines like a big star in the sky.I liked SILVERS,HEATWAVE,KOOL&THE GANG.The GOLDEN DISCO AGE is here.The songs are very up tempo and easy to kepp pace with.So I used to dance till dawn.My mother always told me not to kick the wall of my room many times.I was a dance craze.This is worth listen.Don't judge a book by its cover.This album is a lot of fun.

Good even in 2004; will there be a comeback due to a movie?
I am inspired, late, to review this album after seeing "Touching the Void" on the big screen recently and being reminded of a great album.
This CD and this band were never given full appreciation in the US - - the band and their music were better known in the Caribbean and Canada and Europe.
"Rasputin" was probably the biggest hit they had here in the US, which is surprisingly on one hand, but not so surprisingly, as it is a great song!
Nowadays, this music is often considered "too retro" or "too disco", but anyone who hears this should enjoy the music for what it is - - good FUN!

why didn't the reviews mention this?...
This is a great album and should have been given a 5 star grading. However, the only flaw, and the greatest unforgivable flaw to me, is that 'Rasputin' faded out long before it really should have ended. (in other words, you will not hear the sarcastic moaning of "OH, those Russians" at the end of the song)I just could'nt figure out why this song, which is probably the best of the best of boney m's masterpieces, received such cruel treatment and nobody cares to point it out. Maybe many will think the version now existed on this album is long enough and the deleted part is just repetition. Well, God bless these so-called boney m 'fans'...

How bout getting all their songs out on CD?
After listening to the CD, I had to dig out my old Boney M Records
I bought while in Spain in the 70's and listen to them on a borrowed "hi-fi" and try to get someone to put them on CD!

Why didn't I discover this sooner???
Yes, I was one of those late 1970s adolescents who, upon discovering cool artists like Elvis Costello and Tom Waits, thought himself just way too hep for music that made the rounds in discos. And every now and then, I come across an artist or band that fit that discotech mode, and I learn that I missed out on some great music because my pride got in the way.

Boney M is one of those groups. After hearing "Rasputin" blaring on somebody else's stereo, I hit the nearest music store and took a chance on this greatest hits CD. After spinning the entire CD, I found that a greatest hits compilation is not enough Boney M for my collection. Boney M explodes style, music and kinetic energy all it's own!

Seriously, this music perked me up from track #1 and did not let up. As this group was a creation by a man named Frank Farian,I have read several groups comparing Boney M to Milli Vanilli. NOT EVEN CLOSE! There is no guise of down-to-earthiness here, this music just makes you want to move. When I find photos of Boney M on the web, when I listen to their music, I drink in a creation meant to be loud, over-the-top, bright and as kitschy as neon! The singers' voices are passionate, and even the lyrics voicing concern (Belfast) are empowering. This is pure unapologetic dance music!

Boney M, and Boney M specifically, makes me confess what I have resisted confessing for over twenty years: I want to dance to "Rasputin" and "Daddy Cool" in the loudest and gaudiest disco I can find!

Best wake-up song: Daddy Cool... Best Workout Song: Rasputin... Best "In the Present Moment" Song: Sunny ... Read more

Amazon.com

A singles band if ever there was one, the hits on Pop make the duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke of Erasure sound like the Rodgers & Hammerstein of synth-pop disco. With the exception of The Circus and The Innocents albums, most of Erasure's full lengths house only a few brief moments of brilliance, the rest of the songs being limp and uninspired. But putting songs like "Blue Savannah" with its sweeping loveliness, the haunting "Ship of Fools," and the campy, raucous "Love to Hate You" all on the same disc shows that when Erasure is on, they shine like a thousand-carat tiara. The energetic and electronic disco is front and center here with "Oh L'Amour" and the audience participation number "Stop!," but the beautifully crafted "Sometimes" shows the band's true potential. The irrepressible melody line is punctuated by an acoustic riff and a melancholy trumpet solo that actually has to do its best to keep up with Bell's warm lament. An indispensable collection. --Steve Gdula ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Excellent
I'd like to give it 4.5 stars, but that's not an option. It can't be 5 stars because there are better singles collections from the period, notably Madonna's Immaculate Collection. Still, Pop is a great album. It highlights just how good Erasure is at crafting catchy, whimsical, sometimes surprisingly emotional pop songs. It's also a good album to listen to if you're interested in charting the development of synth-pop in the 80s. Erasure's growth, development, and changing sound mirror the overall synth-pop movement of the period quite well.

