DANCE OR DIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!!!!! (Again.)
May 19: Family Force 5 releases an complete remix album of their latest full-length, Dance or Die.
May 18: Jack gets it. And Dances. A LOT.
I thought I'd throw down a track by track of what I like, and wouldn't mind saying bye to. There's not much of the latter, I'm afraid. So, if you don't want the album ruined in any way, check back tomorrow. But for the rest of you...
Dance Or Die (The Secret Handshake)
This track is very true to the style of the original, though making it more club-appropriate. The highlight of this number is the vocal strings TSH has added to certain parts of the song. They fit perfectly, and have me grooving.
Get Your Back Off The Wall (3OH!3)
I'll go ahead and say it. This isn't 3OH!3's best work. HOWEVER, it is the only song that has consistently made me JUMP out of my seat (literally) and start dancing every time I hear it. I guess that's saying something about the dudes from Boulder, huh?
Rip It Up (The Pragmatic)
Oh, man. This is one of my favorite tracks of the album. From explosions to very catchy synth beats, this song has it all. Though, my favorite bit HAS to be the very cheesy sci-fi sketch near the end of the track. I won't ruin it for you, but it's some of my favorite writing/acting of all time. Seriously.
How In The World (Alex Suarez - Cobra Starship)
This takes one of the greatest electric ballads of all time, adds some funk and a little bit of sass to make a great remix. The only thing that I have to get used to is the key. It's really different, and it makes for an interesting listen.
Fever (The Toxic Avenger)
I mentioned to Nadaddy on the bus that the beginning had some Daft Punk inspiration, and I'll say that for the whole song. Filled with a great house sound, it sounds like the French duo redid this for the boys. But, The Toxic Avenger does it just as well.
Party Foul (Ultraviolet Sound)
My favorite of the remixes I heard before the album launched, I still enjoy this song immensely. It's the one you would hear pounding out of a club, with the heavy bass accenting the groove all the way home. It's also got a sweet little keys part that's pretty catchy.
D-I-E 4 Y-O-U (Andre Allen Anjos)
Woah. Definitely my favorite remix so far. This song is lead, and reigns, with the bass line. Those low notes just seem to drive the song. It's fast paced, and action. Out of all of the remixes not done by FF5, it's the one I would argue must be. Anjos really caught their sound and made it awesome.
Share It With Me (Smile Future)
This is the closest I've ever heard to electronica ska. I'm going to call it electroniska. The entire song revolves around the offbeat, making for an energetic tune my cuz from THE BENEFIT (remember them?) really got into. The "oh" bits (you'll know what I'm talking about when you hear it) will get stuck in your head all day, I promise.
The First Time (Matt Thiessen - Relient K)
I will admit, this is my least favorite remix. I really wish Matt would have done something more upbeat, but I respect what he did. This is the only song that really slows down an old tune, but it has it's moments. Matt's little vocal addition is pretty tight, but it has some of us wondering... JFH says it's thugging. Oh, well.
Wake The Dead (Lalipop - Lauren Olds)
Man, Soli's wife can make a tune! With a background VERY similar to Aerodynamic Beats from Daft Punk's latest Alive, this song is powered by the sixteenth. The hip-hop drum bits also add a lot to the spunky action of the track.
Radiator (Jasen Rauch - Red)
This one flew out of nowhere! But it's all I can expect from a member of Red. The least clubbish of the entire album, this is a solid rock remix. The guitar riffs make for some great additions, and the beat in the background really gets me headbanging. I love it. So, if you want to dance to this, you'd better pull out your Hulkfists and start moshing.
GHOSTRIDE THE WHIP!!!!!! (Family Force 5)
This song is simply amazing. I told the guys that this was my blare song, driving down the streets of UC, and that won't change for a while. This single song brings Weezy, T-Pain, Kanye, Family Force 5, and a little bit of 3OH!3 together to make one of the tightest hip-hop songs I've heard in a long while. This could definitely stand alone on the rap charts.
Rip It Up alt. ATL Take (Croul-Glo-Activation Version 2.009)
This song is COMPLETELY redone. With vocals switched from Soli to Crouts, this song takes a turn for the awesome. (To be fair, I like all of the versions of this song equally now. Neither one is greater than the other.) Get ready for a totally different version of the song, plus a RAP BY SOUL GLOW!!! (Are we returning to this for the next album? Fingers crossed, cuz you know I love me some crunk.)
How In The World (David Crowder*Band)
This is probably one of the most straightforward tracks on the disc, with the vox virtually unchanged. Though, the beat is solid, and very alien-like squeals make this a very danceable track.
Out of loads of remix albums I've heard, this stands to be the best. These artists know FF5, and they know how to work electronic instruments.
Sorry I ran long, hope you enjoyed it!
2 comments:
Hey Jack!
I don't think this review is too repetitive, unless you're referring to the fact that you mention Daft Punk twice. But if that's what it reminds you of, then that's what it reminds you of. :) I do think it would be worth mentioning that the Toxic Avenger is also French, so, maybe that says something about why they sound alike. There IS kind of a French "sound" emerging these days.
I found it interesting that it's the "key" of How in the World that you had to get used to. For me it was the two different time signatures happening simultaneously. It took me a loooong time to get used to, but now that I have I think it's brilliant and way ahead of its time.
Other than that I pretty much agree with everything you said, except I really like the First Time remix. But, to be fair, that was another one that had to grow on me.
Tania Lasagna
P.S. You spelled awesome wrong in the Rip It Up ATL take review. No biggie. Awesome review. I'd say you have a knack for it :)
Thanks for that! (Typo fix'd, by the way.)
Yeah, I'm a pretty decent Daft Punk fan, and when DOD came out I only listened to two CDs: that and Discovery.
And I'll take a look at that time signature, that may be throwing me off as well.
Thanks for the comment!
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