Customer Reviews

Big Beach Boutique II

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is definatly one of Fatboy Slim's best mix records. It doesn't have all the "You've Come A Long Way, Baby" antics of big-beats and stupid lyrics, its much more House/Progressive House oriented. Think more "Halfway Between The Gutter And Stars." With that said, lets get onto the songs.

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1] Midfield General Feat. Linda Lewis - Reach Out
This track is definatly a good opener. Theres no real steady danceable beat to it, but it definatly sets the pace for this awesome album. Linda Lewis has really nice vocals, so the song isn't a total wreck.

2] Fatboy Slim - Talking 'Bout My Baby (Midfield General's Disco Reshuffle)
This track was one of those hit or miss tracks from "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars," but here, it sets a nice pace. Once again, this isn't a real danceable track, like #1, but its not bad at all.

3] Groove Armada - Superstylin'
Now this is where the album starts to get goin with those danceable riffs that Fatboy Slim is known for. Groove Armada are one of my other favourite artists, and this song is really good. The mixing from track #2 to this one isn't the best, but once you hit the beat, you forget all about it.

4] Danmass - Haze
The shortest track on the album, but still a pretty good one. A nice chugging bass line, and some cool synths make this one a nice short little ditty. Nothing too amazing, but it was just a fun track.

5] Lo Fidelity Allstars - Tied To The Mast
This was a pretty cool track, although I don't really like the "roughness" of it. It didn't really appeal to me, but it doesn't mean you won't like it. It has a nice big-beat sound to it, with drums a'blazin.

6] Tim Deluxe - It Just Won't Do (Dub)
Now HERE is where the album really picks up. Quite posible the saver of the whole album, just because of its great placement, and awesome beat. Fatboy Slim has a thing for picking great tracks that make you just wanna get up and shake ya butt, and this one is no exception.

7] Kurtis Mantronik Presents Chamonix - 77 Strings
Another really good track that just plays off of #6's great beat and pacing. The track has a nice violin line that goes great with the awesome beat and a great dancing atmosphere. Definatly a keeper.

8] Space Cowboy - Crazy Talk (Dub)
This track is one of the fun ones. It has a great bouncy rhythm which is always good when you're in the middle of an album (basically what this track is). Nothing too special about the track, but its pretty good.

9] Mint Royale - Sexiest Man In Jamaica
The song is a pretty good track. One of those songs that'll make you go "I've never heard that before, but I love it." Not a real album highlight, but I enjoy it lots. A nice tropical-ish rhythm with some Jamaican vocals. Overall a good track.

10] Glen Masters - Hi Jackers
Definatly not one of my favourite tracks. It is just a mediocre big-beat track, with no real standout things to it. I normally memorise what tracks are coming next, but this one I just can't seem to remember - And thats an idication that its pretty much just an okay track.

11] X Press 2 - Lazy (Fatboy Slim Dub Mix)
This is definatly a really great track. Fatboy Slim has always done great re-mixes, and this one is really fun. It has a great rhythm, and fits perfectly with the rest of the album. The beat is great, and has a distinction from the rest of the tracks. I like it.

12] Camisra - Let Me Show You[/b]
"Let me show you what I'm capable of." Well, Fatboy Slim certainly is capable of picking kick-butt tracks, because this one rocks so much! The track makes you just want to pump your fist in the air and jump up and down. Its an all out beat fest, with the great pounding bass and just awesome atmosphere. Definatly my favourite track on the album. Greatness.

13] Static Revenger Feat. The Mullet Men - Long Time
One of the most "summery" feeling tracks on it, it has a great pulse-pounding beat, with some nice vocals. One of the most House/Progressive House sounding songs on the album, its definatly a keeper. Fatboy Slim sure does know how to select his tracks.

14] Cylone - Lord Of The Land
A mediocre track at best. Nothing to distinguish it from the rest of the crowd, its just there to keep the flow going, and the beat up. Its not technically a bad track, some might like it, but Its just not really that great.

15] Fusion Orchestra - Farfisa
Now THIS is what I call a nice unique track with some awesome beats, and just a pulse-pounding energy to it its just fun. The synths add a sort of "outer space" feeling to the track, and it works really well to distinguish it from the rest of the tracks, definatly making it one of the highlight track from the album that you just have to hear.

16] Mighty Dub Katz - Let The Drums Speak
A nice chugging bass, with some great danceable rhythms make this a pretty good track. Although, I'd say its a hit or miss one. Not bad, but definatly nothing too amazing about it. Just an okay song.

