Customer Reviews

State of Trance 2004

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

And...the award for the best trance album goes to ...Armin Van Buuren!...Incredible!This is without a doubt one of the best trance cd's to ever come out.This is one solid epic mix that flows perfectly together.This one will leave you in a tranced out state and carry your mind off into outerspace.Disc 1 is a little better than 2 in my opinion,so I give 1 a 5 star rating and 2,a 3 star.AVB is one of the world's greatest dj's and if you like this one,pick up "Universal Religion 04'"along with his latest "A State of Trance 05'" for it is essential to any trance or dance lover.

Trance music is meant to be euphoric, chilling, emotional, upbeat and inspirational. Only mastered DJs can offer a perfect compilation or a live DJ set in the clubs - whether you want it hard, soft, or blended ... Armin van Buuren is no doubt an expert with trance. This album reflects who Armin van Buuren is as a producer, DJ, remixer, and a person in general. Anyone who has tuned into his radio show, 'State of Trance' on ID&T or seen him in a club, this CD is a perfect representation. Each tune perfectly compliments the other forcing you to go on an emotional roller coaster of sorts ... up and down. There are are plenty of euphoric trance tunes and beautiful chilled but warm trance productions. You will not find enormous trance anthems that are easily recognized by all electronica lovers in the world; however, each tune defines how trance is meant to be. However, some of the mixing from tune to tune is not perfect and there ought to be a few more powerful vocal tunes. Do not get me wrong, "Velvet Morning" and "Burned With Desire" are amazing tracks; although, a few more vocal tunes like "Holding onto Nothing" by Agnelli & Nelson or other great vocal tunes by Jan Johnston and others would fit so well and bump this CD to 5 or more stars.

However, if you are a fan of trance, Armin van Buuren or interested in a CD that provides both of best worlds - chilled and upbeat ... this one is one of a kind.

I'm not kidding when I say this CD will affect you emotionally. This CD is artistic, it is deep, it is melancholy, it is euphoric. It is angelic. This album has so many highlights that it makes Tara Reid's hair look real. "Naked Angel", "Escape (Phynn Rmx)", "Satellite (A&B Rmx)", "Sahara", and "Rise" are the best representatives of the Epic Trance genre. This CD will change your life. It is a must have for any prospective DJ, fan of the genre, or anyone with a lost love...or anyone with a love, for that matter.

I bought this CD in mid Summer, still listen to it sometimes, but like the title, it can get a little monotonous at the beginning and I was kind of let down that he threw the aalto remix of velvet morning out there, I love micro de govia's remix. I would truly rate this CD 4 1/2 stars if they had that option. In my opinion when you get to perpertuous dreamer the CD emanates that state of trance, all building up to burned with desire, and from oceanlab's satellite to the track I mentioned is true pure trance mixing.
The CD really is worth buying and should be in every trance lovers collection, don't let the rating fool you, I just didn't feel it was quite up to deserving of 5 stars.

Armin Van buuren has compiled and mixed probably the best trance compilation of 2004. It is driving, melodic, uplifting, it's got all the good elements of euro-trance music. But one problem with Armin is that he's still very trancey, his sound is still too "sweet" and hasn't changed much since the last few years. As a result, repeated listening to this compilation tends to get boring unlike Tiesto's Nyana. Euro-trance DJs need to experiment with other genres of electronic/dance music in order to keep it's future alive. Tiesto is experimenting with techno, Marco V with much harder sounds, but Armin is still the same. Although it's good to see Armin play some melodic progressive house tunes in the starting of CD 2. Maybe he's trying to experiment with progressive house.

I've read some of the reviews posted and I have to say it seems many of the reviewers aren't paying attention to this mix as well as what's being played by dj's even today, months after this mix was released.

This cd set is packed with tunes that dj's are still spinning today and producers are still remixing. Riley & Durrant just recently released their remix of "Burned With Desire", There's so many remixes of "Oceanlab - Satellite", I couldn't even begin to list them all. "Solid Globe - Sahara" will forever be a classic. This is a great mix cd for the beginning fundamental trance listener. It's packed with the biggest trance tracks of early 2004 and late 2003.

