Customer Reviews

New York: A Mix Odyssey

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

1st of all I don't normally purchase a Dj mix cd because I get bored with them very quickly. I'm a victim of getting bored of sub-genre mix compilations mainly because of their repetitive nature.

NOW HERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO ANY OF THE DJ MIXED CDs!!

Armand Van Helden took me on an Odyssey across the nightlife of New York in a way that I've never experienced before.

An impressively SEAMLESS blend between modern house to electro-80s to classic Rock anthems. Totally and utterly amazing!! I actually felt like I was club-hopping through many diverse clubs in a wonderful whirlwind of vibes that could only be provided by a great veteran to the club scene.

This MIX had a grip on my attention. I couldn't get enough!

Armand Van Helden, I tip my hat.

I have to let you know first that this mix has completely exceeded my expectations.

When I first listened to it, it sounded like a bunch of 80's stuff thrown in with a little 70's, and then something that vaguely sounded 80's.

The stuff that was vaguely 80's turned out to be electroclash.

Electroclash rocks! And it blends really well with the real 70's and 80's stuff that's on this mix.

I've heard that the DJ, Armand Van Helden, had made other choices for the 80's music, but couldn't get clearance, so the 80's tracks that ended up getting selected were decided based on the ease of clearance.

If that's true, I'd love to hear what his first pick would've been.

The newer stuff is the highlight, though.

Van Helden's own contributions to the album, namely "My my my," and "Let Me Lead You" are excellent.

But for me, Aloud's "Rocky XIII" rocks out constantly. This group is French, and their album was listed for $30 on Amazon (import). But I found it for $12 on ebay. Can't wait to hear the bumpin' beats of the electroclash.

Other highlights: Felix da' Housecat's "Cyberwhore" -- It's called "Watching Cars Go By" everywhere else. The song is remixed on Sasha's new(ish) album and is also on Felix's last release. This song will rock you out.

This is one fun mix.

I gotta say, this CD is great. I grew up during the 80's and these songs bring back some happy memories. My only dissapointment was the ending. "Owner of a Lonely Heart" has to be one of my favorite 80's songs. So when I heard what sounded like a "glitch" I immediately returned the CD to where I bought it and went to a different store to find a new copy. The first thing I did was play the last song, and, to my surprise, there was that "glitch" again. That was a very dissapointing way to end what could of potentially, in my opinion, been a 5 star CD. None the less, it is a wonderful CD including my favorite new song, My My My. If you can get past that "glitch" being there, then I say go out and buy this CD.....

There's no doubt that VAN HELDEN is a great dj. There's no doubt, that this one may be a great mix. There's no doubt, that these songs may be anthems of New York club scene. There's no doubt, that the album may "represent that feeling of nightlife, that feeling of going out...", as VAN HELDEN says himself in the intro. And there's no doub't that it may do it really well.

I haven't been there, i know nothing about it. And i know, the album isn't meant for me then. But still i wan't to say that. For an outsider, theese tracks sound cool. Songs are familiar, have heard them, like them, but there are no personal memories included. And that's why, for a non-NYC-clubber this cd may seem a bit pointless. These hits by themselves are not endearing enough to charm all music lovers.

So take this poor piece of review just as a warning. If NY city-culture is not a part of your life, there's a chance, you won't see the appeal of this album.

I must admit that it's rare these days that I buy a compilation cd, simply because there just aren't that many out that are original enough(with the exception of a few)worth buying. However, you do come across those rare jewels that you think to yourself, "Man, I'm glad I bought this." I must say that this is the feeling I got after purchasing the latest release from Aramand Van Helden, "New York: A Mix Odyssey.

Looking over the track listing for the cd it almost looks like a table of contents for the history of the New York club scene, with new tracks by Van Helden himself sprinkled in here and there to truly give you the feeling of the "something new, something old, something borrowed" and yes even "something blue".

