Amazon.com

The sequel to 2002's Verve Remixed follows and improves upon the original's formula; take material from the storied vaults at Verve Records and let top DJs of the modern era have at them. Featuring an impressive roster of dance artists like Miguel Migs, Koop, and Fila Brazillia, the trick is matching DJ with jazz standard in a way that compliments both. It's a tough chore, given the classics involved and the need to do them justice. On Sarah Vaughan’s "Whatever Lola Wants," Gotan Project manage the task with distinction, filtering rustic and romantic accordions through the song's lusty machinations. Astute choices are required, like Mondo Grosso’s decision to build a solid thump out of just the central melody of Archie Shepp's "Blues For Brother George Jackson." Sometimes, the best thing to do is get out of the way; Mr. Scruff's Soul Party Mix of "Do What You Wanna" only adds some background party noise to Ramsey Lewis’ ripping keyboard solo. VR2 doesn't hit the mark every time, but the combinations that work accomplish what only the best dance music does--they crumble the walls between genres and encourage us all to get down together. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (41)

bemixed and between
Obviously "the shock of new" helped propel the first Verve Remixed record. This not to say that remix records are new, but certainly the Verve crew took a step into uncharted waters by allowing electronic music producers free reign to remix its storied vaults.

Rather than just stay in the realm of downtempo and do the same thing over again, there is a greater diversity of styles on VR2 from the trippy tango treatment of Gotan Project on S. Vaughan's "Whatever Lola Wants" to swing house style of Mondo Grosso on the remix of "Blues for Brother George" to Jaffa's soulful downtempo take on "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair."

Jaffa's track to me is the standout on the record, and I'm also in partial agreement that jazz lends itself better to downtempo treatments.

But that doesn't stop me from lovin' the hell out of this record. So what it if makes want to shake your moneymaker? Just bobbing your head gets old after awhile. GET OFF YOUR COUCH AND PUT DOWN THE CHEESE CURLS.

Obviously, the VR2 is going to be judged on a different basis -- the second record must live up to excitement and quality of the first and deal with the "sequel" detractors. Well, so far I think its doing well on both counts.

So thanks to Verve, almost 60 years after your inception, you're still one of the coolest labels on the face of the earth.

C'MON, FOLKS, LIGHTEN UP!!!
Was this CD really that bad, to all you three and two star reviewers? In my opinion, it takes incredible skill from producers and DJs like Herbert, Miguel Migs, Layo and Bushwhacka, Fila Brazillia, Gotan Project, et al to make old jazz classics sound fresh and alive! These songs range from funk to house to soul and acid jazz, and the re-mixing from the aformetioned in no way distorts the original material--if anything their personal touches have made these songs more accessible to today's music listeners! I have a new appreciation for Ella, Sarah, Dizzie, Nina and Astrud, and after hearing "Verve Remixed 2" I may even be persuaded to go out and get some of their stuff!

Love it!
It's even better than the first. A definite must-have.

A Worthy Followup!
Hopefully, Verve Remixed 3 will be released this year so I'll have some more amazing remixes to listen to. Volume 2 has some truly mindbending work, as well as a couple that are somewhat pedestrian. For me, the standouts are Gotan Project's remix (love the bandoneon!), which turns this song into audio crack. I cannot get tired of listening to it, and feel the need to take a tango lesson. Other standouts include Mondo Grosso's remix of Archie Shepp, which absolutely drags you onto the dance floor, Miguel Migs' "Slap That Bass," which does the same. Of course, the two Nina Simone songs are standouts, as her music is ripe for these kinds of projects. The only three that didn't do the trick for me were numbers 4, 8, and 9, since they were too close to the originals and fairly unimaginative. If they weren't going to do much with them, they should have remixed different songs. Still, there is some amazing work present here, sure to delight your next house full of guests.

AS GOOD AS THE FIRST!!!
Classic songs!!! Great interpretations by great producers. The Unmixed version is great as well and it's priced low! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Nice departure from the mainstream crap
If you're sick of the mainstream trite crap, check this out.Walking Dead with Chester Bennington is a dope track along with the stellar effort from Chuck D and a few other less know MC's that add their talent to several tracks accompanied by Z-Trip's renowned skills on the wheels of steel.

Average cd from a great DJ
"Shifting Gears" is a decent, good, not great, release from the extremely talented DJ Z-Trip.Z-Trip was the king of the mashup before it became the trendy hip, cool thing to do."Uneasy Listening" is a classic, if you can somehow locate it.

"Shifting Gears" is more of a regular producer album with a bunch of guest MC's.It's very similar to DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples cd.It's very up and down: some MC's are good, some not so good.I guess it depends on which rappers you like/dislike; that may affect your opinion a lot.

Luckily, the last song Revolution features his classic mashup mixing.His ability to blend two completely irrelevant records together into something tight is amazing.

I think it's too bad the whole album wasn't mostly instrumentals with a few vocalists scattered throughout.Instead it's a mostly average guest-MC-vocal album with a few fantastic instrumentals thrown about.Three stars.It's reasonably priced too, which is great!

Goddamm that DJ made my day !!
Having followed Mr Z since about 98, he finally releases a mainstream CD, which is something of a departure, believe me, trying to get hold of anything from this elusive DJ is a result.So has he sold out ??No, he definitely has not, although this is not Uneasy Listening Vol 2, its not a mix CD, although all tracks blend into each other effortlessly.The tracks are so diverse, you never know what to expect next, soul, funk, rock, hip hop and that is Z-Trip`s trade mark, never a dull moment throughout.Some purists might persist that this is a confused CD, trust me he has hit the mark, when listening to this CD you're feelings are taken for a journey of bends, you just cant see what's coming !!Drill Sergeants, Breakfast Cereal's, ambient wave sounds lapping on a beach, yes really !!Suffice to say at the prices I have seen this CD for, you really cant go wrong, the only catch being that you will want more and more of this maestro of the decks, and as you will soon find out, that is not such an easy journey :>)

On a personal note, the outstanding track for me is "Shock and Awe" such power and emotion from a song, listen to the lyric's,Z-Trip and Chuck D it really doesn't get deeper or nastier !!

Good, but not THAT good
Being from AZ I've seen this dude live and own some of his underground cd's.So I know how sick this guy is. This cd is good, but it's not sick.Z is very capable of making some sick sounds, but his full talent isn't really present on this cd.One of the other reviewers said that Z couldn't get a lot of his samples cleared, and I think that hurt him.This is a very solid cd, but lacks in something that doesn't make it a five star.the song with murs and super nat is my fav on the cd.If you're looking for a good "mixed tape" cd check out Prefuse 73's Surrounded by Silence, which is pure butter.

Classic
Seriously, if you want some music that not only stands out but that will stand the test of time, this is it. one listen and already i can feel how much energy went into this. this album is exactly what i wanted. Buy this now and you will not regret it

Peace ... Read more

Amazon.com

You get the feeling Mike Patton did his time with major label bands like Faith No More and Mr. Bungle merely as a way to fund the stuff he's really into. He's got a solo project called Peeping Tom that includes collaborations with Massive Attack and Amon Tobin; the fourth album from his experimental instrumental outfit, Fantomas; and guest spots on Björk's Medulla and Handsome Boy Modeling School's White People. At the front of the pack is this collaboration with Oakland, California turntable crew the X-ecutioners. Using the group's punctuated scratches and samples as raw material, Patton builds a symphony of cut-and-paste chaos over which he applies his trademark shrieks and growls. It's clearly not for everyone, but those who found Jay-Z and Linkin Park's Collision Course a little too sterile will definitely find something to gape over. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (17)

One of a kind Hip-hop . . .
. . . from Mike Patton and the great X-ecutioners.Lots of commentary on the album that I won't go into here. (Suffice it to say, it's both entertaining and subtle while being not-so-subtle.)
Patton sings his heart out on some tracks, in a very polished, poppy way we've not heard in a while, and the X-ecutioners are as impeccable as ever throughout.

