Scorpio Rising [Enhanced]

Death In Vegas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B00009PJRE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Continuing in the darkly epic vein of 1999’s The Contino Sessions, Death In Vegas’s Scorpio Rising layers psychedelic fuzz and electronic scenery over slow-burning dance-rock. DIV’s DJ duo Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes veer madly between new wave revivalism ("Hands Around My Throat") and straight-up rock remakes ("So You Say You Lost Your Baby"), with shoegazer clamor and goth treacle in the crawlspaces. Like Sessions, the record features high-profile guest vocalists; this time, Oasis’s Liam Gallagher, Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval and former Jam frontman Paul Weller are on hand to juice up the record’s pop-dance hybrid appeal. Gallagher has the most success, putting his scruffy rock god pose to good use on the intensely catchy title track. There’s nothing here that significantly changes the band’s formula, but Scorpio Rising stays interesting and relevant with a jumble of high drama and chaotic influences. --Matthew Cooke

From URB Magazine

After riding out the big-beat backlash by wandering into dark territories on their sophomore effort, 1999’s The Contino Sessions, Richard Fearless’ band of two offers a pleasant surprise on this, their third disc. Instead of a descent into the depths of Fearless’ perma-sunglassed, take-himself-too-seriously persona, the duo, which also includes Tim Holmes, offers a curious but highly enjoyable mix of experimental beats and good old-fashioned guitar rock.Always fond of the occasional axe break, DiV go the whole hog on Scorpio Rising, drafting in proper band leaders like Liam Gallagher (Oasis), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) and even mod hero Paul Weller, growling to good effect on the Gene Vincent cover "So You Say You Lost Your Baby." Gallagher’s cut is probably the standout though, putting brother Noel’s Chemical Brothers efforts to shame as he roars over Fearless’ Beatles-esque backward loops.Together, Scorpio is a startling collection of odd beats and diverse tempos. Mr. Fearless, we salute you.

Simon Hawkins

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hit and miss, October 15, 2003

By 

Levi Stofer "_leon_" (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorpio Rising (Audio CD)

I bought this cd because it has the song "Girls" which was used in the film "Lost In Translation". I found that track to be a lovely mix of soothing voices and modern rock sounds. The rest of the album has moments that are just as good if not better, but it also has moments that don't work well. The collaboration with Liam Gallagher on the title track is cool as well as tracks 6 and 10 which feature a very nice female vocalist who you can't really comprehend lyrically. The opening track "Leather" is an upbeat intro and gets the album going on an engaging start. Track 3 "Hands Around My Throat" kind of ruins it for me though. Not much to that one. Unfortunately, the others I haven't mentioned also fall into that category which makes this a 50% listenable experience. I don't know that I could truly reccommend this unless you blow money on music frequently. Nothing amazing on this disc.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars identity crisis, September 29, 2005

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scorpio Rising (Audio CD)

i guess Death In Vegas have a few famous pals and these pals were gracious enough to lend their vocals to some of these songs. the basic mood here is dark rock music with a danceable edge. or perhaps the other way around. but there's alot of shifts in moods and atmosphere. the opening track kinda reminds me of some of those 4AD bands like Swallow or maybe Ultra Vivid Scene, with it's distorted bass and cool breathy female background vocals. a pretty good way to start the record. but as the album continues, there seems to be a lack of focus. this record doesn't really grab me as a whole; even though there are some good songs on it. one feeling i get is that i am never really getting to know Death In Vegas for who they are. it's like all their songs were specifically written for their special guests. the mellow acoustic numbers go to Hope Sandoval, the electro groove numbers go to the more throaty singers, etc. it seems a little too safe and in the box. but like i said, there are some nice moments. Scorpio Rising is a fairly enjoyable album, just not an essential one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great (dare I say it) chill-out music..., April 15, 2006

By 

Nicky P - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorpio Rising (Audio CD)

Death In Vegas' "Scorpio Rising" is a delicious mix of slow burning rock, ice cold electro and hippy mantras. Some would be familiar with "Girls", a slow burning rock fuzz track with dreamy vocals (included in the Lost in Translation OST), others would know the Liam Gallagher - Scorpio Rising track (not to dissimilar with Liam's previous collaborations with the Chemical Brothers) - so so catchy. Others would know the bitter icy track of "Hands Around My Throat" - where Death in Vegas use the electroclash sounds to brilliant effect (my favourite track).

Death in Vegas step in and out of various musical styles with the slightest of ease throughout Scorpio Rising. This is the sort of CD that is brilliant for dinner parties and such. Cool, modern and sexy.

One small blip on the CD is the misjudged "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" with Paul Weller - a out of place rock tune which just grates against the smoothness of the rest of the CD.

Overall - if you like (dare I say it) "chill-out" music - then you will probably like this.