Customer Reviews

Cowboy Bebop Remixes: Music for Freelance

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not a big fan of remix albums. They're usually just full of corrupted versions of songs that aren't even close to being as good as the originals. With a series like Cowboy Bebop, you'd think it would have to be a sin to try to retouch even a note of the original music. Ah, but this is different. This is Radio Free Mars; an underground radio station dedicated to bringing you the best music the law won't allow. These are very cool remixes of some of the most familiar tunes from the Bebop series, put together by a few of Asia's best DJs and techno groups. They bring the series' music into a whole new light and sprinkle it with a hint of ultra-modern. Some of the tracks may not be recognizable without peeking at the back of the jewel case, but that's a small detractor. It's a smart techno-style collection that will appeal to techno and house fans and anime fans alike. It's made even more unique by the commentary of Radio Free Mars' own DJ between each track, and in a few places it's pretty humorous. A welcome addition to the Cowboy Bebop library.

This CD is hi-tech and sharp and jazzy. It reflects the genre of the Cowboy Bebop anime series, and all but one part of the first song (where we hear the opening theme song) are all original material. The dj (who speaks between songs) is odd, but kind of funny -- talking about old bands from the 2040s and cracks about Jabba the Hutt. If you enjoy smooth and tasteful lounge, as well as some danceable trance/ambient tunes this is probably an excellent buy for you. You might want to check your anime shop, before plunking down 30 bucks for it, but it will still be cash well spent.

Music for Freelance is a great collection of mixes. Fila Brazilia turns "Forever Broke" from a cowboy blues tune, to a mix more urban-techno baseline. Ian O'Brien's mix "Piano Black" also does the same, turning a high tension track to something with more soul and jazzy beat.

If you are looking for more the "Big Band" sound similar to Kanno's "Tank!." This is not probably not the album for you.

I recommend this to people who haven't even seen Cowboy Bebop and enjoy beats from say a DJ Food in style.

This remix to one of the best anime soundtracks of all time is in the form of an easy listening radio station. The Radio Free Mars tracks are basically like commercial breaks on radio. If you've seen Cowboy Bebop, the Radio Free Mars tracks will amuse you very much. Stuff mentioned like look alike dates of Judie from Big Shot and Gate closing for planets. The remixes them selves are pretty good. The opening Tank! remix is pretty good. Propable my favorite song on the disc is Forever Broke which features some nice guitar. If your a fan of rap music, you'll love Fe. I just love this disc. It's soothing and makes you feel great. I highly recommend this disc to any music collection. A great buy.

The music on this album is equal parts funky Seat Belts and smart electronic splicing. Many of the names are big-- Luke Vibert, Fila Brazillia, DMX Krew-- and they don't disappoint. This album might not be for you if either of the influences turn you off, but for me it was worth plunking down the $40.

All of it is pretty good and worth the occasional listen, but the track I keep coming back to is the DMX Krew mix of "Cats on Mars". I've never heard the original, so I don't know how it compares, but this track has a catchy bassline, percussion that occasionally drifts off into charming randomness, and the whole thing is complemented and offset by high, repeated, (so far) unintelligible vocals.

Of course, I tend to be fascinated with tracks for entirely personal reasons in many cases. Who knows-- maybe you'll love a different one. Recommended.

Cowboy Bebop, with its stylized, jazzy tunes, was bound to have a remix album. Well, this is the one to top all of them. First of all, the Radio DJ for Radio Free Mars, is absolutely fun and enjoying to listen to. He makes you feel like you're one of the carefree crew on the Bebop listening to a radio station. The Radio DJ rarely gets annoying, and he adds people like the Seatbelts and Yoko Kanno to his accented commentary. The remixes are also very well done. I thoroughly liked the "Tank!" Luke Vibert Remix and "Cats on Mars" DMX Krew Remix. There are also more likable tunes that are sure to please any Cowboy Bebop fan. As for me, I'm turning on my CD right... now...

I'm not a Cowboy Bebop fan, or an anime fan for that matter. But I was in the car one day with a friend and heard this crazy techno/jazz/funk instrumental and asked what it was. Lo and behold, it was the Cowboy Bebop Remixes. After getting it from said friend for Christmas, it's constantly in my computer's CD drive. The "Radio Free Mars" announcer is a treat, as well.

Just wait until you hear him talk about Star Wars 18... "A love story between Jabba the Hut and a wookie. I just wish they'd unfreeze George Lucas."

I love Yoko Kanno. I love Cowboy Bebop. I love the Seatbelts.

The remixed versions of the songs are very listenable, I would carry this CD around to listen to as a pick-me-up. I actually think I have done that before.
"Tank!" Luke Vibert Mix is very poppy and jazzy and fun, I love this version so much. I brought this CD to a dance session in an acting class and this is what we danced to. Everyone loved it.
"Forever Broke" Fila Brazilia Mix is so beautiful! It's on a mix CD I made of all the Cowboy Bebop songs because it's good for chilling/meditation, dance, study, everything.
"Piano Black" was given a little more depth.

Overall, it's a very listenable CD. If you're a diehard fan of Cowboy Bebop, you may not like what was done to some of the songs on here. It is an interesting fusion of styles.

Yoko Kanno does it again. For this album, Yoko takes all of the classic Bebop songs and collaborates with other excellent artists to create a fresh and hypnotizing new sound. Add to that the "Radio Free Mars" inserts, which are truly comical, and this cd will definitely be enjoyed by all Bebop and Yoko fans, and also by anyone with half a brain and two ears. Obviously, highly recommended. However, the price is a bit exorbitant, so I'd suggest heading down to your local Chinatown and getting a $12 copy.

The version of this CD that includes "Vitaminless" is a bootleg. It'll be from "Sonmay" or "Everanime" who make a number of bootleg versions of various Anime soundtracks.