Pick it up, put it on and enjoy. It's delicious.

Rap-a-tap-a-tap-a-Jazz
Causa efecto, reacción! Se subentiende quien gana en esta batalla de scratch, samples y trastornados ruidos vocales en esta guerra entre Mike Patton y The E xecutioners
General Patton :10
The E Xecutioners:01
La mayoria de los ritmos latinos, étnicos y el swing, ya se están convirtiendo en una característica reconocible para los seguidores de este vocalista compositor solista, lo que transforma a este disco en uno mas de su coleccion particular, pero sin restar meritos al trio de scratch, quienes aportan una gran técnica y dominio en la tornamesa, dándole características impresindible para la realización de este disco.
La utilización de ritmos hip-hop, podrían hacerte creer que se trata de un disco de rap, pero mas bien parece ser una composición de "Avant Rap", ya que no encontrarás un vocalista freestyle, sinó a Patton.
Con cierta similitud al proyecto "Moonracker" (sin discos editados), este disco juego con los cambios de ritmo inesperados, ruidos indecifrables y tecnología en demasía, pero con un nivel muy superior por sobre una improvisación en vivo.
Si te gusta "Naked City" en su epoca "Torture Garden" este disco te vá a gustar, pero si esperas escuchar un rap de "Doctor Alban" este disco no es para ti.
"Get Up, Punk", "Fire In The Hole" y "L.O.L" son los track mas Pop y orejas (con una composición convencional) listos para la fiesta (o para escucharlos con tu nena, ya que Patton que no olvidó su lado sensual de "Lovage"), el resto son temas de no mas de 1:30 minutos con cambios de ritmos constantes y saturantes cada 3 segs. Y otros temas de 3:00 minutos mas atmosfericos y constantes, lo que lo transforma en un disco que no se formará en una tortura musical, pero recuerda, estás en medio de una batalla y estos tipos se dan con todo.

A Collaboration of Legends
Simply amazing.Those are the two words that went through my mind after I listened to this album two times through.Being a fan of both sides of this collaboration, I had very high hopes.The entire 3 months before this arrived on the shelves I had contemplated and considered the idea that my hopes may be too high, that I was only setting myself up for disappointment.Not only did this meet my expectations, it managed to exceed them.The X-ecutioners are as sharp as ever, reminding me of their absolutely stellar preformance and Bonnaroo last year.No other ensemble can work those turntables quite like DJ Rob Swift, Grandmaster Roc Raida, and DJ Total Eclipse.Their albums most always involve guests, but they always outshine said guests.Not here, but then again, this is no ordinary guest.Mike Patton has always pushed the envelope, challenged us to question what we know as music, and brought us what is truly music.From absolutely stellar groups such as Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and Fantomas, Mr. Patton has very rarely let me down.If you enjoy Fantomas's first album or Mr. Bungle's "Disco Volante" you should enjoy this.If you are an X-ecutioners guy, give this a shot.If you dig it, and you are open to experience truly challenging music, I'd give the two afformentioned albums a good listen.If this is your first time with both sides, I'd recommend the X-Men's "Genocide in Sudan" and Faith No More's "Angel Dust" as starter albums.

Genre bending jump cut hip hop.
This one is really intriguing--vocal acrobat Mike Patton goes to war, sometimes literally, with turntable army The X-ecutioners.I'm a big proponent of turntablism, and I enjoy the fusion of Patton's avant-garde and rock sensibilities with the the X-ecutioners.

Much of this is scratches, screams, yelps, effects, noises, etc. interspersed with bizarre commentary about war, there's precious little in the way of songs.Its more often genre bending/blending, "Precision Guided Needle-Dropping and Larynx Mutations" in less than two minutes manages to bounce between California-esque pop music, organ drones, swing, and scratches before fading into a bizarre banjo piece that ends with a hip hop take on a marching drill.All this is followed up with "Battle Hymn of the Technics Republic", which is roughly what its title sounds like, scratches over a dark march.Some of the jump-cut pieces also bring Patton's singing (rather than vocalizing) to the forefront, including the rather familiar rhythms of "Take a Piece of Me", it never ceases to amaze how he can sing in the most pop-oriented styles over the most dense hip hop and somehow make it work, and we even get a straight lounge style croon (if only for 20 seconds before it cuts styles again) in "We'll Paint This Town".In many ways, its like Zorn's Naked City filtered through Patton and hip hop, some tracks, like "Modified Combined Obsticle Overlay", bounce through half a dozen genres in the first 45 seconds before settling into a funky groove, only to switch gears altogether and start bouncing through genres again.It can be frustrating at times, because just as you start to really enjoy something, it switches gears, but somehow in the end, it all fits together.

The structured songs that are there are of remarkable quality-- "Get Up, Punk!" is a good example of this early on in the record, with a droning synth line, hip-hop beats, and Patton's growled vocals, its superb.Perhaps even better is the mighty "Fire in the Hole", more turntablism and hip hop beats, with a crooned vocal courtesy of Patton.Also a more concrete song form is the near-alternative/industrial "Loser on Line", probably the closest thing to a commercial song on the record (which is to say its only moderately bizarre).

I suspect this is a first listen thing for most people, either you get what they're trying to do and you think it works, or you think its a mess.I personally loved it.

Suspended Variation
If there is one thing you can count on Mike Patton for it's variation.No two projects sound anything alike.I would love to tell you this is a standout project for the man, but it is not.For most of his career, thus far, Patton has been involved with and created some of the best music I have ever heard.I used to eagerly await the release of albums from a number of artists, but I am now eagerly awaiting the releases of one artist. Oh, I'm still buying far too many CD's for my own good, but I'm no longer marking calenders and counting the days for anyone else.Patton never disappoints me in quality or quantity.If you are not already listening to this guy, you have no idea what you're missing.The guy has changed my whole music world.In my personal opinion, you can start here with Patton.You can start anywhere, just don't ever expect to listen to one of these CD's one time and see the brilliance.It's in there, you just have to give it time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

DJ Shadow, a.k.a. Josh Davis, could be credited with bringing newfound introspection to the gloating sounds of hip-hop. Condensed with urban oscillations and scatological beats, Endtroducing shutters with eclectic samples and aural montages that reach beyond the constraints of hip-hop style. Enhancing the mix with fundamentals of rock, soul, funk, ambient, and jazz, the modern fusions fail to go unnoticed, even by the casual listener. While most of the tracks are compiled by layering samples from vinyl treasures found in used-record bins, the production quality of the mosaic is unmatched. Darkened melodies carry throughout the album with its eye on the end of the tunnel. The narration samples come from numerous sources and keep the listener involved and waiting for resolution. With a message as fragmentary as an overheard conversation, Endtroducing conveys no apparent conclusion, but begs the mind, body, and soul for some rewind. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (159)

DJ Shadow is the Postmodern artist
I first go this album in 96; I was still in high school and didn't know much about sampling, beat production, etc. I thought it was one of the most amazing things I'd ever heard. Now, as a senior in college with more musical experience under my belt, I can still say this is one of the best albums I own. DJ Shadow revolutionized the way I and many people thought about sampling. As he takes a record from his insanely deep crates, he doesn't simply loop a catchy cut a la Puffy, he manipulates and recontextualizes these sounds into something completely his own. Like his track "Organ Donor," where he uses a sample of a church organ and turns it into a beat. Shadow in my opinion is the epitome of the postmodern musical artist: taking what's already out there in the world we live in and breathing new life into it. I highly recommend this to any electronic or hip hop fans. Oh, and by the way I heard he has a new album coming out soon; he's on MCA now, so his access to production equipment is gonna be insane this time. I'm expecting a truely remarkable album.

