Customer Reviews

Essential Selection 1

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First of all, if you've never been exposed to electronic music, buy this double CD set. It is a rarity among dance mix compilations since it includes two popular but very different styles of dance mixed by two of the biggest DJs in the world. Almost all other dance mix sets contain one style exclusively, so this album is truly a 2-for-1 deal.
If you happen to be an electronica guru, this compilation may not whet your thirst for innovation. The first CD, Fatboy Slim's big beat mix, sounds dated, despite being fairly high energy. True, there are it's fine points, such as the few tracks in the middle of the mix that create an enjoyable climax, but as a whole the mix sounds old and worn. Unless you're a truly big Fatboy Slim fan, his mix probably will have you hitting the "skip" button on your CD player over and over again to escape the repetition of annoying beats.
As for the Oakenfold mix, it's the reason I gave the album 4 stars. Stand-alone, this CD is one of the best trance mixes to come out just before the trance genre began to flood with exhausted, overplayed, producer driven stagnation. Some critics have panned the Oakenfold mix claiming the song selection was second rate. I could not disagree more. Most of the songs are wonderful selections on their own right, utilizing pure emotion. The CD begins with a surrealistic soundbyte of a New York Thanksgiving day television weathercast, which quickly builds into an energetic hill with the likes of "The Spirit" and "Free". The 3 song climax is among the best I've ever heard, and one that can't be missed. Of note is Solarstone's "Seven Cities", which literally makes the listener feel as if he/she is truly on an emotional ride. The closing two songs on the mix are a wonderful cool-down, of note is "Viola" which is one of the best late night driving songs ever.
Overall I think it's a ...investment well worth the cost.

For listeners who can appreciate a dj as an artist, this cd highlights the mixing skills of Oakenfold and Fatboy Slim. The two cd set offers up a choice in style and content. Trance is Oakenfolds' signature sound and he showcases his skills well in this mix. Although if you want to hear him at his best I suggest Global Underground:New York. Any cd you pick up from Oakenfold will definitley quench an electronica fans thirst. He's the master, I think, of build ups in tempo and what I like to call "ocean splash" sounds. Fat Boy has a much different style than Paul. Fat Boy is more in to the Big Beat sound and uses more recognizable tunes to please the listener. Chemical Bros.-Underworld-Groove Armada just to name a few. I saw him dj at the Hollywood Palladium and he had the heads going nuts. If you like this cd I would also suggest picking up FBS's first album:Better Living Through Chemistry.

The thing that inspired me to listen to this cd is the mere artists involved. Paul and Fatboy themselves rank among the best dj's in the business. However, after listening to the two cd's (one designated for Fatboy Slim; the second for Paul Oakenfold), one can clearly distinguish the two tastes. Don't get me wrong, the Fatboy mixes were not too bad, but Oakey does a marvelous job on his cd. I would much rather have the chance to purchase Disc 2 separately because simply put, Paul Oakenfold is a genious at what he does. Check this cd out if you're into Fatboy Slim, even though the tracks don't last long enough to build a tight beat of any sort. Definately check this cd out if you are an Oakenfold fan of any kind. This is worth having just because his talent graces the trance filled tracks of disc 2. 3 stars for me, but Oakenfold may just take it up to 4 or even 5 ...you be the judge.

Yes yes you've heard it all about Oakenfold being a sell out and everything from A to Z.. and how most techno is all dated and there is always something wrong with mixes, and true to this also, but it's still good music, Fatboy's mix is really housey ( kindof in a Fast paced 1-2 min song Housy kinda way, not like a digweed house way ) Fatboy does tear it up though, his cd is really up beat and great for driving to, although it does leave the listener wanting more,, maybe something deeper.... oh yea there is an Oakenfold cd to.... I really didn't think to much of oakie's mix for a couple of years.. Now it's almost 2005 and i've heard tons of different mixes, and when i went back and heard his cd it really amazed me. the song selection stuck in my head and i couldn't forget the tune of the songs. it's progressive and has a different vibe than any of his other cds. Of course there are a few boring and too long songs on here, but when you listen all through, it really is worth owning. the last 4 songs on the cd are truly incredible 5/5 stars with nothing wrong there, and the first like 6 songs are probly 3-4/5 . sure you can call him what you want but this cd is good.

I do not understand why most of the reviews lead towards "The second CD is awesome; and it's obvious that Fatboy Slim is horrible." Is that the newest thing for the techno-nerds: Fatboy Slim bashing? Does voicing your hatred (real or not) for FbS show how hip you are? I don't get it! Just because the guy who cleans the bathrooms at the local rave joint tells you Fatboy's no good, you don't have to go along with him!

