Editorial Product Review: :HIStory's 2 CDs (one hits, the other new) were Jackson's attempt to connect his glorious past to a dodgy present and--given it's commercial and artistic performance--cast a shadow on his future. Conceived as his formal coronation as the 'King of Pop,' HIStory's second disc instead presents Jackson as an epauletted, single-gloved Richard III. By turns paranoid, angry, bitter, sentimental, and, in one instance, possibly anti-Semitic, HIStory was less a collection of songs than a case history. A few tracks--mostly those produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis--are sleek, modern pop/soul, ...
Editorial Product Review:Album Description:Phutureprimitive is the refreshing musical creation of Oregon-based DJ/Producer, Rain. The Phutureprimitive sound is subterranean electronic tribalism, combining elements of organic downtempo, ethnic breaks, and sensual atmospherics. Ethereal vocals soar over dubbed-out basslines, and live percussion unfolds over odd time signatures creating a groove that is influenced by the synthetic textures of psychedelic trance as well as the kinetic grooves of world music. Rain developed a love for electronic music early on, and began to hone his DJ skills in 1992, inspired by the early trance and goa releases ...
Editorial Product Review:Album Description:With DJIN DJIN (pronounced 'gin gin'), Angelique Kidjo returns to the soul of Benin - and, for the first time, shares it with a cast of all-star guests, in a marriage of cultures that has significance far beyond music alone. Inspired by the traditions and culture of Kidjo's native Benin in West Africa, the title of the album refers to the sound of the bell that greets the beginning of a new day for Africa. The diversity represented by Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, ...
Editorial Product Review: :2007 sophomore album from Róisín Murphy, former lead vocalist for Moloko. A heady mix of electronic dance anthems, soul-stirring Pop songs, deep, dark Funk and quirky lyrical genius, Overpowered is a thrilling and contemporary marriage of edgy Pop and irresistible Disco. Róisín co-wrote and co-produced the entire album, bringing her own vision and focus to these songs whilst working with a variety of producers, writers and mixers to create what is without doubt her finest record; unpredictable, creative, inventive, exciting and hugely accessible. Working with the likes of Seiji, ...
Editorial Product Review: essential recording:This Icelandic marvel is such an original that, even after four Sugarcubes albums and a brilliant solo Debut, she remains an acquired taste. 'Army of Me' is a turbulent, darkling tune that's almost conventional next to the gloriously eclectic material that follows. Working with Tricky, Soul II Soul/U2 producer Nellee Hooper, and string arranger/one-hit wonder Deodato, Björk looses her helium-fueled voice and surreal wordplay on Gershwinesque pop (the adorable 'It's Oh So Quiet'), ambient dub ('Possibly Maybe') and all kinds of fresh dance/pop hybrids ('Enjoy,' 'Hyper-Ballad,' 'I Miss ...
Editorial Product Review: essential recording:This Icelandic marvel is such an original that, even after four Sugarcubes albums and a brilliant solo Debut, she remains an acquired taste. 'Army of Me' is a turbulent, darkling tune that's almost conventional next to the gloriously eclectic material that follows. Working with Tricky, Soul II Soul/U2 producer Nellee Hooper, and string arranger/one-hit wonder Deodato, Björk looses her helium-fueled voice and surreal wordplay on Gershwinesque pop (the adorable 'It's Oh So Quiet'), ambient dub ('Possibly Maybe') and all kinds of fresh dance/pop hybrids ('Enjoy,' 'Hyper-Ballad,' 'I Miss ...
Editorial Product Review:Album Description:2004 release for UK down-tempo/soul outfit features 11 tracks including the first single 'Home'. Elektra/WEA. :Beautifully crafted and produced, When It Falls is a fitting follow-up to Zero 7's 2001 platinum hit Simple Things. Reintroducing several of their debut's guest vocalists, the band continue to meld subtle orchestration, elegant jazz and easy-going West Coast soul and folk, creating a sound so tasteful it makes Morcheeba sound like Napalm Death. The album opens with the appropriately titled 'Warm Sound,' where long-time collaborator Mozez delivers his spacey soul over a quivering ...
Editorial Product Review:Album Description:Nearly a decade after Boney M called it quits, the man behind the band, Frank Farian, put together a musically similar duo who became far more successful (and infamous) than anyone had expected. Initially, everyone loved Milli Vanilli and their hook-laden singles that straddled both the Pop and R&B markets. Then, once it was discovered that the two gents in the videos and on the album covers did not sing on their recordings, everyone despised them. Now, nearly 20 years and one suicide later, the public has forgiven them ...
Editorial Product Review: essential recording:Michael Jackson's Thriller is the bestselling album of all time, with 45 million worldwide sales powered by seven Top 10 U.S. singles and eight Grammy Awards. The 1982 album was also a success from which the pop superstar never really recovered--subsequent albums seemed to have no other goal than to beat the records set by Thriller. The highly-polished sound of Quincy Jones's production sounds almost organic compared to Jackson's more recent work, and in the same regard, Thriller was significantly slicker than its predecessor, Off the Wall. Both ...
Editorial Product Review: :The primordial unknown--or the modern urban dweller's impressions thereof--has long been a staple of New Age music. So it was only a matter of time before some studio whiz got the notion to take the translation process one step further and bring that atmosphere to the dance floor. It's definitely authentic--the creators studied and borrowed genuine chants from African tribes--but just as importantly, it's remarkably seductive. The chart-topping signature song, 'Sweet Lullaby,' is indicative of what's going on in the grooves of the other nine tracks; ambient house beats burble ...
Small and light enough for a shirt pocket, Samsung's Helix YX-M1 is a one-stop audio entertainment center with an XM radio, a digital music player, and room for 50 hours of tunes, but it comes up short on battery life.