Wow! DJ Shadow's a genius!
I bought this album a few days ago on my 13th birthday because I liked "Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" and "Organ Donor". At first I didn't like it because a lot of it I found boring. It also made me angry that the Organ Donor song is only 2 minutes in lenght on mine! (The one I listened to on the internet was over 4 minutes long)I put it in the next day and I got it. It may not be the Orbital, Fatboy Slim type stuff that I usually listen to but it isn't supposed to be. I got it in the Dance/Electronica section of the local record store...so it is a bit misleading. Dance? No way. It's very different and extremely hard to classify. I would say...Trip-Hop/Jazz/Electronica/Hip Hop/Soul.

So overall:

PROS:
Very moving
Nicely mellow
Great variation of songs
Often funny

CONS:
Seems kind of short
Some filler "tracks" like 6 and "Why Hip-Hop Sucks in '96" which are somewhat annoying.
Organ Donor is WAY too short!

Best tracks:
Building Steam
Stem/Long Stem
Changeling
Midnight in a Perfect World
Organ Donor

-Also I have the "Mo Wax" label, and it says "Mu Wax" on the back in really small print when it should say "Mo Wax"!

Producing one of the best albums ever
From the opening sample of "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt" where a voice is heard saying "Producing..." you know you are listening to an outstanding piece of work. In order to better understand this, you have to position yourself at the time this album came out.

You have to realize Trip Hop was already in full fledge: Massive Attack and Portishead had already come out with their own thing, but DJ Shadow came with a different proposal in 1996 when he produced 'Endtroducing...'. Through the magic of samples, he blended in a way many have tried to copy, yet no one yet matched, genres such as rock, soul, funk, ambient, and jazz, into a final product that transcends time. If you need further proof of that, think how long it's been since this album came out (1996) as you are reading this, sit back, listen to it and be amazed, as so many have been amazed to this day.

After listening to 'Endtroducing...' almost daily for three weeks now, turning back and thinking of acts such as Fatboy Slim almost feels awkward, considering his sample-based 'Better Living Through Chemistry' came out almost a full year after Shadow's debut. Granted that everyone has a place in music, DJ Shadow's genius with sampling work simply is above and beyond, making this not only his breakthrough, but also one of the best albums ever.

Other favorite tracks: "Changeling", "Untitled" and the grandieuse "Mutual Slump". If you want to take a dip into an evolved form of his work, check out his side project, U.N.K.L.E., in particular 'Psyence Fiction'.

A shadow of himself
A couple years back i became interested in underground hip hop and turntablism. My first, and best purchase, was DJ Shadows Endtroducing. Nary a day goes by that I do not find myself listening to this album. The way he mixes and blends the songs together puts Shadow at the top of his game on this record. Where this album excels is in its ability to not only drag you into the world that Shadow has produced but takes you through the mind of one the most talented individuals in all of music. If you enjoy music, do yourself a favor and buy this album. You will never find another like it, as it creates a constant state of euphoria, as the beats and samples are blended together in such a way that it is almost impossible to describe.in my top 10 albums of all time.

Excellent work
Dj shadow has proved that he is one of the greatest artists ever. With such diverse tracks and complex beats, Endtroducing will be something to look back on from years to come. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maybe it was that downtime at Creedmoor Mental Hospital, but after he tuned out following the breakup of the hardheaded seminal hip-hop group the Ultramagnetic MCs, something must have flipped Kool Keith's wig like a mescaline pizza. I can think of no other way to explain the mutant birth of Dr. Octagonecologyst. Literally assuming another personality on this record, Dr. Octagon--Kool Keith on the mike, with Dan "The Automater" Nakamura producing--transmits unearthly rhymes like tractor beams to your cranium. Then he squirms around in there, grabs some Vaseline from your medicine cabinet, and does a little dance. The first time you listen to cuts like "Earth People" and "Blue Flowers," you might have to change the way you listen to hip-hop. The standards are the same--verse, chorus, verse, with plenty of nasty skits in the middle--and there are electro-beat shades of his predecessors, such as Afrika Baambaata, but the wordplay and beat compositions are truly light years from most hip-hop. Listening to this album is like trying to read the glyphs from Stargate. --Todd Levin ... Read more

Reviews (92)

Clockin' Doc Oc
Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Kool Keith's late 90's work. But Dr.Octagon isn't Kool Keith, Dr.Octagon isn't even human, he's from a galaxy far, far away. I normally don't go for the "tormented geniuses" of Hiphop, they are usually all hype and headtrips, but this album is different. It is still a great album 6 years later, but I think it is also a distinct product of it's time. Dr.Octagon is speaking in a funky tongue about the state of 90's Hiphop, even if Kool Keith doesn't intend to, and thats the strength of Octagynecologyst as I percieve it.
Also, the production from the Automator is ILL, that bears repeating, The production is ILL! Some Hiphop producers use strings, but no other producers really allow them to influence the music. And all the skits and vocal samples are too damn funny("Because they were smelly" gets me every time) and really speak from the same place as Doc Oc. I don't give this album five stars only because Keith is not saying enough, not because he doesn't say plenty. Dr. Octagon speaks volumes, all in character. I believe this rapper is a madman.

Kool Keith's seminal mainstream-underground opus
Dr. Octagon - the album and the Kool Keith alter-ego - set the stage for what was to become the new wave of rap in the late nineties: genuine innovation and drawer-dropping collaborations. One of the early albums that fused specialty DJs and a specialty rap-act, Dr. Octagon throbs with intriguing, complex and texturous production and titillating staccato rhymes from Kool Keith. Kool Keith has been prone to dissing this seminal album as of late, however, he cannot deny the impact it had on his career and on expanding his fanbase - as he raps on the Black Elvis album "my two million new fans are white people". Even if you have heard Keith's other collaborations with Kutmaster Kurt and didn't like them, you owe it to yourself as a hip-hop fan to experience this delicious, smooth, eerie and hilarious album.

Kool Keith's best
(In my opinion), since his early days with the Ultramagnetic MCs.

In this album (produced by Dan the Automator), Kool Keith plays the deranged Dr. Octagon.

This album is full of bizarre lyrics and is filled with electronic and unusual beats.
A crazy album from a crazy MC (who has spent time in a mental asylum) -- makes sense

There are several great tracks to listen to on this album such as:"3000", "Blue Flowers", "Bear Witness" 1 (1st of several by Dan the Automator and Prince Paul), and "I'm Destructive".
And there are entertaining and perverse skits throughout the album.

There are also musical contributions by: Prince Paul, DJ Shadow, and DJ Qbert.

If you like Kool Keith or unusual and innovative hiphop this is a good album.

Considered a classic.

kool keith is a little off
First of all I'll talk about kool keith. he repeats his one line refrains in unpredictable rhythms, and, for that matter, does almost everything in unpredictable rhythms. rhythmic variation is one of his best qualities as a rapper, while saying anything important is one of his worst. most of the cd revolves around the fact that he is a doctor with an enthusiasm for the ladies, and there is much talk of random disgusting made up ailments and several references to shooting excement onto faces. songs like halfsharkalligator are completely random and bizarre but keith somehow makes them addictive and irresistible. he never gets boring, sometimes leaving a ton of silence at the end of unfinished verses before going back to the chorus. you could call him a rap genius, in any case he is one of the most consistently creative guys out there for real. but enough about him...
dan the automator is a great producer; all his beats are good except earth people, but I think his other work on handsome boy and deltron is much better. I think this album lets him show his style but it feels less adapted than the deltron stuff. Blue Flowers is especially artful in its use of strings, and it is revisited and given a different treatment later on in the album. the well crafted dark atmospheric quality of his work needs little explanation if you have heard it at all, and there is little from him that you would not expect. one of the best things about the album is how keith and dan's senses of rhythm go together so well to create something so that it doesn't matter that the words don't make any sense.
dj q-bert is really good and he shows off sometimes when there is no rapping, and gets the whole song to himself on bear witness. he is really good, one of the best out there.
So this cd is a great OBVIOUSLY UNDERGROUND piece of work if you think random grossness and twisted sexual humor is funny. The spooky beats provide an excellent backdrop for keith's inspired ramblings.

