Customer Reviews

Reflections

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Make no mistake... this CD is PVD and you know it on the first track. "Crush" takes a little bit to start but once the beat kicks in, its unmistakeably PVD. But after that I have problem with this CD. Instead of keeping the energy high, PVD slows it down for "Time of Our Lives". This is totally unecessary when there is a club mix of that song that would keep the energy high. But that may just be me being picky. I agree with some reviewers that the song "That's Life" has no business being on the CD, it adds nothing.

The songs on this CD that truly reflect PVD's unique sound are "Crush", "Reflections", "Nothing But You"(though I prefer PVD's other remixes much more than the album version), "Connected", "Spellbound", & "Kaleidoscope". "Time of Our Lives" is a great song, but the PVD Club mix is the best version of the song..by far.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good CD. It just isn't the PVD sound I was expecting when I bought it. PVD seems to be trying to expand his library of sounds, but in a good way and not in a Oakenfold way. It's more of an artistic journey than his previous albums, such as Out There and Back. And he still throws down massive trance sets like nobody's business, I saw him recently at Glow in DC. So I'm not worried, just do yourself a favor and check out the other remixes of Nothing But You and Time of Our Lives.

I know it's a bit early to be rating an album that I've only had for a day, but I can tell you right now that this is nowhere near the same quality of material as his previous albums: out there and back and 7 ways.
The singles off this album (nothing but you, connected, and time of our lives) have been been played by PVD over the past year at his various sets. "Nothing but you" is an outstanding tune, but has been and was played to death at his various live sets. I really like "Connected," and am still looking for a way to get this tune as my ringer on my cell phone. "Time of our lives" isn't a bad track, but I do prefer the remixed versions.

Paul experiments with some hip-hop. The hip-hop track 9, doesn't go too very well. Paul should've just stuck to his bread and butter, which he happens to be really good at. Track 10 has Paul singing in the background.
He does a lot of experimenting, butmuch of the music comes across as not being inventive and just a recycling of his previous material- heck, some of the exact melodies from out there and back (namely- mix between love from above and columbia) are rephased over and over in track 8.

The best tracks are: crush, time of our lives, nothing but you, and connected.All the rest don't seem a par to these four. Although I have grown quite partial to reflections. What's disappointing is the lack of non-vocal tracks in this album, I'd count maybe 3. It's a sad progression towards vocal trance that I'm seeing, and I didn't like the saturation of vocal trance in this album. The Jan Johnston tracks are good, but don't stand out like OTAB's Tell me Why did.

No killer track like Another Way can be found. Nor, any innovative tracks like Vega or Avenue.

The problem is that the tracks just seem kinda punched together. There's so much variety between the tracks, that it seems much less a danceable album. There are no mixes between tracks, just plain old-cuts, which just sucks. I realize that Paul has sequenced the tracks because it'd be near impossible to mix the tracks with their various beats. I think more than anything, all the Jan Johnston vocal tracks really turned me off from this album. I like "Calling Your Name" and that's it. I've never been able to stand "Project Freefall" or any other song she's done.

This is definitely not an Out There and Back. Don't purchase this album with that anticipation because you will be disappointed. The last track, is "kladeiscope," I think is pretty weak to end off the album. We need something of energy, a "we are alive", I'm hoping that this isn't the start of a sour progression towards mainstream for paul...

Frankly, this album is just disappointing and PVD fans have waited 3 years for this?

Edit: So writing about this album 4 years later. God, it's been a helluva long time. Since then, Paul has released Politics of Dancing 2 and In Between. While I haven't really had a chance to listen to In Between, POD 2 was a musical disappointment relative to the first POD. 4 years ago, PVD fans were hoping that Reflections was a mere blemish in an otherwise noteworthy career. As it turns out, it was a good sign of the things to come. Although thankfully PVD hasn't turned out a hip hop song since Reflections, some of that magic we saw (especially with 7 Ways) seems to have gone.

I just bought this CD, and I can tell you that I've heard better stuff from him than this. It's certainly not the best from PvD, but at least he's trying to experiment with other stuff without going all out like Oakenfold (what happened to him?).

The Good:
-Crush, Reflections, Nothing but You, and Connected.
-It's sure better than what ATB and/or Oakenfold are cranking out right now.

The Bad:
-The bass on "Time of Our Lives" is not that great. The club mix is way better.
-Paul's vocals ("That's Life")
-Too many vocals.

The Ugly:
-"Like a friend." I understand his purpose in making this one, but find another vocalist, please.

Conclusion:
-If you want to buy it, you won't be completely disappointed. But I'd recommend "Global," "Politics of Dancing," or "Out There and Back" instead.

Paul Van Dyk has again proved that he is Master in electronic music. Some people consider his music as Trance but that is not right. In his own words - "I don't create `Trance Music', I really don't like to give my music a name, I don't like to categorize it. If I had to, I'd call it `Electronic Dance Music'. For me, this is my language." (Extract from www.paulvandyk.com)

So therefore, we should not rate this album (Reflections) as " not so good Trance album"! This is actually something you can listen to doing anything. Though it is not a hardcore club album but it does contain certain beats that can move your body. This one is a lot different from `Politics Of Dancing', and `Out There And Back'.

Personally I like this album a lot and believe me this one is much better than his earlier albums. After listening to this album you will realize how PVD had improved a lot in his skills since "45 RPM".

