Customer Reviews

Distort

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

 

 

I must start off by saying that I'm writing only the second review of this album for the site. The other one, by nitefixation, is one I actually agree with, despite my being a huge fan of the band both before and after I got ahold of Distort.

Beneath the Skin, Collide's debut album and also my introduction to the duo, showed me that between kaRIN's sweet voice and Statik's electrogoth music, there was magic in the making. I relished the album's original sound; to date, I still haven't heard anything else like it.

Realizing their success, the two released Distort, a followup remix album. This album brought in everyone from SMP to Waiting for God to Crocodile Shop, not to mention Statik himself. This resulted in as many styles as there are remixes, meaning people can say that the album is wonderfully diverse.

Or, as is my complaint, TOO diverse.

The wide variety of styles leaves very little common ground for the tracks. There are those remixes that emphasize Collide's strong dance element ("Violet's Dance [Blister Feet Remix]," "Strange (Bizarre Remix)"). There are those that emphasize the dark atmosphere ("Falling Up [Egypt Remix]," "Beneath the Skin [Razor's Edge Mix]"). And there are those that strip the music down and put kaRIN in the spotlight (including my favorite song on the disc, "Deep [2Deep Remix]").

My point, obviously, is that the bands' different approaches to the songs result in a jumbled album. The songs are largely enjoyable, but Distort really suffers from their arrangement. It's simply a case of being too ambitious and falling short of those lofty goals.

Nonetheless, I would recommend this album highly to anyone that enjoyed Beneath the Skin - and, with some exceptions, to people that didn't. It has that crossover appeal.

First let me start off by saying what a huge Collide fan I am. I own all their CDs and hope to catch them live when they perform in Los Angeles sometime next year, I hope. The notion seems uncertain for now because they're still looking for some local guitar and drum players but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. And it's not just a rumor, people. It's posted on the news section of their website so check them out and support the band if you can!

With that said, I'm saddened to give 'Distort' such an average rating since they are one of my all-favorite groups but most of the cuts here don't live up to the original material found on their debut 'Beneath The Skin'. I find myself listening to this record the least but the production is a lot better, albeit not flawless, their second time around, and I really appreciate how they keep the verses in instead of just including the chorus or one line used over and over again for the vocal parts. As for the remixes, they're anything but horrible; however, they either hit the spot or miss it completely. Some sound quite out of place with kaRIN's seductive singing style while others fit like a glove. "Pandora's Box - Opened", which is redux by Statik himself, begins the album with a promising shift to industrial (a well-done transaction, if I do say so myself), and I love the fusion of grinding guitars with infectious dance beats on "Son Of A Preacher Man" (along with "Obsession" and "Fear No Evil", it's exclusively new and cannot be found on any of their other albums), but with the exception of "Falling Up - Egypt Remix", most of the other tracks lack in creativity and they don't do much to improve the song any. It seems to me that 'Distort' was Collide's inspiration for their grand masterpiece 'Chasing The Ghost' and I am looking forward to hearing them remix songs from 'CTG' and 'Some Kind Of Strange', which they're working on next. It's also set to feature some cover tunes and that's always a risky thing to do. I was disappointed with their take on "Whip It - Version 2.0" (of course, I happen to hate the original 80's version as well) but they're rendition of "White Rabbit" from their opus 'CTG' is simply mind-blowing so my expectations are slightly mixed. I welcome anything new by them though and am leaning closer to a positive outcome. I have faith that it will prove superior to their first attempt at remixing because they've grown together as musicians and have matured considerably since 'Beneath The Skin'.

I recommend 'Distort' for die-hard fans only and I definitely discourage anyone who wishes to introduce themselves to Collide through this specific album. Buy the others first and then come back to this if you're craving more. And if you have a pulse, or believe that you're part of the living dead, than I'm assured you will for Collide has a way of spellbinding all those who choose to listen.

I love Collide and enjoyed this album of remixes almost as much as the 'regular' albums. It is rather diverse, but that is not such a negative thing... Even if one doesn't like every song on this album, there will still be many that one can find enjoyment in.

Maybe this was the wrong cd for me to get to introduce myself to the music of Collide. It's a decent cd with above average music. The sequencing is nice theres a great dance like feel to the music but the vocals although really good don't fit the music. The vocalist has a great range to her voice and her vocals are easy on the ears but thats where the problem lies with this album. It's thump, thump, thump "key in nice voice". There are a few really good songs on this album, the ones where the music is slow paced and so her vocals fit in nice but the majority of the cd is messy. I gave it three stars because I really can't blame the band since these are remixes by other bands.

I love that I got to get remixes of Collide songs that I already love !!!! Plus a few covers..which is a prequel to the full cover album These Eyes Before which came out in 2009. I could listen to this cd over and over and I did on a 4 hour drive..I hate long drives and this cd kept me going !! The lyrics and vocals of kaRIn are hauntingly beautiful and sleek and have drawn me in from the first note. If you love remixes, this cd is a must. If you do not know Collide (yet) this a great introduction and you'll be craving more...who doesn't love to also hear the original version of a remix ??

After "discovering" Collide via their "Like the Hunted" concert DVD, I bought essentially everything they ever released. I'm even wearing a Collide kaRIN hoodie as I type this. Statik's mastery of sound production and mixing, along with kaRIN's incredible vocals, makes for some enjoyable listening. One must watch for Collide's collaborations with other artists because this can only make for even more enjoyable listening. I sure hope Collide performs live again soon and either produces another DVD or performs live in the midwest so I can see them in person!

If you were considering Collide and never heard them before, don't expect something that is going to fit in with everything else but expect something that is going to knock your socks off. The only music I'll listen to round the clock is Collide, a pair of headphones and a moderate volume level in a dimly lit room will set a wonderful mood for you to listen to Collide. All their albums have a similar feel and I would suggest Some kind of Strange Chasing the Ghost and Beneath the skin for someone who has the more open mind, Vortex is an Album I believe anyone can love its not as abstract as the others and is wonderful for dancing and I can guarantee once you hear vortex you'll want to hear everything else. Though I'm glad to have heard their original music first. Collide is probably the first of a new breed of music not rock nor techno. Abstract music is not something you come by often and this is THE BEST.