Erasure at their best!
This collection of songs showcases the best synth-pop group at their best. Erasure continues to amaze me with their incredible vocals, arrangements, melody, and inventiveness. Their contributions to the '80's are ever so evident and you will find yourself going down memory lane. I personally identify with the lyrics but I truly admire their patience in production. If you pay close attention, Andy is famous for singing all all his background vocals. At certain points in the song there are 3, 4, or 5 vocal tracks and they are all his. WOW! Who better to harmonize with you than yourself. I personally like songs like "A Little Respect, Breath of Life, and Chorus." I have become their number 1 fan and collector. YOU MUST OWN THIS ALBUM!

Actually better than the newer Hits set.
This twenty song collection played the singles route to perfection. "POP!" collected all the singles to date and then ran them chronologically, up to the "Abba-esque" EP and "Take a Chance On Me." Nothing left off, and the "hits" aspect is taken literally. Since Vince and Andy were better at the singles than at the albums anyway, the finest of their singles truly sparkle as gold from the eighties. Given that their later output was lackluster at best (save "Always"), this is a great primer for a fun band.

And Erasure is pretty much a sugar candy duo. With two notable exceptions, the songs were campy or beat heavy hook records. Only with the environmental lyrics of "Chorus" or the call to arms of "A Little Respect" did the duo ever push towards anything really weighty. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mindless fun is better than no fun at all. And this was the period where Vince was still innovatively exploring the compositional range of the synthesizer. Which meant that, when he was on, he was brilliant, and Andy almost always found the kind of exuberance to overcome any deficiencies (think "Love To Hate You").

So if you are contemplating a choice between this album and the more recent hits collection, I'd actually give the nod to "POP!" The new set adds more from the Abba EP and removes several of the songs here. The dropped songs included some essential (in my opinion, at least) songs like "Drama" and "Who Needs Love Like That." You loose 8 songs here for 7 alternates, and this collection has, simply put, a more concise menu of Erasure at their best.

Unexpectedly Intense, Romantic, Passionate, Bitter
I'm not often enthusiastic about club-dance-techno-pop bands, most of which seem determined to copy each other to the point of exhaustion. But I'll make an exception for Erasure, which has a great deal more going for it than the vast majority of music you're likely to hear the next time you hit the dance floor.

Chief among the band's assets is vocalist Andy Bell, who has a remarkably rich and passionate voice--but Erasure does not rely on Bell pure and simple. It is the combination of Bell's vocals, a bouncy beat, and the often unexpectedly thoughtful and frequently bitter lyrics that do the trick. The result is a consistent sound that crackles with a sensuous passion, and at its best creates one memorable cut after another.

POP! suffers from the usual failings of every compilation album, which is to say that it generally goes for the obvious choice even when a lesser-known selection is clearly superior. But even so, it offers a solid overview of Erasure, from the purely danceable to the disquietingly emotional playing against the dancefloor rhythm. "Ship of Fools," "Chains of Love," and "A Little Respect" are perhaps the side of Erasure that are most recognized--but when the selections turn to such intense and lyrically sharp selections as "Drama" and "Love to Hate You," you know that you've stumbled into something special.

