Customer Reviews

Funk the System

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Besides the great Olav Basoski and Robbie Rivera, there is currently no larger presence on the House music stage than DJ Dan. "Funk The System" is a template for proper house mixology, starting with tweaked-out acid phunk and quickly detouring into thunderous Chicago underground sounds, then building up a wall of disco madness that Dan smashes through with "House of Funk," a thoroughly refreshing track from Matt "M1" DiMaria. From there, it's hard house at its best, tripping through Thomas Heckman's superb rework of "We Praise" and culminating in a back-to-back barrage of DJ Dan's smash "That Zipper Track." Even though I already own half the vinyl Dan presents on this CD, I bought it anyway, just to see what he could do. My friends, DJ Dan is an explosion waiting to happen. "And they wonder why we took it underground..." (Note: Those lucky enough to own cars equipped with earth-shattering bass need to hear this baby in its entirety on a long night road trip. It will change your relationship with God.)

Age and countless reviews have worn down my enthusiasm for yet another dance mix. As compilations roll off the production lot in huge numbers, it's hard not to get jaded. Thus, just when it appears DJ's have forgotten how to craft original party sets, DJ Dan releases "Funk the System." Not a string of hard and fast numbers, he connects today's sound to the funk and disco of years past to concoct a groovin' wonder.

"Acid Attack" states the funk mantra and gets things started , using a Run DMC sample and (like it says) acid sounds. Not bad, but just a warmer for Stacy Kidd's beautifully simple, "Do Want You Feel," built on- if memory serves me- a Kool & the Gang sample. Classic disco given a modern rerub. "No Clothes On Your Back" is a chugging number featuring a snippet of Public Enemy's Flava Flav, leading to the next big hit, the disco statement "The Reason We Took it Underground." "Disco babes From Outer Space," with it's distorted voices and breakdown, would sound corny in most sets but works well here. The set's middle sags, largely off the track "House of Funk," which is funky and tells you so by endlessly looping the title in a vocal. "Disco Highway" and "Motorcross Madness" are winners, the latter starting the disc's buildup to harder, darker funk energy. The acid sound picks up over "We Praise" and "Phreakin" before climaxing with the DJ Dan's own hit "Needle Damage" (not good enough to sustain the two versions included) and Super Collider's "Darn Cold Way of Lovin'"

What you have here is simply one of the best dance releases of 1999, suited for any environment. DJ Dan has picked tracks that show their influences to the 70's and 80's, and relive that sound through modern production. Pick this up and listen to a DJ at the top of his game.

First let me start off with a little side note, this CD does not compare with his live sets. He is the best programmer on the scene today. He spins the greatest beats, all flawlessly. Which is to be expected on an album, he does it better live.

As for the CD, like I said earlier, it is flawless, his transitions are smooth and clean. Whenever I put this CD on, I cannot help but get up and move to the funky beats. I rarely skip any tracks when I listen to this, but If you want the best of the CD, Skip to track 6 and listen straight through for auditory enjoyment. If you want a good funky house beat that out houses Bad Boy Bill, this is your CD!

This is my first DJ Dan CD. I listened to the samples on Amazon and liked the funky beats and guitar. I was in the mood for some funk. Then when I got the CD I put it in my stereo and from track 7 on, the funk is gone the ACID came on moving me through xtremely cool trance on the next 6 tracks back to the funky start. My girlfriend doesn't like house, but she liked the funky start and didn't mind listening to the rest...

With the complete take-over of electro-house right now, there is nothing more refreshing than going back and listening to this Dan mix. As Dan states over and over, he never loses sight of what this music is about...partying!

I don't know what the previous reviewer was talking about "downtempo deep house for a cocktail party"? The old-school acid funk just intensifies as Dan steam-rolls through this mix. By the end he is pulling out textbook acid-jackers like the Robert Armani inspired Chicago Jaxx remix "We Praise" that had warehouse walls world-wide resonating with the sirens and roarin' 303 lines of Chicago. And he even digs deeper in his bag for the famed acid classic 'Phreakin' from HMC. If anybody was going to parties in the mid-nineties or wants a hand-me-down experience of what those warehouse parties were like, just pop in this mix and you have all the 303 driven slammin' funkiness that was the beautiful American rave scene at the end of the 20th century. An all-time classic. Dan, we salute you. Keep it rockin'!!

Mostly, I dig trance. But house moves me. Unfortunately, there's something about house that begs that whole "live" experience. I've had trouble finding a house mix that rocks me proper in the car. Oh, but this is the one. The first half of the disc digs those funky disco grooves (exemplified with "Do What U Feel") but before you know it, DJ Dan has seemlessly taken you from there to a harder, techier sound ("Disco Highway" gets top marks from me). And having seen DJ Dan live, I can say that this is a fair approximation of that sound. Granted, I like a lot more cuts in my house, but this will definitely do the trick.

(Oh and by the way: House music rules summer.)

Possibly DJ Dan's funkiest output. This CD deserves a spot in your CD player. With great songs like "Disco Babes From Out of Space," this may be my favorite CD by *anyone*.

Nobody puts together such a wide range of funky house, disco loops and acid breaks as D.J. Dan. From the start (what is funk?) to the last beat this mix is top notch. Some of the tracks on this mix are just infectious (we're disco babes from outerspace!)

Not CD quality, cassette quality sound. I would be a little nervous to repurchase from this vendor again because of the lack of quality sound. I could have recorded it off the radio on to a tape player and it would sound better.

I own many of Dj Dan's CD's and this is my favorite one. Maybe it's the funk that seeps out of this CD. It's just so full of funk that you can not help bob your head and do a little dance! IT's THE ISHT! I've turned people onto house with this CD and I think that's why I've had to buy like 6 of 'em cuz they just end up missing! It's an oldy but goodie. I like his more recent ones too but it's the "purple" one that gets the most play on my deck. He's a great live DJ too! Never heard him train wreck and I've seen him many, many, times. DEFINITE MUST HAVE! If you like jazzy house get Miguel Migs/Mark Farina. If you want some deep house I'd say Onionz. If you want something to kickstart your nite out on the town- FUNK THE SYSTEM. Has to be! Anyone out there not agree?