One person mentioned that the mix was "monotonous and repetitive". Take "Satellite" and "Burned With Desire" for example. The only thing similar about those 2 tracks is the fact that Justine Suissa did the vocals on both tracks.

If you're just getting into trance or have been listening for a while and enjoy armin's mixes. Get this cd for your collection. You'll enjoy it.

Tune into ETS-Global on thursdays at 2pm EST or 7pm GMT to hear Armin's live "A State Of Trance" shows. Great way to hear the newest tunes set for release.

Van Buuren compiles what may be the best order of progressive tracks for 2004. By buying this album, you get a taste of everything thats being played at clubs from Ibiza to the famous Gatecrasher; yet you don't feel like your at a club when you hear this, it just feels like your supposed to listen. The first 3 tracks are mixed together so seamlessly it almost sounds like it will go on forever. Any Dj who hears this can truly appreciate it.

Armin is a avid spinner of Solarstone on his mixes, and he leaves no room for error as track 3 is the highlight of the first CD. You get also a great variety of European dance hits with Oceanlab, and Terry Bones' soon to be classic Introspection.

There are a lot of recognizable tunes which were played over in Europe that no one has even heard of in the states. While tiesto, Buuren's former mentor, is going more towards heavy trance/house cheese, Van Buuren is staying true to his trance roots with a great chill progressive mix. Anyone melodic/vocal dance listener can appreciate what he has brought to the table, and this is definately no exception to any of his other mixes.

What gets me is the low amount of support for this album. Anyone who follows trance knows Armin's always been an Ibiza style dj. He starts off slow, and casually ups the intensity later. The songs chosen for this mix are very genre crossing, and even those not interested in dance music (like the ones who think all electronic music is just techno) would draw an ear to hearing what the mix has to offer.

ok, i listened to this set... but i must say it does not come near any of the true underground A State Of Trance radio sessions (each anywhere from 70 min to 2.5 hours) Armin Van Buuren does every Thursday. This is what someone else on here said, a collection of songs, a summary from 2 years. Currently, he is up in the ASOT 170-ish region, i have his sets from 101 up to 155, everything in between. I only reached 149 at this point, from the never ending 80 gigabites of trance i blast daily. I greatly suggest the mass checks out these sets, instead... you all know where they can be picked up if you use your imagination. I cannot get 149 out of my head! ugh, AVB is truly the top DJ out there... TO come up with new sets every week, takes a lot of time effort, and obviously love for this type of music. After Tiesto's energy trance mixes, i would vote for Armin next without a doubt, Ferry Corsten 3rd, George Acosta 4th and Paul Oakenfold 5th. Speaking of AVB, i am going to Detroit tomorrow (Oct 1st 2004) to see him LIVE. Nothing compares to live sets, I am telling you, GO SEE THESE DJ-s LIVE, and BE IN HEAVEN, or get that Mental orgasm that i have reached. Dont forget to have your posters ready and wave it in the air : PUT YOUR HANDS UP, STRAIGHT FROM THE NETHERLANDS, ARMIN VAN BUREEEEEEEEEEn..... (hence its a saying before every ASOT episode starts)

Hi guys,
The ASOT 2004 compilation received the award for the BEST COMPILATION CD for the 2004. This is a proove that the CD have a lot of quality. You just have to forget about commercial stuff you will do not find the same things of this CD. And be aware that the tracks have a style of DEEP TRANCE, and sometimes you dont know if the track have change or not, but this is real cool when you put the CD, seat down, relax, and let the trance takes you.

B.O.Y.M. (But Open Your Mind)
Hildely

This is a different trance album than some may expect. It doesn't have the huge pounding trance anthems every 4 or 5 songs, but it does have one the coolest almost underwater feels to it. You slide in and out of every song. The track selection is excellent and Armin does a good job of layering the songs so every listen is a new experience. I am a big fan of Tiesto and George Acosta but i have had the best luck in consistency with Armin Van Buuren releases in terms of feeling the urge to listen to them over again. If you like this check out Markus Schulz Miami '05. Very similar feel.