The compilation, in my opinion, saves the best for last, running a gamut from the intensely passionate and romantic "You Surround Me," to the purely elegant "Blue Savannah," to angry "Chorus," to the moody and introspective "Am I Right"--the latter of which may well be single finest thing in this collection. As a garnish, the collection finishes up with a very enjoyable cover of Abba's "Take A Chance." But whichever you happen to prefer, it's all good stuff. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Good compilation
In the early eighties, Depeche Mode founding member Vince Clarke made a startling announcement - he was leaving the band he created (they wanted to focus on touring, and he wanted to focus on in-studio stuff.) He formed Yaz with Alison Moyet, but soon quit that band after their two albums failed to achieve any true charting success. But in the middle of the decade, he joined forces with vocalist Andy Bell and formed a new band - Erasure. And he's been in this band from then until now - nearly twenty years. This is a compilation of the band's biggest hits. Read on for my review.

PROS:
-More than likely, the only real reason that you want to buy an Erasure hits compilation is because you want to get their biggest hit, Chains Of Love. I don't think I have to tell you that it's on here. All the other fairly big hits are on here as well.
-Though HITS is part of this compilation's title, it doesn't just rely on the hits. There are a number of excellent songs on here that never made it big. Don't pass them by!
-This is an affordable compilation.
-Most major retailers of compact discs carry this compilation, so you shouldn't have to look too hard for it.

CONS:
-The compilation doesn't fill the eighty minutes that you can fit onto a compact disc. It seems like the compiler was more concerned with getting a nice, round number of songs on here than actually filling the time.
-Because this is an older compilation, there is no material from the band's new album of covers entitled Other People's Songs.
-I recently heard the band will be releasing ANOTHER hits compilation... If that's true, then this one could be rendered obsolete before we know it...

OVERALL:
Erasure was one of the greatest new wave bands out there - and they still are! This compilation does an excellent job giving you their hits and them some. If you like eighties pop music, don't even think about overlooking Erasure. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Jive Bunny keeps things hopping with this album
A fun mix of classic toe-tapping hits with just a dash of slow-jam, belly-rubbing music, makes this a wonderful party album...Anybody familiar with big band will appreciate the liberal use of Glenn Miller's music...The Everly Brothers, Chubby Checker, Bill Haley & His Comets, and Little Richard also make welcome appearances...This album is definitely a keeper, no matter what age you are!!

Not perfect by any means, but this is a 'must-have' CD
In 1987, club DJs Andy Pickles and Ian Morgan from Rotherham, England began releasing DJ-only mixes on their newly launched 'Music Factory' record label. Mixing hits of the day proved very worthwhile as the two budding DJs became highly respected within the music industry. Still only 'small time', Andy and Ian began experimenting with different types of music. In 1988, with a project none of them took seriously, they produced a megamix titled "Swing The Club" - a collection of classic rock n' roll tracks accompanied by the original sounds of the Glen Miller band. Not expecting anyone to take notice of this, it soon became a favourite in British night clubs. Early the following year, the duo was approached by another record label with the intent of releasing it as a single. But fearing they'd lose control of their project, the duo - with the help of Andy's dad, John Pickles - decided to release the single by themselves. The Jive Bunny phenomenon was born!

The single, which had to be re-recorded due to licensing difficulties - was re-titled as "Swing The Mood" and initially took the British charts by storm. Featuring a collection of classic oldies megamixed in such a way to give it a modern dance feel, the single went to number one (in the UK) on August 5th, 1989 and stayed there for five weeks. Because no-one expected this to be a hit, the Master Mixers had to frantically work on a follow-up single. And they did that with "Swing The Club Volume 2" which was remixed and re-titled, "That's What I Like". Similar to the previous hit in style and production, "That's What I Like" stormed into the charts on October 14th, 1989, reached number one the following week and stayed there for three weeks. With such a large interest in the Jive Bunny phenomenon sparking a new craze, an album was rush-released in time for the Christmas market. And this is that album.

