Customer Reviews

Electro Lounge

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

 

 

The concept is absurdly clever (brilliantly stupid?) and shouldn't work, but it does. Take some all-time lounge classics (and a few odd songs like the James Bond theme or The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) and give them to electronic artists to remix. Yet it works well, mainly because of the talent that came on board: Uberzone, U-ziq, Utah Saints, Wagon Christ, Tranquility Bass, Gus Gus, Q-Burns Abstract Message, and more. These are artists who not only have talent, but have shown a a sense of fun and humor in their own productions.

Sure there are a few songs that don't quite pass the muster, but not many. And let's face it, you're buying this for kitch value anyway, so even those songs will have a charm to them. You won't play this often, but it's something you can always pop in to amuse friends, and there's enough cool songs to grab a martini and enjoy it yourself.

A great CD for fans of the bands & players listed. The mixes are tight and original, and some--like the tracks by Wagon Christ, the Rip-off Artist, and Gusgus--are outstanding. A little bit of jungle, drum 'n' bass, dub, and even good ole dance, and plus a lot of ingenuity... Unlike the fan above me who can neither spell nor get titles right (Gusgus' "this is normal" is not on this cd), I easily recommend this compilation to any true fan of "our" music.

There's some really good material on this disc. It's just buried underneath boring, techno-versions of lounge favorites. This CD is great at parties, as I'd imagine, but it's a little weak when listened to as a whole-album by yourself. The highlights (and moments of disgrace) are mentioned below somewhat extensively:

The album starts off with the upbeat, funky song "Hypnotique (Uberzone Remix)," and it's fairly decent, but at seven minutes, it gets too drawn-out and it is a true bore in the end. All hope is not lost, however, because the trance-esque track "Lonesome Road (Y-Ziq Remix)" is a true delight to the ears, and it is one of the better moments on the disc. It does have some annoying and dissonant drum beats that don't match the beautiful flow of the rest of the song, but overall, it's pretty good. Next, you get a very annoying "Watermelon Man" remix that pisses me off every time. Even when I do skip this track, I still hear the name "Watermelon Man" at the very begenning of the song, and it comes pretty damn close to screwing up the entire disc for me. A truly wretched moment on the disc. Then you get an interesting version of the somewhat-catchy Dean Martin & Julie London track "Sway," and it can really get a party started, but when listening to this track all alone, you begin to realize that you're a loser. After that, you get a good James Bond remix (I've played the Nintendo 64 game GOLDENEYE a million times, so this song gets old to me really fast, but for most people this song will be greatly enjoyed). After a horrid track to which I forget its title, THE moment of excellence on this album comes next on the brilliant "Good, Bad, and the Ugly" remix that sounds so great that it makes the disc worth it by itself. A hardcore techno edge is given to the western classic anthem, and it will make anyone feel like a true badass. One rocking anthem that's been played over and over in my stereo. After that, "Do it Again" follows, and it is very terrible. One must wonder who selected some of these tracks, because a lot of them shouldn't have been included on this lounge-compilation. "Séance on a Wet Afternoon" is the following track, and next to the good ,bad, & ugly remix, this track is the best on the disc. I often play "Séance" on chilly October nights. A perfect Halloween song. After that, the rest of the disc is pretty bad, so I won't go into detail.

Overall, I think this CD is worth it just because of the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" mix and "Séance On a Wet Afternoon." Too bad the rest of the disc isn't as good. I give it 3.1/2 stars. It was enjoyable, yet it was anything but memorable.

For what I paid, a definite five-star acquisition.
It's a sporty combination of remixed old movie themes like from James Bond, and used up old stuff like "Jump, Jive & Wail".
Some of it's killer energetic and delightfully complex to listen to, like the last four tracks, and some of it like the remix of "Jump, Jive & Wail" show no innovation.
Not shmaltzy, a little dark in places, definitely worth owning if you enjoy bits like the recently remixed Herb Alpert.
Don't buy this for The Good, The Bad & The Ugly cover - it's not much - but there's enough here to enjoy some quality remixes and arrangements.

This album is truly the epitome of what happens when you take the oldies that you grew up with (Dean Martin, Julie London, Martin Denny etc.) and by accident dropped them in a bucket of Sulfuric Acid. I highly recomend this album if you are open to new ways of listening to some of the best muscians. Granted, it could have been better but, I truly did enjoy this album and don't regret the purchase.

Here's an oddball concept: take some old "adult pop" songs of the '50s and '60s, and give them "electronica" remixes. Surprisingly, the results are actually pretty entertaining. Sure, some of the entertainment value is in the "kitsch" factor, but what's wrong with that? One of the most memorable remixes here is "Sway" by Dean Martin and Julie London. The weird thing is, Dean Martin and Julie London never recorded together. Their vocals on this remix are taken from two different versions of "Sway" which they recorded seperately. But you can't really tell that from listening to the remix here, it's pretty seamless. I don't think everyone will enjoy this album, but if you like to hear music that's somewhat offbeat, you may get a kick out of it.

Some of this stuff is amazing. There are weak moments - if you're thinking of getting this just because you're a Morricone fan, beware - Gusgus' mindless butchering of Good, the Bad and the Ugly is horrible. But mostly this collection should please just about anyone. Which is hard to say for an electronic release. The Rip Off Artist's take on Dean Martin's "Sway" has to be heard to be believed. Everyone I've played it for has just had their jaw drop. "Watermelon Fan" is great fun as well, as are a few other standout tracks. You won't be sorry for having gotten this. The only reason I wouldn't rank it a 5-star thingy is because the Gusgus remix is a prime example of everything wrong about bad remixing. Otherwise though people will think "you da man!" (or woman as the case may be) for playing this at your next swingin' soiree.

this is a brilliant idea! i've always liked those old ez-listening tunes, and have been into techno for a long time. so to hear the two styles combined...it's great! i especially like the 'out-there' tracks, such as those by µ-ziq and the rip-off artist. any word on a sequel?

Really liked this album, since I have the original versions of many of the lounge classics that have been electronized and beat added and enhanced.

Really nice to play when you work, to keep your tempo up.

I'll be buying the second volume when it comes out.

I hate this CD and wish I could get every cent back because it is horrible. The beats are all the same, the songs are too long and HORRIBLE remakes. Jump Jive and Wail is the only reasonable song, the others are repetitive, mundane, and just bad. Don't spend a cent on this, you're wasting your money. This CD stinks.