It Changed My Life.
This album is so good that, upon it's release, the sea of mediocre rappers in which the world yet swims convulsed in collective jealosy. It's so good that it sits next to my Black Sabbath and Dimitri Shostakovich CD's. Here is a man who stands above--far above--the rest of hip-hop. This is original source material for those who revere music and creativity. This album will make you bob your head with it's sick beats, and keel over laughing at the inane, incomparable stream of absurdities from the mouth of the Most High Master, Kool Keith. Totally abstruse and esoteric, yet completely accessible, isn't that what great art is all about? A Dali painting on CD. People will have this in their collection 100 years from now. ... Read more

Album Description

This re-release was praised by the likes of Rolling Stone, Spin, URB, Blender, and more as "...utterly beyond anything heard to date." Playful, twisted, psychedelic, sampledelic, delirious, and infectious, it's the sound of six men who spent most of adolescence rummaging through bargain bins in Melbourne's record shops, constructing their own post-modern disco-pop amalgam from rubbish 50's rejects and saccharine 60's pap. Also available domestically for the first time on 180 gram double vinyl. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the godfather of modern-day turntablism, Qbert has been long overdue for a solo release. Wave Twisters is the obvious brainchild of Qbert's long-term fascination with sound and its malleability: using stacks of eclectic vinyl as his fodder, Qbert creates an album of songs by turning scraps of found sound into everything from rhythm sections to melodic tracks to quirky pieces of dialogue. You don't need to understand the technical complexities of scratching to appreciate it; Wave Twisters is simply the future of the funk--sonic play transformed by an equal mix of aural insanity and genius and put all back together by the hands of a master. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Qbert::: :the essence of Hip Hop
Hip Hop is not a genre of music, but a sub-culture founded in the South Bronx during the late 70's. It consists of turntablism, b-boying, emceeing, and writing. As time progressed, the art form of emceeing became more popular to the mainstream public and eventually, over shined the three other equally important ones. Due to the exploitation of corporations that would package the genre currently known as "Hip Hop," or "Rap" in the form of audio tapes, and compact discs, the true essence of Hip Hop has not recovered.

The innovative mind of Filipino American turntablist, Q-bert, has helped to progress the art form of turntablism by revolutionizing the manner in which sounds are outputted from a turntable, vinyl and a mixer to create music. His album, Wave Twisters was a good album, however, I was disappointed. I would of like to of heard more innovative turntablism and less sampling. I consider Q-Bert "THE" turntablist, and therefore critique his album to the highest standard.

Music from Chaos
This cd is great. Even after listening to the whole album severals times I still cannot appreciate the true complexity of each indivial track. Dj Qbert is truly the master turntablist. The way that he can bend and manipulate sounds at the same time is what makes him so incredible. If you think that you might want to check out a hip-hop/DJ...whatever cd then you have to buy this cd.

DJ Qbert's frenzied scratchfest
Fan's of turntablism and speaker shredding scratching will enjoy this CD. 'Wave Twisters' is a scratchfest cavalcade, similar to the turntablist ferocity of 'Live at Future Primitive Sound Session' by Cut Chemist. Hypnotic, trancelike, with spine-chilling beats. The samples are minimal, but maintain soulful, almost tribal-like pulsating rhythms, somewhat like NWA's 'Straight Outta Compton'. The scratches aurally bombard you from all angles, almost like spread-out laser-beams echoing in the dark. It's amazing how something relatively stripped-down can sound so powerful and dense. Essential.

HIP HOP THAT SHAKES YOUR BRAINSTEM
This album rocks intensely, to say the very least. Buy it. It will make all your hip hop dreams come true and destroy any hopes you had of becoming the world's greatest dj in one listen.

He's the Man!!
By far one of the most technically and musically talented dj's so far! Always ten steps ahead of the rest of the turntablist world. This can only be said about only so few dj's out there, It's been said to never show this man whatever scratch or new technique you've invented, 'cuz he'll take what you've invented and re-invent it and make it better. After hearing this album... I can beleive that!! Much respect to Qbert for paving the way in this art.. he's one of the few that make dj'n what it is, AN ARTFORM!! He's defenitely the man!! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Awesome collection
This CD is awesome! I just got it a few days ago and cannot stop playing it. There are so many early freestyle and hip-hop hits on here. Of course, you could not have an electric funk compilation without the classic Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa, which was one of the earliest (And best) hip-hop songs. Play At Your Own Risk by Planet Patrol is very catchy and easily danceable. The two megamixes are unbelievably good, and I think they should have made a CD with one long megamix. Another classic on here is Herbie Hancock's Rockit, which is infectious and awesome to dance too. If you like good, danceable, catchy music, and you are interested in listening to some early dance music, pick up this awesome CD. You will not be disapointed.

The First Of Four Series
Rhino Records went to great lenths of preserving the roots of both Hip Hop and Techno music. In my honest opinion, Electric Funk gave Hip Hop more life and added more texture to the genre. Early Hip Hop music from 1979 to 1981 had a more stripped down sound, with a simple 808 beat, one synth/bass line with a couple of scatches. But Electric Funk, gave you something to both dance too and groove too. In the first series of Electric Funk : Part 1, we see the orgins of Electric Funk take it's place. Kicking off the set is "Planet Rock" (1982) by Afrika Bambaataa, which the second most important piece of Hip Hop history, right along side of "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by The Sugarhill Gang. To make this review more short, the CD showcases early Electric Funk from 1982 to 1983, mainly East Coast sounds, were Part 2 shows the beginning of the West Coast Era. Only thing i wished Rhino would have done with Part 1, was that should have added the Man Parrish classics "Hip Hop Bee Bop" and "Boogie Down Bronx", both songs played a big part in the Electric Funk genre. But overall, the four part series are one big history lesson in both the world of Hip Hop and Techno music. Another great thing, "Great liner notes, very detailed".

Original MEGAMIX by D.ST.
This CD is awesome. I just wish I had the first MEGAMIX 12" by D.ST. It is a version of ROCKIT with other Herbie Hancock songs mixed up scratching over top of the song. If anyone knows where or has a copy please e-mail me at agr1170@cs.com

Great back-in-the-day music!
This CD (part 1 of 4) is a great collection of the classic 80's jam rap/funk music. The only problem is that there's not a 5th CD! A must have for any lover of 80's 'funky fresh freaky Friday' music!