Tracks you will definitely like in this album:
1. Kaleidoscope
2. Homage
3. Crush
4. Nothing But You
5. Spellbound

I still believe he one of the best music producers around and I have this album with me as a proof.

If you like PVD, I don't have to tell you to buy it. But even if you don't, try this one out... cause it's different!

Ok i'll cut to the case,speaking as a true PvD fan i am devasted i have been jilted by a man who i felt would never let all us fans downhalf this CD is classic euphoric PvD while the other half is in all honesty a disaster in experimintation with such horrors as 'Knowledge' showing why PvD should stick to what he is good at. As well as this the album is full of short radio length tracks like 'Time of our lives'and 'Homage' which scream out CHEESEY!. My recomendation is that if u buy this CD burn the tracks you like to MP3 and use an MP3 mixer like Traktor or PCDJ and make ur own mix of the album while adding in a couple of other PvD songs from his B sides then use the original copy of Refelctions as a frisbee or a coffee coaster which is all the album as whole is good for

I don't understand how obtuse people can be about the album 'Relections,' and its subsequent reissues. Folks, don't you get the amazing DJ Paul Van Dyk is TRYING to be different ON PURPOSE??? Have any of you even bothered to read about his efforts for this album on his official website? That's WHY it doesn't sound like "the old Paul Van Dyk." DUH!!! Wake up and accept the fact that sometimes artists get BORED of doing the same tired old thing, day in, night out. Aren't they allowed to experiment, grow, and change?
The tracks on this album, when listened to for what they are, are actually very good. People just need to approach it with OPEN ears, not 'conditioned to expect the same old stuff' ears.
No, this ISN'T the CD for a 'house party.' This CD is meant to be LISTENED TO, not to double as background noise. You guys just don't get it.

Like many other reviewers, I am a HUGE PVD fan and I was disappointed by this CD. I still give it 3 stars because the production values, melodies, and general creative genius of this brilliant composer are present throughout most of the tracks. But I frankly didn't like at least half of it, and the only track that stands out to me as pure, blissful PVD trance is the euphoric "Nothing But You."

Most disturbing about the CD is the fact that it is disjointed. I was so thrilled about getting the first CD of all-PVD material since the epic and gorgeous "Out There and Back", it was a HUGE letdown to hear pop tunes mixed in with various other genres. Most rock albums flow better than this. His other CD's take you on a deep and lush journey, never letting you down, but this one will have you skipping tracks to get to the ones you like most because they don't work together well at all. I felt this same disappointment when I eagerly listened to Armin Van Buuren's new CD of all-original material, "76." In fact this review could apply just as well to both CD's. My 2 favorite trance DJ's just put out two very big disappointments. On the other hand, my close friend Stephanie, who worships PVD like a god (well, so do I) loves most of this CD so it's a tough call to say who will or won't like it. You're rolling the dice, that's all I can say for sure.

If you want some kick-ass trance in the classic PVD style, check out the new offerings from Ferry Corsten (Mixed Live) and Gatecrasher's Resident Transmission #2. Both of these are epic, hard-driving, melodic but not cheesy, in the best tradition of PVD.

I'm a huge PvD fan and have been listening for years now. I just saw him about a month ago and thank God he didn't sound like this album sounds, minus the nice touch "Time of our lives provides." When I heard him live I ran out and bought this CD expecting great things out of it. To tell you the truth I would have bought the CD anyway even if I hadn't just heard him, because you are supposed to have confidence in DJ's like PvD to produce nothing but the best. It saddens me to listen to this disc, but I feel this is just a stumbling block and that he is the type of person that won't be affected by these poor reviews, he'll always be near the top for as long as he spins. However, do not let this album discourage you from seeing him in person because he is nothing shy of brilliant. Also for a little down lo if you want one of the better trance CDs of the current times I am currently listening to Armin Van Buuren's new disc "Universal Religion" as I write this. It is one contiuous mix and was mixed live in one take. Very smooth stuff.

Paul Van Dyk is back on the scene with "Reflections." This is a CD that you can sit back and listen to at anytime, anywhere. The tracks are a change from "Out There and Back." You have many vocals, male and female, and slower pace that picks up and goes down often in this cd. 'Crush' starts you off. If you like it, you will like the rest of the cd. It lets you know what the vocals will be like and you will see how the pace changes. The vocals are not random words. Some, like in 'Like a Friend' and 'Homage' makes you think. If you have a hard time following the vocals like in 'Like a Friend,' the cover book has the words. The one track that will throw you is 'Knowledge.' This is a suprising good dance/rap song. A great dance beat but, like with many rap songs, you have some cursing. Some, like me, may not care for this track and chose to skip it which hurts the flow of "Reflections," it being a almost non-stop CD. That's something you may want to take into consideration, but as I said, it is an excellent cd. Welcome back PVD!

PVD is matured a lot in this three years, "out there and back" was intended simply to make you move and feel positive energy, "reflections" goes further and wants you to think about PVD not only as a superclub dj but also as an human being. This album contains his point of view on all the most important things in life. I think that the major problem is that not all PVD's fans are enough mature.
It's evident that other reviewers where expecting "out there and back part 2", more club music with energy and not so many problems. This is not the work of a dj, it's the work of a deep thinking man, that's why is not mixed; this is the work of a man with many things to tell , that's why there are so many vocals. Stop complaining about stupid things and try to understand PVD's mind.
He's not only a dj, he is a true artist. Listen, understand, reflect...then share your opinion.