One thing that stands out about this compilation is the fact that Van Heldens love of music is apparent and you get the feeling that he picked these tracks with a very specific purpose in mind. The mixing, while nothing ground breaking is still very tight and crosses genres effortlessly. Personal highlights of this cd for me are: AB/DC-This Feelin(totally sounds like an afterhours track where everyone is just riding a wave and the dj going crazy on the dials, really manipulating the track), RAM JAM-Black Betty(a blues influenced rouser), and of course Soft Cell-Tainted Love.

I must say that I'm impressed with this effort from Van Helden, and with his recent remix of Nelly Furtados "Forca" we may start to see his name a lot more in the near future.

ALTHOUGH ARMAND HAS ARRIVED A BIT LATE IN THE SO 80'S SMASH UP MIX, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IS A TRUE BEAUTY. THE MIX ITSELF IS VERY CLEAN, EASY GOING AND IT JUST PUMPS FROM START TO END, THERE IS REALLY NO WEAK POINT AND THE MAIN THING IS THAT HE KEPT MOST OF THE TRACKS INTACT BUT JUST ADDED THAT EXTRA TOUCH TO MAKE THEM FEEL FRESH. OTHER THAN THE LAST TRACK 'OWNER OF A LONELY HEART' REPEATS IT SELF AT THE END, THE CD IS A GREAT ONE.

Upon first review the track listing, I have to admit it's a brave selection of music and I was excited to take a listen. He's definitely outside of the box on this one and it does feel like a set you would here at your own comfortable hole in the wall favorite spot where anything fun goes rather than trying to follow any formulas.
However, it would be more appropriate to call this "New York: An Editing Odyssey". These tracks are all studio edited and forced together rather than anything that resembles a true "dj mix set". Quite simply, this was not pulled off live and that is disappointing to hear from such a talented dj as Armand, because he probably could have. I know I intend to mess with many of the ideas presented here.
Truth be told this review is very nitpicky and the huge majority won't know the difference, but a few purists will. If he were to have actually pulled this off live, it would have been worth 7 stars.
Oh, and the little sound skip at the end of the last track, you need to understand, a dj couldn't just let that track fade out on it's own terms, you gotta put your stamp on it.

Where to begin?!? How bout Blondie....what a great kick-off. And the album does not stop until the last note bumps out the speakers 70-odd minutes later. Highlights include: EVERY SINGLE TRACK!!!! Pop and house...what a combo! A MUST BUY!

This CD ROCKS! I want to party in New York now, this is great energy, great to dance to! Armand shows his intelligent production skills on his own tracks that flow smoothly with 80's/electroclash/dance/house whatever-you-want-to-call-it grooves! This CD will make you want to go to the club and get your groove on, excellent buy and a must have for 2004. This is the future sound of electronic music!

This IS a great mix. Anyone tuned into the radio during this period, and especially the northeast, will find it easy to connect with this cd. Armand's contributions mixed in make it even more fun and they fit well.

Two songs that don't do much for me are "Cyberwhore" by Felix da Housecat and "(I just wanna be a) drummer" by Heavy Rock. "Cyberwhore" because the metallic girl voice doesn't do it for me and "drummer" because of the litany of people and objects and things that want to be a dj. (laugh) Maybe it'll grow on me. The retro songs are tweaked a bit, but I almost wish they had been beefed up a bit more. Many of them are so easily found on other compilations. Yazoo's (or Yaz) "Don't Go" is one of my all time faves. That could've been longer! Armand really shows his love for dance AND rock by including Ram Jam's "Black Betty". Of his originals, "Hear My Name" is my favorite.

One could easily put this album on for a party and get rave reviews. This mix definitely has an edge to it.

I'm surprised more people have not commented on the very last song, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and it's HORRIBLE editing at the end. Around 3:24, as you hear the music fading out, it suddenly statics for a bit and then repeats a PREVIOUS portion of the song, but then ends abruptly at 3:35. That's the real reason for my 2 rating. As a music purchaser, I feel this is very sloppy. My money purchases are important to me and to think that someone listened to this (or somebody DIDN'T listen to this?????) and approved it for sale ... someone's gonna get a letter!! (grin)