Excellent sample of the early 80's street music!
Actually this cd is part of a box wich contain 4 cd's all filled with good elektrofunk music starting from the early 80's to late 80's! i think this could be a revival of this typical street sound,maybe it will bring up some memories as well.Nice to have and to listen to. I prefer this sound before house,trance,etc. Good work! ... Read more

Amazon.com

As Caia, Japanese producer Maiku Takahashi comes up with a solid debut filled with ambient space and druggy downtempo. Produced by Groove Armada's Andy Cato, The Magic Dragon has some of that band’s soulful warmth, but Caia's sound is even smoother, layered with rich chill tunes and hypnotic effects. Wordless choruses float like little fluffy clouds into extended bridges, mixing up the structure of songs like "Summer Lighting" and "La Telecabine." The atmospherics gain momentum from traces of hip-hop and dub, like a Tangerine Dream movie soundtrack with a beat. Some songs end up in completely different places from where they started; "Heavy Weather" develops from a brooding acid-house bass line, but eventually dissolves into a wash of keyboards and chanted melodies. By keeping us off balance, Takahashi gets to surprise us and takes advantage of our disorientation to establish a dreamy and wonderful weightlessness. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Enter a magical world via the Magic Dragon
Maiku Takahashi aka Caia (pronounced ch EYE ah) has created a wonderful CD of smooth grooves, jazzy licks and a very nice relaxing flow while maintaing a mesmerizing bass groove.

I personally found the drum beats to be very cool. They're up front but don't detract at all from the rest of the piece. In addition, I like the different types of drums he uses. One song he seems to use industrial type drums and in the next he's using african bongos =).

What others have said about this is true: every track is top quality and forbids you to skip over them =).

I recommend this CD to anyone without reservation =).

Erotic music for the 21st Century
When listening to Caias' beautiful "Magic Dragon" album be prepared to be blown away. Each song on this record transports you to a different world on each different song. Its downtempo meets new age meets electronica meets acid jazz. But more than
anything its music that meets the soul and decides to become best friends. Let me tell you my 5 favorites off of "Magic Dragon": 1) "Remembrance" A song to help you with those reflective moods of lost loves, full moons, and snuggling with a current lover. 2) "La Telecabine" This has some nice surprises in the arrangements. Be prepared for the unexpected on this great dance and soulful feeling song. 3) "Summer Lightning" Just simply a breathtakingly beautiful song. Get your jogging shoes ready for this one, it will be a great pace setter. 4) "Subway Freedom" This is a great one for all those DJ's out there. Great Dubbing is already included. 5) "Afterwards @ the Bar" This one has a little smooth jazz feel with some nice break beats in it. Except for some wordless singing, this is an instrumental album for the ages. This is a great record for any kind of mood. I highly recommend this breakthough album.

A Little Strange
This is a good CD, however two of the songs on here are taken from the Weekend Players CD. (A much better CD.) I had to listen to both to confirm it, I almost thought someone had changed the CD on me.

While I liked this music, it seemed a bit hard to follow and didn't keep my interest the way Armada Groove, Zero 7, and other artists do.

"Magic" from the magic dragon
Having listened to album a few times now I am amazed at the different levels of music that flow from it. It is a wonderful collection of downbeat chords and strings.
Listen and you will certainly LIKE!

uh . . . no
There was something a bit corny and cheesy about caia that just didn't appeal to me. There's a warm, all engulfing fuzzy feel to this disc but it left a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed a bit too over produced and the music came across as murky and muddled. I tried selling my copy at three different used music stores and no one wanted to buy it. If you like your downtempo a bit cheesy and forgetable, the magic dragon is for you. Not a single track reached out and grabbed me and the disc kind flowed in such a manner that eventually every track started to sound a like. I was finally able to unload my copy. Not a bad disc but there is SO much better out there. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great production but far too violent.
This CD really shows the raw lyrical and production talent in underground hip-hop today. Jus Allah shines through with his amazingly passionate lyrics laced with hate-rhymes, and Vinnie Praz's long-winded, scratchy voice plays the perfect counter-part to Jus Allah's smooth flow. The production on the album is, without a doubt, nothing short of genius. I found myself listening to the same song over and over again, simply because the beats, melodies and samples were so addicting, the problem is, this is about as far as you get from positive music as possible.
There seems to be one common excuse for this; it's a concept album. It's as though every violent song on the record is just reflecting how violent the human race is, but let me tell you something; the things that Vinnie Praz and Jus Allah come up with are so brutally gruesome and thought out, it makes more than one track unlistenable. However, the amazing thing is, that even for someone (me) who's such an avid fan of conscience rap, I love this album. The wordplay that comes out of these rappers' mouths is unrivaled, and I mean that. I have NEVER heard any emcee who has spun as many clever rhymes as come off of "Violent By Design". This, along with the CD's amazing production, combines to make a nearly irresistable record, that although comes with heavy faults, is actually worth the money.
NOTE: To those who buy the CD, don't just listen to the first few tracks and give up. I've found that the second half of the album is much more enjoyable. I nearly returned this album upon first listening; the opening track itself is enough to make your stomach turn, but after sticking it out the whole way, I was happy with what I got.

THE best underground album ever!
The first Jedi Mind album (the Psycho-Social...) blew me away by managing to homage to the previous greats of hip-hop, but still create their own style, with smooth beats from stoupe and otherworldy ryhmes from Ikon & others.

But that album (which I had on Vinyl before the re-release) gave me no idea of what was to come next. Violent By Design is THE BEST independant release ever. And it is up there with the best albums of all time.

It is impossible for me to make a list of the best tracks on this album. Every track here will blow your mind away.

On Violent by Design, Stoupe sets himself apart from most other producers making hip-hop today. His mixture of rugged, raw hip-hop beats, Spanish guitar rifts and weird samples is purely beautiful. I can't wait to heat Canibus' next album Rip the Jacker featuring The Enemy of mankind.

Vinnie Paz takes his vocalism to another lavel here. Without losing the prophetic genius that was Ikon the Verbal Hologram, he has added some very aggresive battle-raps to his artilary.

Jus Allah adds a sense of aggression to the group that wasnt seen before. Judging on what has happened since 1999 (Jus Allah left the group after falling out with Vinnie Paz), it is clear to see that that aggresion & competition couldn't last, but ****, it made some good music.

All in all, there is a lot to listen to here, any true hip-hop fan will be bumping this for months. Best of all Esoteric is on 3 tracks.

The Re-Release CD-DVD is a good buy, you get a few new remixes, and a DVD which gives a little bit of idea what it's like to tour with the group, but best of all, all the tracks are digitally remarstered, so they sound A LOT better than they did on scratched up vinyl :)

Amazing CD from a great group
This is what "real hip hop" is about. Raw, intelligent lyricism along with head nodding, creative and exciting beats. Stoupe's production gives this album a feel that reminded me originally of Enter the Wu, the 36 Chambers. Now, no, it's definitely not the Wu, but, it is good.

Actually, I think part of the reason it's got that feeling is because it's got a very street vibe to the CD. It feels like it's got some grittiness to it, but yet, when you listen closely, it's very clean production, with a lot of strings and "foreign" sounds. I honestly have yet to think any one track wasn't strong, and though there are a lot of guest spots on this album, it's definitely a Jedi Mind Tricks album, and not "just a producer's album" or "just a compilation."

Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah do great on the vocals and it's really hard to believe this album's never gotten the hype it deserved around the country, because these guys should have blown up seconds after this release. I can't think of a hip hop album that has dropped since this one (the original, not the cd/dvd) that's been as good.

a classic re-released!
this is a great CD, one of the best I've ever heard. The aggresive lyrics and dark beats combine for a very unique listening experience.

a side note: the reviewer "A music fan from Los Angeles, CA USA" said that Jus Allah was on the music video on the DVD. That is not Jus Allah it is Rasul Allahu of the group Lost Children of Babylon.