I find the first CD to be tremendously exhilarating. When so much of dance/electronica is hard beats and no heart, it's refreshing to hear songs that flow in and out of each other like ribbons twisting in the air. I find Fatboy's CD to be many times more listenable that Oakenfold's, which I consider to be more ambient and trippy. Also, I find disc one has a better song selection than disc two. Better ingredients lead to better treats.

I'm not saying disc two is bad. On the contrary, my point is that these are both darn good CDs by great DJs.

Pick this set up and try to enjoy the music for the music, the way it's supposed to be.

It's a little hard to figure out why they bundled these two CDs together: as is evident from the other reviews here, many people who like one or the other won't like both.

As far as the Fatboy Slim CD goes, it's pretty good, but not his best work. If you want a mix album of his, go pick up "On the Floor of the Boutique" before this--that's a really first-rate CD, while this one doesn't really reach that level. Don't get me wrong--this CD has some really good grooves on it, and it will definitely keep the dance floor going, but the songs aren't as fresh and distinctive as on Boutique.

I'm not a Paul Oakenfold expert and I don't yet have other CDs of his, but hearing this makes me anxious to track down more of them. Not only is the music really top-drawer trance, but the flow is simply perfect. It isn't hard to make one track flow into another with trance music, but it is hard to get exactly the right feel of when to change pace, when to build to a crescendo, when to draw out a pause, etc., and this is simply an amazingly well-mixed album in this regard.

While most will say that these cds do not go together, I could not disagree with them more. Like most humans that walk this earth I am blessed with changing moods and need different genres to match these moods. Im not in love with Oakenfold and have heard many DJ's out there do it better, but you have to give credit where credit is due. He didn't get where he's at by (...). Anyways back to the CD. You'll find it good for all occations and thats all that matters. The CD is chalked full of hard hitting beats and sounds that make you want to get up and boogey. As well as a soft enya like set from Oakey that makes you want to lay ack on an air matress and blaze. Its worth the money and I give it five stars for the variety of good tunes, although I have heard better. This is as good as it gets on a studio CD. Enjoy...

I was definently in the Oakenfold crowd ( that is I bought this CD wanting to hear Paul). I want to echo other peoples statements regarding why these two very DIFFERENT DJs were put together in one CD combination. Oakenfold/Van Dyk, Oakenfold/Warren, Oakenfold/Fontaine would have seemed a lot more commonsensical. Anyways I really did not like the fatboy slim cd but dont take too much stock in my comment here because im not into the WHOLE STYLE of music. It may be good: i just dont really care for it. The Oakie CD is definently NOT as good as New York, Cream, Oslo, or even Tranceport. Its still a great CD, Id give it about 4 stars but there are much better Oakenfold CDs out there. This said, I really liked songs 6-9 on the Oakie CD as well. Very nice transitions and selection of songs here. The rest of the CD is okay (Luzon's The Baguio Track is nice and getting very popular). Final verdict: buy this CD if YOU REALLY LOVE Paul or Fatboy. If not there are better options out there for your money. peace

What marketing genius thought up this two disc set. Anyone who knows anything about electronica knows that the two featured DJs don't exactly have the same following. It's almost like having a two disc set of Korn and Backstreet boys (ok so that's an exageration.) But for some sick, twisted reason it works. If you like trance listen to oakenfold, then for kicks see if you like FBS. Or vice versa. Both are strong mixes and have some great beats. Oakenfold has some strong buildups and lots of swirling mixes. FBS has a very odd but compatable series of booty-shaking funk and big beat. Of course Oakenfold is the better mixer, but FBS holds your interest by putting songs together that should never be put together (like Born Slippy and At the River) Either CD is probably work the whole price. If you don't like the other use it as a coaster or give it to a friend.

First of all, I believe that nearly nothing out there deserves 5 stars. It has to inspire awe to do that, so even the best gets 4. I gave this 3 because the two mixes are disjointed. Do not get me wrong, both DJs are the best today, however the two are significantly different in how they approach this mix.

By itself, the Oakenfold mix is 4.5 stars. Its a great flow from one track to another and finishes with Moogwai, the best track to finish with. Also by itself, the Fatboy Slim tracks are pretty good, maybe 3.5 stars on its own. Each track is different but logically placed with regards to the previous track.

The main trouble with this set is that the two CDs should not be played one after another. The styles are completely different in treatment of this genre of "DJ". I prefer disk 2 by far, and this alone would be worth buying, even at the 2 disk price. But that is the problem, its buying 2 disks when afterwards I really only needed 1.