"The Album" begins with the 12" extended version of "Swing The Mood". This is THE definitive version - the radio edit ruined it in my opinion. Featuring contributions from the likes of Chubby Checker, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Eddie Cochrane, The Everly Brothers, Elvis (the only sound-a-like on this megamix) and of course, Glen Miller, "Swing The Mood" is probably Jive Bunny's best-loved track. "Rock N Roll Party Mix" is basically a Chuck Berry/Little Richard tribute track that is pale in comparison to "Swing The Mood". This track, which was later remixed and repackaged as "That Sounds Good To Me", was the final megamix from this album to be released as a single (in February 1990).

"The Album" slows down with the third megamix - a beautifully compiled romantic track simply called, "Lover's Mix". Featuring classic love songs from the 50s & 60s such as, 'All I Have To Do Is Dream', 'Rhythmn Of The Rain', 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' and 'Diana', "Lover's Mix" is truly a hidden gem. "Do You Wanna Rock", a megamix concentrating on the British Glam Rock days of the 70s follows. This was meant to be released as a single too, but difficulties in obtaining clearance prevented the Master Mixers from doing so (a problem that would forever haunt the producers).

"That's What I Like" also appears in the extended version, and unlike "Swing The Mood", the radio edit of this song is better. Even so, it's a brilliant dance megamix featuring most of the artists that appeared on "Swing The Mood". "The Glen Miller Medley" - which was the original b-side of the aforementioned megamix - is also included on the album. There's no denying it's an enjoyable track, but you can't help but think this was an album filler.

"Swing Sisters Swing" is another megamix devoted to the 1940s. This time, the Glen Miller band is accompanied by two of the world's biggest 'girl' groups of the WWII era: The Andrews Sisters and The Beverley Sisters, both performing such favourites as 'Chattanooga Choo Choo', 'Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree', 'Hold Tight' and 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy'. It is enjoyable, but at 7-minutes long, it does become a tad boring after a while. "The Album" ends with "Hopping Mad", a megamix that should've been released as a single. Focusing on the 60s more than the 50s, this track is my own favourite from the album.

There is a noteable ommission from "The Album" and that's the Christmas single "Lets Party" which also made number one in the UK. Funny, because both were released at the same time - and both reached the top of their respective charts. Still, this is a fantastic party album, and one you should own.

Jon.

Ho hum
Did you know that the 50s and 60s tunes on the jive bunny series were replicated by studio musicians. The were clearly a talented bunch, but must they use their powers for evil purposes?

BEST ALBUM EVERERER!
everyone who said this album sucked is a poor and lonley soul because jive bunny is all about having fun which no one ever has anymore so its nice for something to involve fun people have to be so rude and judge this album so badly when they could really be listein to it with some friends dancing away but no taht are dwelling on some cd they didnt like ok GET OVER IT!

Not A Patch On What Mastermix Can Do
Let it be known, the production team behind Jive Bunny -Mastermix- are among the best in their field at this type of music making. Their DJ-only mixes are fantastic, and rival anything the big players in the game produce (namely DMC & Ultimix). So why are Jive Bunny albums so terrible? Well, that can be put down to the fact strict licensing laws prevent Mastermix from using the original artists to create these megamixes for commercial release. Mastermix may get away with using Elvis Presley samples for DJ-only mixes, but not for Jive Bunny's chart releases. That's when they use the dreaded "sound-a-likes" which, more often than not, spoil the overall production quality of what's normally fantastic mixes.

Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers was the brainchild of John and Andy Pickles way back in 1988 when 'Mastermix' produced their first rock n' roll medley - a track which, surprisingly, went down well with British clubbers. Popularity was so great, a commercial release was planned and "Jive Bunny" was born. This debut album -mixed by top DJ's Andy Pickles, Ian Morgan, Les Hemstock, Rob Adlin, Martin Smith, Darren Ash, Rick Stuart and Dave Roarthy- followed suit. The first single taken from the album - a total reworking of the original club smash "Swing The Mood" - became a worldwide best-selling single because of it's unique and revolutionary production. Not a patch on the club mix, it has to be said, but this type of Megamix had never been heard before on a commercial release (DMC had scored hits with several "Sixties Mix" albums prior to this, but no-one had ever gained chart success with a 'single' mix of this quality). Sampling and mixing classic 50s rock n roll tracks, backed with a catchy drum beat, "Swing The Mood" not only brought "Mastermix" to the attention of the masses, the mix also brought rock n roll back to a new generation of music buyers (sales of rock n roll CDs greatly increased after this mix was released). The follow-up mix -Jive Bunny's second number one hit single- "That's What I Like" used the same tried and tested formula as "Swing The Mood" to create a near identical mix - with the exception of using a "Hawaii 5-0" sample to replace the 'Big Band' samples from it's predecessor.

No other megamixes from this album were used for chart releases. However, "Rock N Roll Party Mix" would later be revamped and remixed as "That Sounds Good To Me" - Jive Bunny's fourth chart single. (The Christmas Megamix "Lets Party" -their third and final number one doesn't feature on this or any Jive Bunny album). The only other megamix on this album worth mentioning is one titled "Hopping Mad". Why this was never released as a single is unclear because it's one of their best mixes under the "Jive Bunny" banner. The rest of this 45 minute album is more of a 'miss' than a 'hit' - and no better phrase than "album fillers" can be used to describe the four other mixes. "Lover's Mix" - dedicated to the schmaltzy and innocent love songs of the 1950s is a very fundamental piece of work (it gives you the impression this was 'rush' produced to cash-in on Jive Bunny's surprising popularity and get this album released in time for the Christmas market). "Do You Wanna Rock" - a Megamix dedicated to the 1970s Glam Rock scene sounds so out of place on what's really a rock n roll appreciation album.

To prove Mastermix's versatility in the field of creating mixes, there's two on this album dedicated to the Big Band sounds of the 1940s. First up is the "Glenn Miller Medley" - an elongated instrumental mix that provided the backing beat for the "Swing The Mood" Megamix. Trouble gaining the rights to use authentic Glenn Miller tracks resulted in Mastermix turning to The John Anderson Band for the Big Band arrangements (Mastermix would repay the compliment by producing an album for them the following year). "Swing Sisters Swing" is another World War II based Megamix featuring tracks -which I believe are the originals - by The Beverly and Andrews Sisters. Not worthy enough to deserve a single release, these two 1940s megamixes are a classic slice of nostalgia nonetheless and received quite a lot of airplay at many 50th Anniversary of VE/VJ Day parties back in 1995.

This is without a doubt the best Jive Bunny album available to date, but it's no where near as good as what Mastermix are better known for producing. Later Jive Bunny albums were pale in comparison to this debut effort (some were just downright awful), but it should be known "Jive Bunny" are *not* 'one' band. Instead, the Mastermixers are a group of DJ's which might go as far as explaining the decline in quality. But this is the original production team who would return nine years later for the "Hop Around The Clock" compilation - the only other Jive Bunny album worth mentioning. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Air's debut, Moon Safari, solidified the French duo's position among fickle electronica music fans and earned them critical accolades throughout the press. Yet one of their most important fans turned out to be Sofia Coppola (daughter of Francis Ford), who, inspired by their moody ambiance, asked them to write the soundtrack for her directorial debut. The Virgin Suicides--adapted from the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides about the Lisbon sisters and their quest for answers in a turbulent American adolescence--includes stars such as Kirsten Dunst and Kathleen Turner, and Air make a deeply impressionistic subliminal appearance as well. Gordon Tracks sings the lush and romantic "Playground Love"; the rest is a throbbing score of somber synths and thick washes of modest psychedelic touches that recall the tranquil buzz that comes from too much staring at the lava lamp. The only complaint is that this 13-track album is only 40 minutes long; some of the cuts should have been longer. The meditative quality practically demands it. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (101)