Why did Jus Allah leave
Why did he leave he was great on all the tracks he was on and they worked well together this album is great even though its 4 years old its great with added track plus a dvd with the vision of ghadhi tour on it and Jus Allah isn't on that he is in the video but he doesn't rap. My favorite track are 2,3,6,8,9,11,12,14,15,17,18,20-25 which is most of the album this great this is the release prequel to vision of ghadhi and if you love that this is rawer and more intelligent I was listening to VOG every day from 12/03-6/04 but VBD knocked it out of first but I hope Jus Allah comes back. Get this quick because when I bought it it was the last copy ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nobody could have predicted the impact these scrawny young upstarts fromsleepy Davis, California, would have on the hip-hop world. Their debut 12-inch in 1993 seemed novel, a track apiece by Blackalicious and Lyrics Born and an instrumental cut-and-paste symphony by DJ Shadow. It took the hip-hop community by storm, though, and the fledgling label was elevated to elite status when Latyrx (Lyrics Born and Lateef) and Shadow dropped their monumental mid-90s debuts. With their rare funk samples and heady, tongue-tying lyricism, Solesides helped jump-start the vaunted independent hip-hop revolution of the past decade. This release presents Solesides' growth and maturation and offers some of their rarest out-of-print and vinyl-only gems, a blistering new posse cut ("Blue Flames"), and a host of freestyles and demos. Other highlights include Blackalicious' "Count and Estimate" and selections from their Melodica EP. Though the core of Solesides record today under the Quannum moniker, Greatest Bumps chronicles a spirit, innocence, and freshness that resuscitated hip-hop. --Hua Hsu ... Read more

Reviews (16)

hip hop fans, don't sleep on this one
Wow. I cannot stop listening to this album (or at least the first disc). I'll take it through step by step here :) It starts on a bit of a misstep with "Rhyme Like A Nut!" and "Entropy Part 1" but these deserve to be on there as they are formal introductions to Gab and Shadow. Not on par with their songs to come, but still good. After that, it's classic track after classic track. "The Wreckoning" is simply amazing and one of my favorite hip hop tracks EVER. It's arguably even better than the "Live 45 Mix" version as Lateef rhymes for longer, and the minimalist Shadow beat means you don't miss a word. Gab kicks off "Deep In The Jungle" with what is definitely one of his greatest verses. "Send Them" has one of the funkiest dance hall beats I've ever heard, and the song is from '93! And as for anyone who hasn't heard the classic "Lady Don't Tek No", just find a way of listening to it. Beyond words.
As for the second disc the quality drops just a tad. It is mainly freestyle raps (still tight, especially Lateef's) and cuts from Latyrx's "The Album". Of course, if you don't have the album you won't notice and you'll probably love it. Unfortunately "Fully Charged on Planet X" is pretty mediocre, and "Hot Breath" is just plain bad. Even at under 2:00 it should have been left off the album. If I was compiling the album I would have taken out some of these weaker offerings and just put the remaining tracks from the Melodica EP on here ("Attica Black" and "40 Oz For Breakfast" are noticeably missing)
The only reason not to own this would be if you already have the Melodica EP and The Album. Even then, you're missing out on some classic tracks you can't get anywhere else. The liner notes are even great, as they list all of SoleSides' releases, and a look into the history of the SoleSides crew. Definitely get this one.

This'll keep you groovin'. . . .
Without a doubt two funktastic CD's of rarer tracks by all the right players, from Shadow on the beats to the rhymin' styles of Gift Of Gab, Lateef The Ill Truth Speaker, Lyrics Born, and others just as crazy. Each track continues to pound you with intensity and amaze you with simplistic complexity. It will take you on the perfect melodic journey that only the best hip hop can achieve. This stuff is REAL, and damn is it GOOD.

If you want DJ Shadow beats, they're here, but don't expect Endtroducing. . .style songs - these are all from the early-mid 90's, when he was rolling with the Soleside Crew, including Blackalicous and Lateef. It's rapping so fast and on you won't believe your ears. Smooth and polished lyrics with that underground, indy-sounding production - unbeatable combo.

For the price, you're getting ten times your money's worth. Buy it, check it, LOVE IT.

OLD-SKOOL QUANNUM
this is the legendary Solesides Quannum Collective at you for the first time..... every track has been purified in a gold chalice and is ready for your soul....... check out Quannum Spectrum, Later that Day produced by L.B., the new remix album of Later that Day commin at you in the near future, Gift of Gab 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, Lifesavas Spirit In Stone, Latryx The Album, new Joyo Velarde and new Lateef also coming in the nearest future.... keep your ears, heart, mind and soul OPEN, Peace

I've had this album for one day...
(follow from title) and already i reckon ti's classic... i've only had time to listen ot the first disc... beautiful stuff... if the second disc holds up, i'll be most grateful... i must give it 5 stars to prevent it being dragged down to the DREADED "3 and a HALF" STAR level... MWU-HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA...

True Hip Hop
DJ Shadow's beats, along with the vocal talent of Blackalicious, Lateef, Lyrics Born and others in the Solesides crew, give this two disc set a must have label for all true hip hop lovers. Blackalicious and DJ Shadow both put out new cd's this year, and the Solesides discs give a sample of what the public had been missing out on for years. My advice is to get anything that DJ Shadow and the Solesides Crew have a hand in, they have been doin this for years, and doin it well. This cd is a must have and a great value. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This latest installment in the Café del Mar series, designed to defray the effects of Ibizan-type madness (or usher some in), sees the del Mar folks weaving together their most mature, confident, and well-placed aural massage yet. Sometimes it rolls across the ears like a slow, steamy, romantic rubdown, as on Digby Jones's "Piña Colada (Jazz Mix)," and at other times it evokes deep sunrise spiritualism, as on Mari Boine's superb "Gula Gula (Chillumanti Mix)." There are even some poignant and melancholic pressure points, such as Hollywood fave Thomas Newman's haunting "Any Other Name" (last heard on the American Beauty soundtrack). Also seemingly bound for soundtrack inclusion is Dido's "Worthless," which overflows with piano-tinged, jazzy trip-hop flavor. Whether used as a chill-out album, a warm-up collection, a record to dine with, or a romantic backdrop, Café del Mar, Vol. 8 will find good use in most contemporary lifestyles. --Steffan Chirazi ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Another relaxing compilation!
It is the 8th compilation under the well-known name of Cafe Del Mar, a place on Ibiza Island where outstanding Dj - Jose Padilla - was giving once music sessions. The music on this compilation is as always chillout, meditative and moving. But this time there are several "buts" what made me ranking it as 4-star-album.

The 8th edition was compiled not by Jose Padilla but by other Djs, Peter Neville & Ben Cherrill. Well, I don't say they're bad Djs, but they didn't make an outstanding album anyway. The reason for this is here. All but one song are incredible, setting your mood to different heights. But only one by one. They don't make a whole piece of music as in previous compilations. Each part of the album (prologue, the middle and the end) are too overextended, lasting for 2-3 songs. Besides, the edge between these parts is very palpable what makes this CD like ordinary compilations of "easy-listening" music. With Jose Padilla music was floating very gradually from the very quite, meditative to even sometimes hard-beat, very rhythmic music.

A very pleasant presence here of Goldfrapp with their "Utopia", a thoughtful, mystic song. Thomas Newman's "Any Other Name" feels much like soundtrack music, with a scratch-like-noise sound what makes this track very warm and lovely. Afterlife presents us their "Sunrise" - great song for sitting on the beach with friends and looking on the moonlight in the sea. Dido with her "Worthless" surprises us with an unusual for us sound, which we can't hear on her "No Angel". Here the music is more alternative, with strong, enigmatic beats and vocals. Very interesting work! Mari Boine with her "Gula Gula" gives the album the most mystic, unforgettable touch. Mark de Clive-Lowe's "Day by Day" I'd skip. Ben Onono gives great French vocals with his sentimental "Tatouage Bleu". Illumination's "Cookie Raver" is perfect for dancing with friends in some club - great beats, mysterious floating sounds and disco-vocals. Digby Jones' "Pina Colada" is one of my personal fav here. It sounds like Soul Ballet, very measured, pretty-sounding, warm music. Scripture with their Apache gives an outstanding instrumental piece of music art! What a splendid work; ac. guitar, horns, choir-singing - all that makes this track to be the finishing on the album; unfortunately it's not. And Lamb comes with her "Gabriel". An interesting song, with great beats and background sounds albeit I don't like the vocals which are quite insignificant against a background of the music itself.

