Customer Reviews

Synthesis

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

 

 

This album will get mixed reviews because it's difficult to categorize. BT fans will feel at home with the very "BT" feel...(stuttering, vocals, song structure..) DnB DJ RAP fans will be uneasy simply because she is trying something different. There are fine production values, attention to detail, and real attempts to raise her own bar. The rhythm sections are not too shabby at all (bass lines are solid and moving). You will have to forget the 'predictable' DJ RAP and take the album for what it is. A true musician's soul is not tied to a style or category - I'd probably be fine if she puts out a hip-hop album. I see a very bright future for DJ RAP. P.O.: DJ RAP is a fine musician and this album is kind of a departure, a very listenable and enjoyable musical dish. P&L

I love her first record, "Learning Curve." It's one of the few albums I listen to the whole way through. For the most part I'm all over the place because of my Ipod and hard drive.

"Synthesis" is just as good to my ears. I love her music because it bears repeated listenings.

I love this lady's music. Its deep but still fun. It's different without being unlistenable.

Love ya Rap.

DJ Rap's last studio album, Learning Curve, made waves way back in 1999. Though she has put out some great mix albums in the last few years (including Brave New World, Bulletproof and Up All Night), fans have been waiting for a follow-up to LC, and 2010's Synthesis is the result.

First off, you should know that Synthesis has very little of the sound Charissa is known for. Most of the tracks consist of electro-pop selections with alternative mixed in; if you didn't know this was DJ Rap, you'd probably think it was No Doubt circa Return of Saturn! The only tracks that feature any kind of drum-and-bass/breaks are 5, 6 and 10. Note that 6 is "I'm Ready," which is supposed to be the highlight of the album, yet is the second-shortest song at only 2:50 long! I feel cheated by this, especially since the whole album is only 46 minutes long. There couldn't be a longer mix of "I'm Ready"? How about some remixes, or a hidden track, or even including the video for "I'm Ready" on the disc? To put it into perspective, Learning Curve was over an hour long, and none of the songs (outside of "Ordinary Day", which was basically an acoustic bonus track) was less that 4 minutes long.

From all this, you've probably gathered that I don't like this album. Actually, it happens that I enjoy a wide variety of music, and I like the vibe given off by the album as a whole. Like LC, it has sort of a darkness to it, like she's blowing off steam about the ups and downs she's been through in the last few years (though the few cuss words were really out of place and annoying). It's understandable though; Synthesis itself was released prematurely and uploaded onto bootleg sites almost immediately. It's because of this that I decided to pay more for the physical album* to support her, and though it's not up to my expectations, I still feel it was a good purchase.

*Outside of the part holding the disc, the album is held in a plastic slipcover. The insert slides into a flap behind the cover, and has lyrics for all the songs (only one picture of Charissa though...I wanted more!). One thing I found funny was that the "T" in "SYNTHESIS" is missing on the side label, so it says "DJ RAP SYNHESIS" instead.

I have been eagerly anticipating this album since Learning Curve 2 was first speculated upon years ago. Learning Curve is still one of my favorite albums, and the spiritual follow-up, Synthesis, does not disappoint. I think this is her most melodic venture yet, and aside from "Finally Get To You", I enjoy every track on this album. It may not be as break-heavy as LC, but in my opinion, Synthesis IS more consistent. I would have liked to hear some infusion of d&b (since...you know...she IS the queen of d&b), and there is less attitude on this album and more vocal showcasing, not to mention My World and I Just Wanna Feel Good almost...just ALMOST sound like Goldfrapp Supernature-era rip-offs, but it is still one fantastic album in its own way. I truly hope Charissa gets the recognition she deserves because she makes good music to move to.

I purchased my copy from iTunes, which has a brilliant Metasyn remix of "I'm Ready" as a bonus track. My favorite tracks on this album are both the remix and original of the aforementioned track, Catching Bullets, I Wouldn't Change A Thing and My World.

i don't understand how artists such as rap get these albums put out...you tried dance music and well...weren't really all that great at it....so you wanted to act, because you think you're attractive enough or maybe you've always wanted to, okay fair enough. but my problem is with the MUSIC that you then go back to in synthesis!!! it is an album of pop garbage, so typical of music that somehow keeps getting put out recently. there is nothing new, or redeeming here at all, it's a marketing package trying to be a rebirth of something that wasn't great to begin with...so of course it fails...