Spooky, very spooky
Fans of AIR might be disappointed with this album if they buy it with the preconception that it will sound like 'Moon Safari.' In actuality, though, this album is nothing like its predecessor. While still a great album in its own right, 'The Virgin Suicides' is very dark and trippy, whereas 'Moon Safari' was more lush and dreamy. One thing AIR is great at doing is creating a sort of visual music. The kind of music that invokes scenes in your mind. 'Virgin Suicides' performs this job with ease. All the songs flow well together and you just kind of forget that you're listening to something. 'Clouds Up,' 'Highschool Lover,' and 'Empty House' are personal favorites. Even if you've never heard AIR before, I recommend this album to you. The dark feeling doesn't subside as the album plays on, either. Instead it stays consistent, then it gets deeper in the last three songs. Everyone should buy this album, then 'Moon Safari,' then 'Premiers Symptomes.' And the next album, too, when it comes out.

Soothing, yet dark, provacative and somewhat disturbing
I was quite excited to hear that AIR came ot with a new album. This time, it is for the movie (which I now want to see) Virgin Suicides. AIR puts together an absolutely perfect musical score...one can picture the mood and tone of the movie just by listening to the dark, melancholy music. Every song is distinctive, yet they all flow together, which creates an eerie, haunting effect. The last track summarizes in words what the previous songs already conveyed, which creates a very fitting end....sorrowful, provacative, haunting, with a hint of desperation. AIR has not once let me down with their quality of music and this soundtrack is certainly no exception.

Good Soundtrack for Anime
I first heard this album a couple of weeks ago, when a new girl entered our office, a design department, and brought this music. I didn't know who they where or what the name of the album or the songs where, and my first impression was: This is excellent. Such desertic landscapes and situations as those in "The End of Evangelion" (when nobody was left in planet Earth and the only survivor cried for his beloved Asuka) came to my mind. The feelings of loneliness and drama are so hard you think this is the end of the world's perfect soundtrack. Excluding the first track (which is much better in the free downloadable version available right here in Amazon), this is perfectly coherent music. They sound as if they had been Pink Floyd's padawans. I felt extremely relaxed and thinked: This is Floyd's line resurrection. However, when I knew the title of this album the true meanings came very clearly. I really really love this music and would highly recommend it to any die-hard fan of Pink Floyd's "Echoes" and "Shine On". However, it is much better if you don't know the title. Do this experiment to someone: Make him/her hear this without telling what it is. Perception is much clearer when it is not obstructed by prejudices.

playground love is my first dance
I am getting married this June, and Playground Love will be the first dance for my husband and I. It is the most beautiful, elegant song I have ever heard. It fits our romance perfectly, I get all teary eyed listening to it, oh, I just love it.

Good music, but too dark for Air...
The Virgin Suicides is a really well composed album, and the music bears undeniably Air's mark, however, I was expecting something more relaxed, like Moon Safari. The foreboding tones of this album are hard to get around and let me down. However, if you can stand dark music, this album will be perfect for you! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

NOT ORIGINALS ?...DONT BOTHER
Its quite simple, Ive been aDJ for 25 years and have listen to thousands of people and their reactions to anything but the originals............They notice and they talk about it.
Especially when they are classic party songs....It would be like hearing a classic Elvis song....They would say "Thats not Elvis"
by then its too late......a lasting impression.

www.DJetc.com / Nashville

Awful Fake
I agree with other reviewers.Don't waste your money.I should have listened to the samples.To hear more awful fakes, visit theproducer's web site at drewsfamous.com.Listen to their selection of garbage before you make the purchase.

Great Hopping Dance Tunes
It may not be the original artists, but it is very well performed. Do not be misled by the negative reviews. It is excellent music. Whatever you are doing when you listen to this music, you will not be able to sit down. You will be hopping and bouncing around the room. If you are dancing, you will dance until you can not dance any more. This 2 CD set would be ideal for a party. I repeat, do not listen to the negative reviews.

