In the Mode

Roni Size

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 24, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana Island
• ASIN: B00004ZDFF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,481 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With more big-time backing than any junglist save toothy Goldie, the Roni Size all-stars return with a punchy suite of material that sounds so crossed over it could snap. The big-beat drums continue to push drum & bass toward soulful house; the vocals by MC Dynamite as well as guests Method Man and Zach de la Rocha continue to demand hip-hop respect; and the form is repeated, again and again, over and over, at 180 beats per minute. A funky key lick that might bob and weave in an able DJ's hands goes stale quickly over the duration of a long-form CD, but still Size soldiers onward with barely a tempo change. It's mystifying, as he holds so many live wires in his hands. Though the complaint department is firing full force over this seemingly unfinished release, make no mistake that crisp organic jungle standards such as "Ghetto Superstar" will continue to define the name brand, setting dance floors into a kinetic frenzy for many seasons past the shelf date. --Ian Christe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Drum'n'Bass to where it belongs!, December 6, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - See all my reviews

In the Mode is far better than New Forms, first of all, it's not 2 cd's long,second it's not jazzy and intellectual, last but not least it has far more vocals. According to many reviewers that is supposed to be a bad thing, they want drum'n'bass to remain underground. Please! Don't be this narrow-minded, what is the problem if instead of Britney Spears you hear Reprazents "Snapshot"(best track on the album, I believe), but no, Drum'n'Bass should be either like Bad Company (can it be more dark and furious, un-emotional?) or LTJ Bukem (can it be more sleepy?). Kosheens(Also from Bristol, check 'm out) "Hide U" has proven that D&B can be accepted by a the normal audience. Let's be happy Roni attracted (Hip Hop-) Stars like da Meth and Rahzel. After all, it's not about the image, it's about the Music, and I can tell you, after the last track has finished, you're gonna think this cd is the only ting in the world, taking you on a journey of heavenly vocals, dry but hard beats, beatiful piano and fantatsic raps.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why compare? Just enjoy another modern masterpiece., January 26, 2001

By	Andres De Vivanco (Palm Bay, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Once again Size and Reprazent produce a masterpiece by departing from the traditional forms of dnb and music in general. And that's why this album may not sound like traditional drum and bass... surely it doesn't sound like anything that I've heard before. In this album, Size and Reprazent reinvent themselves and at the same time go back to their roots bringing us more of their truly fresh "Bristol-original dnb" but now with touches of hip-hop\reggae lyrics, breaks and beats, and even disco. The ordered sequence of these songs and sounds make "In the Mode" so special. Listen to this one from start to finsih. Its a flavored mixture of all types of sounds done in the way that only Roni Size and this group of people know how to do: with real musical style. Why compare this album with "New forms"? "New forms" was released in 1997 and "In the Mode" in 2000 and music has to change and develop. "In the Mode" marks yet another landmark in music history with supreme musical style and a set of strong and innovative sounds.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing CD!, October 24, 2000

By	Joerg Colberg (Northampton, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Before I got a chance to listen to "In The Mode" I thought it would be very hard for Roni Size et al. to come close to the debut album "New Forms". However, after having listened to the new album I am simply amazed how much better they have become. "In The Mode" is way more coherent than the debut album. Its sound is denser, its bass is way more powerful, there are some excellent guest stars (amongst other Method Man), and the songs are all fantastic. It is truly amazing to hear how good this album is. If I could I'd give it any amount of stars.