17] All Saints - Pure Shores (Norman Cook Re-Edit)
This is definatly not a way I'd end an awesome album so far. Its basically just teen-pop music with some danceableness to it. Fatboy Slim has always known how to make his albums go out with a "bang," but this one was just... not a good closer. Not a bad track by any means, its just too slow and "groovy" for this album.

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Phew, that was alot of typing! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my review of the great mix CD by the master of beats Fatboy Slim. Its definatly a diverse selections of songs that anyone could find one that they just love. I'd definatly recommend buying this great album. You won't be disappointed!

This is not like the DVD at all.

This is a totally different. Some of the tracks are the same but mixed in the wrong order. I would not not buy this CD. I loved the DVD and have watched it many times - the CD is not the same and you will be disapointed. I wish I had better news.

I have to say, I was extremely disappointed with this release. I am a true Fatboy HEAD, so I was dying to get my hands on this CD when it came out. I think Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) is the more innovative DJ and producer in the scene. I could go on for days about the importance and influence of Fatboy Slim. Unfortunately, in this case, the first 30% of the CD isn't even beatmixed. Just picks faded on top of each other. Secondly, the "big beat" style you'd expect from Fatboy Slim with massive overdubs and multiple cuts and playfulness in the mix is completely missing. This is more in line with what appears to be the new philosophy of DJ compilations: Why mix it, why be creative? Anyone will buy it anyway. The industry seems to expect DJ mix fans are lazy minded and will purchase anything, regardless of talent, energy, or effort. Save yourself the heartache and pick up the "Big Beat Boutique" instead... You'll still enjoy the sound and will hear a DEFINITIVE big beat mix. This is really just a compilation of favorites with crowd noise mixed over it to give it a live "sound". A complete let down. I'd give less that 1 star if Amazon allowed. Very very very disappointed in our boy on this one.

This album is extremely good.

this album is a live set from the Big Beach Boutique.

This music is very high energy. this album is very fun. the sound quality is not perfect. the song selection is not as fluid as one would hope. the energy, however, is amazing.

As your general, all purpose dance album, it is by far the best in a long long time. Samples from the b-52's mix with great tunes (like Sexiest Man in Jamaica) combined with great bands (Groove Armada) to make a very listenable album ... I have a theory that only one man or band can rule the bachanalia at any given time. The day Norman took the kids to the beach clearly demonstrates that Fatboy Slim is currently the king of the bachanalia...

I read the good reviews, and was badly fooled. I like Fatboy Slim very much, but this was one of the most tedious albums I have ever purchased. The voice of Linda Lewis is very nice, but the first ten tracks nearly put me to sleep. "Lazy - X Press 2" is the first barely-tasty track (#11) but wasn't nearly enough to rescue this disc from my trade-in pile.

I think you had to be there.

Actually the main reason why I bought the album is because of the song "77 strigs /how did you know " by Kurtis Mantronik that completly makes crazy , so I received my cd and right away went and played it and it is incridible good music to dance . My favorite tracks are the first 17 and the album has 17 tracks so yeah its a great cd.

Saw it on the TV and wanted the CD for the car as opposed to the DVD - loved it loved it loved it

Maybe it's because I am a fatboy slim fan, but this is a great album. No way is this a 1, 2 or 3 star album. And yes I have the DVD of this show too. They are different but both are worth having if you like FBS. But I would agree that the DVD is probably a little better.
April 8, 2009 Update: I have been listening to this CD for a month now and really love it. It's actually one of my favorite CD's.

This disc is only half fatboy slim and is NOT an exact live version of what happened. Geth the DVD and copy it to your computer.

The first half of this CD is Midfield general (the not-really-mixed stuff), the second half is kind of a mix of the mix that actually took place.

I LOVE the DVD truly live mix though. The commentary is pretty funny too. The DVD shows why fatboy is THE DJ to beat.

I do not regret buying this CD, but I like the DVD much better. Buy the DVD and copy the audio to your computer. The DVD performance is 88 minutes of music and is Fatboy Slim in action. The CD is a mix of songs that were used on the DVD and are not even mixed in the same way or order as the DVD, so don't listen to this CD and say that Fatboy Slim is a bad DJ, because this CD has little to do with Fatboy Slim's performance, which I am quite impressed with.

If you end up liking the DVD, buy the CD to get Crazy Talk and Let The Drums Speak, which are not on the DVD. The 1st 5 tracks on the CD are from the Midfield General's set. They are also not on the DVD. The DVD is strictly Fatboy Slim's performance.

The CD is nice if you want a cleaner version of the songs with no crowd noise, better production, etc. The DVD has a live feel to it and, in my opinion, has a lot more energy. I like the DVD & CD for different reasons, but go with the DVD first.

The one thing I don't get about the CD is how did 'At Night' not make it on there? In my opinion, that's the best song on the DVD.