(N Haven)

Not the original artists!!
After eagerly inserting the CDs into my player, what came out was not what I expected.The "various" artists were not the original "various" artists.I guess the joke's on me.

Buyers beware!
This CD is not at all what it appears to be. They got other people singing and playing the music, so it's not what you're probably looking for. Terrible misrespresentation. I was so disappointed! Thank goodness I used my other party cd's or my guests would have left......and I would have held the door open.....not blamed them for leaving!! ... Read more

Album Description

Afterdark Chicago is the 4th volume in Afterdark series. These compilations spotlight the sound of house music emanating from the world's most cosmopolitan cities. Compiled for sophisticated music lovers who value the best music in a high-quality package, Afterdark Chicago follows on from nocturnal adventures in New York City, San Francisco and Paris. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Deep. Dark. Danceable. Slinky. Sexy.
A gorgeous compilation! Arguably, the album is the most superior of the already outstanding Afterdark series. The track selection provides a fascinating insight into the future direction of House music.*Afterdark Chicago* is an exquisite and lovingly-relentless foray into space and time that unites all musical genres to create a vivid and blissful mix for the mind to think deeper, the body to dance better, and the soul to endure longer.

Standout tracks include, but are not limited to, Common Nature's "Can't you see the Sunshine Through The Rain?" Fresh & Low's "Love Capsule" Jask's "Reflections of Love" and "Fantasy" by Jay-J.

Andrew 5.3.5 ... Read more

Reviews (29)

"Goin Crazy" With Talent!
At one point, Natalie believed her music career would never come.Then out of nowhere, things started happening.Will she end up another 1-hit-wonder like most kid acts who debuted in 2004, NO!Natalie has the talent; she's a singer/songwriter/ producer/choreographer/dancer.Enough said!Natalie is a 19-year old Latina who is the girl behind the #1 smash hit single, "Goin Crazy."The single is smooth R&B, laced with a Latin feel.The promo CD came to DJ's in just a downloaded CD with the singer & song title written on it.Despite the appearance of the promo CD, the song is amazing, containing lyrics souly written by the artist herself--Natalie."Goin Crazy" ended up being the #1 most selling single on the charts from when it debuted, and followed on to hit #1 six times on the Billboard Top 200 Single Sales Chart.It is still in the Top 5, and Natalie deserves it!Her second single--"Energy" was the most added song to Top 40 radio last week, making us realize she has the talent and skill to not end up like those 1-hit-wonders who debuted in 2004!

Natalie's First Single
"Goin' Crazy" is a song written by Natalie. In an interview with Thabiz she said this song will always be special to her. Natalie is a twentysomething singer/songwriter who is a former Houston Rocket's dancer.This slow ballad is a favorite with teens and hit number one on the Billboard Top Singles chart (not to be confused with the Billboard Hot 100).This is the first single from Natalie's debut self-titled single and will be followed up by the second single "Energy" featuring Baby Bash.

Natalie Made It: Top 10 SuperStars Who Will Rule 2005
On Amazon's "Top 10 SuperStars Who Will Rule 2005," the new, original, and very talented Natalie made it on the list!:-)She comes at beautiful #8!The list is below

1) Willa Ford
2) Mariah Carey
3) Christina Milian
4) Emma
5) Brooke Valentine
6) Amerie
7) Omarion
8) NATALIE
9) Nivea
10) Mandy Moore
11) HEATSEAKER- Keyshia Cole

remember it can change anytime and she can only get higher!!

Very Good!
The first time I heard this song I thought it was alright. But now that I hear it a lot on the radio I really like it and I can't wait until her album comes out.

Start of a new era of Latin Soul
This is a landmark song in terms of Latin soul. Instead of the fake R&B that's plaguing the airwaves, finally a new sound has developed. Great production reminiscent of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Its ahead of its time. ... Read more