Customer Reviews

Playgroup

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

 

 

I got this CD as a XMAS present and from the moment I open the package... I knew it will be good. I really like the low tempo on all of the tracks that is fast enough to make you move and smooth enough to make you just want to get a martini and just chill.

I like the combination of funk beats based in disco elements that T.Jackson has created and although many groups have tried this format before... with him it sounds fresh. I would called this hip-house if any. From 'Number One' to 'Medicine Man' to my favorite track 'Hideaway' this CD does not get any better.

I have to agree with the first reviewer that there is a PRINCE-ISH to most of the songs, but, if he was making this good music now in days, the story will be other., in fact... I though I had all of my favorite CD's for 2002, but belive me... I was missing this one!!!

Trevor Jackson's production work as Playgroup strikes a difficult balance - fun, clever music with substance. In the dozen or so tracks on this album (depending on which version you buy), Jackson visits all sorts of dance and pop styles. There are some instrumental tracks throughout, but it's the vocal tracks that really stand out. Again, Jackson gets a wide range of styles from his vocalists from straightforward RnB on the first track, to breathy, erotic moaning on "Make It Happen", to the abrasive delivery of Kathleen Hanna on "Bring It On". Oh - and a bizarre cameo by Peaches on "Fourth Sex Baby", which appears only on the deluxe two-disc edition.

Putting together an album like this could be a straightforward affair with mediocre results, but instead, Jackson gives these tracks real personality, for the most part anyway. The few instrumental tracks are pretty bland and should have been discarded. Fortunately, the other tracks are strong enough to make up for it. Jackson gives each a unique character, which makes this CD incredibly listenable. There's variety, but it's cohesive with a somewhat logical progression from track one until the end. As I said, the instrumental tracks are definite low points and you'll probably skip them anyway, but the rest are just great.

If Jackson wasn't such a smart producer, some of these tunes could come off as cheesy. "Front 2 Back" has some of the dumbest, most brain-dead lyrics imaginable, but it's in the way that Jackson mixes the generic requirements so skillfully while adding his own personality that makes it work.

Other than a few weak tracks, my major complain (and it's not really all that important to most people) is the mix. I have no idea how Jackson arrived at this mix, but it sounds terrible. The bass is extremely heavy and muddy throughout, making this nearly unlistenable in some systems. I've tried the CD in many many systems, including my reference headphones which tend to make anything sound amazing, but this CD just sounds bad. It feels like the kick drum and bass synths/guitar are constantly fighting for space in the mix, with neither coming out on top. I realize that this may not be a huge deal for some, but for those who care, it will reduce listening pleasure by one or two notches. When we've got producers like Speedy J mixing all sorts of strange bass sounds together with depth and clarity, it's surprising that Jackson couldn't do a better job with bass and kick drums.

Those issues aside, this is an excellent CD and a fairly unique one at that. I would highly encourage you to buy the deluxe double-disc edition for a number of reasons. It has an extra song featuring Peaches, plus a disc of remixes. The biggest reason to buy it is for the Black Strobe remix of "Number One". It's one of those rare remixes that actually improves the original, and is probably my favorite remix of all time.

The issues of sound quality and the two mediocre tracks keep this album from being the masterpiece it could have been. That is, however, no reason not to buy this. I recommend it to any fan of electronic music of any style.

this is the best electronik album i've ever listen ! all the tracks are different and excellent this is the album that every clubber should know or get.
number one is ne of the best tracks and the video is wonderful !

This CD is what music would sound like if Prince was still recording. What's that?.....He is? Ooops.....sorry...Prince.
Definately a jammin' disc, it's got it all and is party ready.
The only reason this got 4 stars, is because is anything really worth 5?

Well, it's certainly the best pary CD I've ever had the good fortune to come across. It's perfect for Friday afternoon drives, parties, listening to on the way back from the dentist after being told you don't have any cavities and that you're a hygiene god... Come to think of it, there really isn't ever a time NOT to play this CD. You should be listening to it right now. What's the matter with you?

I have to say it's taken me an awful long time to warm to this c.d. It received unbelievably good reviews from not only Britain's dance music press but also crossed over into the rock press-so I was expecting something a bit more instantly likeable here. Maybe it's because it isn't a truly commercial album-it seems that maybe Playgroup were not preoccupied with the big single as a way to sell this album by the truckload. After a while I have grown to really like this c.d. and have begun to appreciate that maybe the group were trying to create and develop a new(ish) sound on this c.d. I feel they have managed to this with great style and loads of panache. I mean I've heard nothing like this in the world of dance music in the last few years. Maybe this c.d. can open up a new genre in much the way Massive Attack did with "Blue Lines" or Daft Punk have done recently.

So what is the sound? Well basically (and I know this sounds cheesy) but basically it seems to borrow elements from various styles of dance music from the previous 3 decades. I mean the first few tracks have that overall techno rhythm and sound, but then you must add in distinctive 70's disco guitar and late 80's synths (You know like on Lil Louis' "French Kiss"). The bass lines really throb and smoulder throughout the c.d.-the old adage of the bass line burning through the vinyl really applies here. The guitar riffs are amazing on this c.d. and this is one thing that sets it apart from much of today's dance music. It's modern dance music but using really good session players. So when I read that Edwyn Collins (of Orange Juice and 'Girl Like You' fame) does amazing work here. The great thing is that he just doesn't mimic the Chic and Nile Rodger's sound-he uses a variety of styles. He's given great back up from Roddy Frame(Aztec Camera) on track 1.

Each track seem to have it's own distinctive sound. The opener really seems to borrow from a Rick James, early Prince style funk. Some tracks have heavy ragga beats speeded up just a little-it ends up sounding quite hypnotic. Kathleen Hanna does the guest vocals on track 4 "Bring It On"-it's a really dark sound and her voice is amazingly distinctive in the same way as Curve's Toni Halliday is. Track 6 is very short but it uses a great sample from Scritti Politti's song "Sex". Track 7 has more strange vocal's from Kyra and she sounds like she'd be well at home on a Leftfield track. This one is most defintiely 90's that is until an unusual samba rhythm and brass kicks vaguely in. I have to say the production on this c.d is better then anything I heard last year-you really need to crank the volume up on this c.d. Track 8 has a real late night recovery room chill factor-shimmering piano and horns to a lazy, slow heavy beat. Track 9 is my favourite track on this c.d.-once again the vocals are excellent-they don't seem to use world famous guests but have carefully chosen vocalists with very distinctive styles. This one meanders along(for 9 mins) at mid-tempo with again more dark atmospheric sounds. Track 10 has a really funky edge with this amazing female vocalist called Sola-she sounds really 'vampy'! The last track is terrible though-it's a truly bizarre cover of Paul Simon's "50 Way's To Leave Your Lover" and ranks up there with Massive Attacks version of "Light My Fire" as world's strangest cover!

Playgroup have a very distinctive sound that I'm sure is going to have a profound influence on dance music over the next while. I'd recommend this c.d. so you can see where the origins of any new styles of dance music came from. After 3 months and numerous listens I've now really got into this c.d.!