Customer Reviews

Thrive Mix 3 : Mixed by DJ Skribble and Vic Latino

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

 

 

If you are looking for a great album to work out to, to listen before heading out to the club, or to throw on at a party, this is the perfect CD for you. And if you are a fan of both dance and rhythmic pop music like me, then you'll definitely fall in love with this CD.

I've been a long time buyer of the Ultra Dance series, and I also now have all three ThriveMix CD's in my collection. Overall, I have to say that the ThriveMix discs have stronger tracklists (thrivemix 2 had near identical pop hits as the ultra weekend 2 CD, but I felt that the more `underground' dance songs on thrivemix 2 were stronger and mixed much more nicely), and the thrivemix CDs are sequenced and mixed better. Thank god that Ultra Dance 08 and thrivemix 3 don't have near identical tracklists like thrivemix2 and ultra weekend 2 did. I own Ultra Dance 08 and I have to say that thrivemix 3 has logged in more time in my stereo- it's just a much stronger CD in terms of track selection, sequencing and flow.

My favorite tracks on ThriveMix03 are Cassie, Nelly Furtado, Jewel, September, Brooke Hogan, Basement Jaxx, Gabriel & Dresden, Supafly, Inc., Fatboy Slim, and Oakenfold. I had never heard those remixes of Cassie, Nelly Furtado, Brooke Hogan, and Fatboy Slim before...great choices. The rest of the songs I hadn't heard period, but I am so glad to discover them. That Gabriel & Dresden track is awesome, and I love the Phil Collins sample in Supafly,Inc.

On a side note: others here have complained that Disc 1 isn't mixed well, and I have to say that as a person who mixes himself, it is because there are so many pop/rock hits that have been included on disc one, and these songs can be impossible to mix together seamlessly like you can with two more traditional dance songs (like Tali & Meth and Reina on Disc 2).

Overall, just a really fun CD all the way through and a superior album compared to Ultra Dance 08

Again releasing simultaneously with the similar series from Ultra Dance, this disc contains a couple of duplicate tracks and alternate mixes from Ultra Dance 8, and also aims for a more mainstream audience than that disc, with many remixes of big artists and very commercial house, trance and europop sounds. The great thing about this compilation is the large number of hard-to-find remixes of big hits. The breakdown:

CD1:

1. Me & You (4:25) ( a straightforward dance mix of the Cassie hit, and a welcome remix considering there were no commercial dance mixes released on CD)

2. ain't no other man (3:24) (same mix that is on Ultra Dance 8, but only half the length. With so many great mixes of this song floating around, they should have opted for a different mix)

3. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom (3:21) (same mix, same length on Ultra Dance 8, but it is a winner, giving this alternative pop rock band's song a thumping electro beat)

4. Maneater (HOT electro vibe mix of this awesome Nelly Furtado track that really didn't get any commercial radio play)

5. What You Waiting For (7:17) (this song is like 2 years old. Why not a remix of Wind It Up? This sounds almost identical to LuCont's remix of the Killers "When You Were Young".)

6. Only One Too (5:16) (this amazing Jewel track was all but ignored. The Lenny B mix is one of the best mixes from the original CD single)

7. Turn it Up (4:40) (The Oakenfold mix pales in comparison to the incredible DJ Dan mix from the CD single--but the bigger remixer name wins out on this commercial release. Too bad.)

8. Satellites (4:55) (loved this commercial electro house track when it first came out. A little overplayed, but this is a great mix)

9. What a feeling (4:42) (big hit, worthy of the popularity. It runs about a minute longer on Ultra Dance 8)

10. SOS (5:00) (SMART move. The Chris Cox dance mix is on Ultra Dance 8, so they've given us the Jason Nevins mix here, which feels more like the thumping original mix, with the stomping Softcell samples way up front)

11. About Us (6:13) (This fantastic peak hour mix is a whopping 6 minutes long!)

12. I go crazy ( bizarre follow up to the incredible Brooke Hogan remix--this commercial track is positioned in the exact same slot on Ultra Dance 8--last track, disc 1. It's slightly longer on that disc)

CD2:

1. Hush Boy (3:56) (this basement jaxx song is just--ANNOYING. Are they trying to be Black Eyed Peas????)

2. Dangerous Power (7:02) (everything Cicada remixes turns to gold, beautifully capturing the more danceable retro new wave sounds of bands like U2. So glad to discover another gem from them that runs 7 minutes)

3. moving too fast (3:59) (female vocal and rasta male vocal over a sample from Phil Collins "another day in Paradise." Catchy house track)

4. Right Here Right now (5:20) (Redanka did a great remix of U2's Vertigo, and this has the same feel, so it would have been better sequenced after track 2's Cicade remix.)

5. Gone (5:09) (This is what Ralphi Rosario does best. Peak hour vocal anthems with a tribal edge--considering it's pretty much the only song on here with that sound is a clear sign that this style of music is sort of...over.)

6. Not Over (4:36) (Male vocal with an alternative feel, another one that should have been bunched together with the Cicada track!)

7. I Want More (5:33) (this trancy mix absolutely sucks all the attitude out of this awesome diva anthem)

8. Thinking of you (5:27) (more trance. The female vocals work better with this one, but it's another sound that's showing its age)

9. On My Own (5:28) (standard powerhouse circuit sound for Reina--a remix of one of the ballads from her CD)

10. Look on the Floor (5:24) (trancy mix from the 80s female trio that is now a duo. Not much of the vocal used here)

11. Calling (4:21) (more floaty trance with female vocal. Not very original)

12. Miracle (4:12) (the ultimate way to bury this pretty good compilation fast, but for some reason, the general public loves this cascada europop noise.)

I am giving it three stars, not because it is a bad mix, the mixing is very good however based on what I usually buy I was a little disappointed. The first CD I listened to just once and will be dated very fast as you know the originals of the songs and well I was tired of hearing the pop versions anyway. The second cd is the better one in my opinion. I did not care too much for the opening tracks but it eventually gets into a nice groove but with only 12 tracks I was left wanting for more. A decent purchase for those getting into this type of music but I have strayed away from the heavy vocal tracks as I am a passive listener (in my car, on airplanes, waiting in the bank, etc) and have been spoiled on Tiesto and Armin. I am not regretting this purchase but it would not be on heavy rotation on my ipod or CD player.

Ultra Records used to be my pinnacle of Dance Music. I found myself always waiting for the next Ultra Weekend and Ultra Dance. Since ThriveDance has come to the table I am excited to say I have found a new love! ThriveMix03 was the best dance compilation I've heard in a long time. As I am a huge fan of POP music I was excited to see my favorite artists mixed with underground artists like Peter Lutz and September. Since my first Thrive purchase of ThriveMix03, I have since gone out to purchase the rest of the ThriveMix catalog and I have to say I am yet to be disappointed. Good Work Thrive! I am ready and waiting for your next release!!!!