All in all, this album brings one more pleasant spending of time. The collection of songs is great, but repeating again, all of them are compiled very badly; sometimes you feel you'd put one or another song to a different position. That is unpleasant feeling what eventually led me to put this CD a 4-star rate.

Not good enough
Track 1-4: Volumen Ocho wants to set it off with some downtempo songs. These songs are so light (read boring) that I skip these first 4 songs everytime I listen to the CD. These song dosen't belong on a lounge CD.

Track 5: Mari Boine - Gula gula on the other hand is an excellent track, and really the only reason for buying this CD.

Track 6-11: The rest of the CD is more uptempo, but still lacks quality. A decent track is Digby Jones - Pina Colada, while Lamb - Gabriel is listenable.

All-in-all the Mari Boine song safes this CD from getting 1 star. This CD can hardly be called a lounge-CD, and resembles more the "Pure moods" and "No stress" compilations. For true lounge you would be much better off with an older Cafe del mar compilation (4-7) or try instead all Hotel Costes (especially vol. Quatre), Buddha Bar (II), Om Lounge (2,1,3), Thievery Corporation "The mirror conspiracy" or St. Germain "Tourist".

unique downtemp grooves
A year after buying Vol. 7 and Vol. 8, I still find myself spinning these grooves up. Timeless downtemp joy.

Getting worse
It seems the Cafe Del Mar series just gets worse. Aside from Goldfrapp's introductory track (mesmerizing), and a funky Digby Jones track, this CD does not impress. It has a nice variety of musical styles, which I can appreciate, but get the first few Cafe Del Mar CDs before this one.

NIce cover, disjointed content, not more than its parts
For some reason everyone has heard of the "Cafe Del Mar" series, and I'm convinced its as much the catchy series title as the quality of the work. It tends to be the love of public radio music shows also (see KCRW, Santa Monica, CA). Probably the label had a lucky ride on the early 1990s sudden penchant for lounge/ambient/chill etc. and the series was initially quite novel, but has since been overtaken.

The main problem is the jarring styles jammed on to this and the other disc, you have reggae, samba/latin, jazz, R&B, soul, trip hop, new age for goodness sake, the obligatory French female vocal (beloved of all chill) vying for your ear. The sum is not more than the parts here, if someone made you this compilation out of their music collection you might think it was Ok, but not to shell out serious bucks for. This particular compilation delves dangerously close to some new age soundtrack for meditation. For example, the famous Thomas Newman piano piece is a bad choice. The bane of a thousand movie soundtracks its very sad, and will make you weep into your pine colada. Then this is followed by a jolly summer day "Girl from Ipanema" style samba-acoustic guitar piece. Yikes.

Compare the genius of Thievery Corporation or Kruder and Dorfmeister for making something thematically unified, which just "sounds right", out of other people's songs. Here, however, you are painfully aware that, "now its time for the cool "French" vocal, now its time for the reggae one, etc."

Look, if it works for you fine ambient, pleasant enough for the beach, but its just not the transcendent experience all many reviews [make] it up to be. But I think the Cafe Del Mar series has worn out its welcome after the departure of uber chill meister Padilla.

There are much better choices out there, see anything by Thievery Corporation, K&D, Air etc. Oh and for summer beach listening, the more obscure "Cafe Ibiza," or anything by Costes. And it terms of value, see the Budda Bar series or Verve Remixed or any other two disc collections that give a lot of more value, and arguably a lot more of a consistent feel. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This set compiles much of DJ Shadow's pre-major label material in one convenient package in an attempt to foil bootleggers and bring new fans up-to-date in the curriculum. The results are naturally varied, but all point to a marvelous evolution of talent. The collection is kept together primarily by its propensity for jazzy beats and psychedelic loops. Shadow (né Josh Davis) moves through everything from old school funk ("In/Flux") to grungy '60s-style guitar raveups ("High Noon"). The centerpiece of the set, however, is a four-part composition called "What Does Your Soul Look Like," which is likely to be the first ever entirely sample-driven rock opera. It's a brilliant piece of work, laced with intriguing sounds, sound bites, and a detectable set of motion. It is also quite possibly better than anything on the critically -acclaimed Entroducing. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Ehh...
Let me just say that my indtroduction to DJ Shadow has been really strange in comparison that of others. The first CD I got of his was The Private Press. While I loved it, it made Endtroducing, which I bought months later, sound dated. While it has since grown on me, for a while, I thought The Private Press was better.
This CD is by far the least inspiring of the stuff I've heard of Shadow's. The music is too sparse of many of the songs, I find. In Flux is just drums for the first 3 minutes, and while I've always found Shadow's percussion to be very robust and refreshing, I don't think it's enough to make a whole song.
The "What Does Your Soul Look Like" series was nice, the first one (in order, not how it's numbered on the box) being the best to me. But I was less than impressed that Shadow decided to put part 4 and part 1 on, both of which I'd heard on Endtroducing, and with only minimal changes to keep my interest.
But "High Noon" is a great track, reminiscent of Spaghetti Westerns (explaining the title), and the remix to Organ Donor is also good, and it's fresh enough that it doesn't remind me too much of the original.
Overall, this piece is the least of Shadow's work, in my opinion. Of course, much of it was earlier stuff, and he may not have found his niche until after it's completion. I'm still a big Shadow fan, and I will still buy his next album. Just hope I don't have to wait another 2 years for it.

PERFECT MOOD SETTER!!!
WOW! Josh (DJ Shadow) being my mom's, friend's son, i was intrigued by him. My first CD of his was Endtroducing. I listened to it once and I was hooked! I later then got Preemptive Stirke. It starts out with "Stirke 1" which is just a little recording of him screwing up. Later through out there are 2 more. The moods induced by these songs is over powering. Try this, sit down, play "What dores Your Soul Look Like" and try to write a good essay (eg. spill yer guts!) and then later, without the music, read the essay. You'll see some definate moods shown by the songs. then play the music. SEE THE COOL? Hehe. Then in track 10, a nice little guitar and drum will quickly pump up the mood. Next stop, "Organ Donor (extended overhaul)" and turn that bass UP!!! Wooeeee!!!

the Intro to Shadow for Buddhists
This record is getting ripped on by a couple of reviewers for not being Endtroducing... or Private Press. They all agree that High Noon and Organ Donor are all that make this cd worth having and that is some straight-up bull$!@#. This was my introduction to Shadow and it might have taken a little while to really sink in, but it hooked me on his music and made me vow to pick up everything he laid his lily white hands upon. This record is like Neitzche's void opening up in your mind and fixing its dark gaze right into the center of you. I've just heard Joseph Campbell mention that poetry is a metaphor for all the mysteries of existence and this for me is a transcendent poem that has helped glimpse behind the mask of the mysteries.

Preemptive Strike is mostly slow and plodding, but each beat dropped lands right in the center of my head. It builds and builds, creating mischief from disparate sources of sound, weaving together a web that seems to form a story that you could almost make out if some of the pieces weren't missing. Some of the most affecting spoken samples are from "Johnny Got His Gun", as I later found out. Go see that movie if you like this record. If you enjoy "Diamond Sea" by Sonic Youth, "1983..." by Jimi Hendrix or "Revolution #9" by the Beatles, give this record a couple of spins through a pair of huge headphones.

