Customer Reviews

Get Used To It: The Tom Moulton Mixes

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

 

 

Though I think the original album was great, the Tom Moulton Mixes are better.
A lot of songs that I didn't care much on the original record were revived in this "new" mixes. It does NOT sound like a live session, except the first song, for obvious reasons if you've heard it. The vibe is more cool, more interesting I should say.
Except for "All Fired Up", all other songs are better than the original ones(or, at least, as good as, like I said, I love the originals). But then, you can't beat the original "All Fired Up" (one of their best ever). The tittle song is much more "up and alive" here, and became one of my favourites of BNH. And goes like that for most of the CD. I think it's THE BEST remixes of a BNH's album available, much better than Elephantitis and Excursions.
Anyway, buy it and enjoy. If you haven't heard the original mix, I recommend to buy Tom Moulton's first.
You should buy both (plus a lot more by The Brand New Heavies).

Nearly two years after it's initial release, "Get used to it" gets overhauled by legendary mixologist Tom Moulton.
The result is nothing less than spectacular!!!

While the original mixes sounded muddy, muffled, and somewhat flat, Tom's mixes are sparkling, crystaline, alive, and warm.
Considering the fact that the Heavies are basically a throwback to 70's funk and soul, this is a match made in heaven, as Tom's work in this decade has become synonymous with CLASSIC dance music.
In addition to the mixing, Tom's extending and isolating of the best musical elements contained within these songs really push them over the edge.
For example, just have a listen to "Let's do it again", particularly the outro vamp/groove, and you will see why Tom Moulton defined the remix (and the mix, for that matter)
Tom's use of reverb is second to none. Giving these songs the spaceousness barely hinted at in the original mixes.....

The songs are all very solid, and now being mixed to perfection, fans can all agree that "Get used to it" ranks among the band's best work.

Reeno
[...]

I agree with trevnyc, I don't see the point of this album. It sounds like a live session which is great if you want that sound, but it's a studio album so I'm confused at what this album contributes other than the instrumentals at the end which is the only contribution to me. The main album is much more polished. I guess it's like vinyl versus digital which is arguable.

I do like the remixes of the "Get Used to It" album, but I totally disagree with the other reviewer that this is a better album and the songs on the original album are "muddled". Although the remixes are good on here they are stripped down to the point that they don't even sound like they were recorded at the same time, they lose almost all of the "funkiness" and energy that is heard throughout the original album. The songs now sound very industrial, almost robotic on this remix album, the saving grace is N'dea Davenport's glorious vocals and the superior instrumentals of the rest of the band. The overall beat of this album seems to be alot slower than the original album as well, which makes some of the songs labor whereas they have a great groove and danceable beat on the original album. Tom Moulton even strips alot of N'dea's beautiful backing vocals and ad-libs off the songs, further robbing it of it's R&B, Hip-Hop and Acid Jazz power. The Brand New Heavies pride themselves on being one of the best live bands in the business, and their albums prove it. This is a good, not great remix album that in my opinion has too much going on because everything is stripped and replayed as if it were all recorded seperately, it loses alot in the process. It's worth listening to, I downloaded it off Rhapsody, actually glad I didn't purchase it.

Enough has been said here about the great BNH tracks, so I just want to point out that, like one poster said, often a remix album is not necessary or essential because the original was executed so well. But, in this case, I would say this album IS essential, but only for those who appreciate Tom Moulton's impeccible work & ability to "extract and highlight the key elements of a song that take it from 'good' to 'really great'. "Love God", in particular, just makes me groove in my car-I have some very high end equipment there and in the home. And that environment is where you hear the true balance and care taken to revisualize each track, which is like sonic gold. Tom didn;t use any overkill here-he just enhanced the best aspects of each song.

Trust me, where one man feels "ehh", there are plenty others who have discovered and have embraced this killer CD. I've bought at least 7 copies to share with friends who I know appreciate this level of R&B/Funk. Audiophiles, all. Great band+great remix Producer=WOW Factor. Screw the dumb stuff, to each their own, but I think this album is GREAT! Get yourself a copy and listen for yourself...