SHADOW-CHASER!!!
I feel a sense of completion now that I own DJ Shadow's "Preemptive Strike!" This is supposed to be a collection of his earlier works--1993, I think and if you ask me the stuff here is just as current as his material on "Endtroducing", "Private Press" or "Psyence Fiction" even, which shows that the man has a way of making "classic" music. Just as dark and equally funky as his later material, Shadow still has a way with the turn-table, cranking out meandering beats to please and psychologically disturb you at the same time!

The Best from DJ Shadow
Everyone talks about Entroducing when DJ Shadow is mentioned. While that is a great CD, it does not hold a candle to Preemptive Strike. This album is up there with my favorites of all time, and I am not an electronica fan! The CD, which is comprised of Shadow's pre-Endtroducing music, is an interesting, great, relaxing listen. It is the perfect chill out album for when you are hanging out or studying. The highlights for me are "What Does Your Soul Look Like, pt 2", "In/Flux", "Organ Donor" (even though it shares the same name as an Endtroducing track, there is very little in common with that version; this version is a real track, a catchy one at that, and not filler as it is on Endtroducing), and "High Noon". While it does not flow as well as its predecessor since it is essentially a collection of singles and b sides, it contains stronger, catchier, and more enjoyable music. I really think this is the best CD to start with when looking into DJ Shadow, especially when you consider "In/Flux" was Shadow's first release ever. You can't go wrong with any of his three releases or his many singles, though.

Preemptive Strike is a mindblowing album that will win you over immediately. This is easily in my top 5 CD's of all time. I encourage you strongly to buy it; you will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Countless copycats have landed on the bandwagon since Josh Davis's debut, Endtroducing..., wreaked havoc in the dance and hip-hop world. But Davis, a.k.a. DJ Shadow, kept on top of his game with various collaborations--Blackalicious, U.N.K.L.E., Cut Chemist--and superlative 12-inches like "High Noon" and "Pre-Emptive Strike."

Now, a full six years later, he's back with a follow-up that is every bit as impressive as his debut, albeit in a different way. Once again, the producer has pushed his sampler to the limits, but this time he's brought with it a deeper, hungrier, more bad-ass spirit that's rarely found in modern dance music. There's a fabulous '80s vibe throughout (principally on tracks like "Monosylabik" and "You Can't Go Home Again"), along with the expected forays into b-boy culture (check the growling, massive "Treach Battle Break" and the funky-ass "Mashin' on the Motorway"). While it's identifiably Shadow, it ain't Endtroducing...Part 2. It is, however, a worthy and imaginative follow-up, with humor, wisdom, and musical understanding aplenty. --Paul Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (58)

4.5 stars. The Shadow is back ! (First Spin Review)
I'm a big fan of Endtroducing. It a classic for electronic, jazz and soul music out there. I've just picked up Private Press a few hours ago and i'm currently writing this review under a "first spin" perspective. First impressions are...

1) Definitly still has the "Shadow Theme" that means listening to it I can still pick up all the Shadow signiture. Piano and spoken work bits are still visible. Rustic vinly sound still prominant in some songs. However, the sound feels more refined compared to Endtroducing. The songs sounds more "processed". I don't think this is a bad element. Its just a different side of the Shadow's artistic skills.

2) It's not as dark as Endtroducing.

3) Shadow's "epic" song structures are still intact.

4) Feels less cohesive. Not a bad thing ! Private Press unlike Endtroducing is more diverse in its soundscape. Endtroducing had one theme running through teh album where as Private Press is more diverse in themes. But don't get me wrong it's still a cohesive album just more diverse in sounds compared to Endtroducing.

5) The latter part of the album exhibits a slight 80s groove. However altered to sound fresh.

conclusion: Great Album... I can already tell that the second spin should reveal even more intresting tidbits on this album. The album definitly sound like the Shadow. It still has the structure of Endtroducing but refined to open a whole new soundscape for the Shadow

Magnificent
I find this album as beautiful as endtroducing. It doesn't have the consistency of endtroducing, but there are pieces which have more depth. Of course, there are some irritants too in here, but there are majesty and grandeur too. here's a song by song.
Tracks 1 and 14: Openers and closers respectively. Fillers.
Track 2(Fixed Income): Vintage shadow. Fat beats. Tight production. Good melody. Gets one star for the album.
Tracks 3 and 4: Barely listenable. Maybe shadow tried experimenting. But its a failed experiment. Doesn't quite appeal.
Track 5(Giving up the ghost): Awesome beginning. Builds majestically till about 3 minutes 16 seconds when the irritating organ comes in and jarrs on the nerves. Mr. shadow, please don't destroy such a beautiful idea by experimenting midway with it next time. And please keep producing songs of the level of the first half of this song. This song alone made me a fan of your music. (I listened to endtroducing later). Earns the album a star and a half in rating.
Track 6 (Six days): Good song. Would have been a hit if it got more airplay perhaps. but isn't a warm song. fits well with the album but somehow doesn't end up standing well on its own. Earns the album half a star in rating.
Track 7 and 8: No idea why its two different tracks. Time-pass music. Doesn't lead anywhere after what seems to me to be a promising beginning.
Track 9: Forgettable back-ground music. I thought "Shadow seems to have run out of ideas at this point".
Track 10 and 11: Irritating. I thought"I am sure shadow has run out ideas. My money has all gone waste".
Track 12 (Blood on the motorway):the track that earns the sobriquet "Magnificent" for the album. the track that made me a life-long fan of shadow. I agree that the sepulchral voice put me down initially, but the piano and the strings in the later part of the song are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Uplifting, organic, spiritual music. No one can listen to such music and not be stirred. Mr. shadow, thanks for this AMAZING song. Please produce more like it. Earns atleast two stars for the album in rating.
Track 13: Nice track. But stops abruptly when it is building in complexity. Earns the album another half star.

Overall, an album to be cherished and treasured. And Mr. shadow, please don't make your fans wait another five years for a new solo album. Please give us something introspective and inspiring as u gave with this album, we need it!!

The Best Kept Secret in the Music Industry.
For his second real album (I think of Preemptive Strike as a compilation rather than a cohesive unit), DJ Shadow delves even deeper into his fascination with eerie samples and odd voices. The Private Press is not quite as brilliant as his debut, but DJ Shadow still knows how to put together a gorgeous, torpid patchwork of sound that is instantly identifiable as his own.

The first song on the album, "Fixed Income," is classic DJ Shadow. He takes the march of a drum beat and marries it to some mysterious acoustic guitar samples (including something that may have come from a Spaghetti Western) and an ominous bass. Throw in a voice here and there and you've got the direct descendant of Endtroducing's "Midnight in a Perfect World." Wicked and addictive.

Skipping ahead, "Giving Up the Ghost" is a tough name for a song to live up to, but Shadow delivers in spades. Disenchantment, disillusion, doubt, regret -- all conveyed by one sample in a loop that makes up the first sixty seconds. I find that this song gets stuck in my head when I get in that kind of a mood. Extremely evocative and more than a little sad.

This is followed by the shimmering torpor of "Six Days," and the fast-paced but downright creepy "Mongrel...Meets His Maker." A single meandering guitar ties the song together, augmented by a flute, a piano, and a ringing telephone(!) Along the same lines, "Blood on the Motorway" brings to mind the morbid transcendentalism of "What Does Your Soul Look Like, part 2," but with some decidedly 80s-ish samples used to achieve the effect. That three-second silence speaks volumes, like the transition from life to death or ignorance to knowledge. Hypnotizing and profound without being maudlin or heavy-handed.

Shadow provides some up-tempo sounds as well ("Walkie Talkie," "Mashin' on the Motorway") but let's face the obvious: he's at his best when gazing at his navel. I don't know if he is hip hop, trip hop, or just a renegade genius. But there is no one else like him making music today.

Very impres