Customer Reviews

Twilo V.1: Junior Vazquez

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Egomania strikes again as this once talented producer is now more like a chihuahua biting at one's ankles in desperate need of attention. Donald needs to hang it up, as he's a mere fraction of his former self, lost on a blind date with Tina that's obviously taken him down the wrong path of his once illustrious career. Every track on here is either his own latest cheese-ball "house" remix of various tired artists or they're his bastardized version of otherwise decent tunes (e.g. Dubtribe's "Equitoreal" at a speed only a k-hole victim would appreciate, and only a couple minutes of Kult of Krameria's "Egocentrik").

Pity as I was really hoping this disc would reflect a true live at Twilo feel, or at the very least show some effort and better selection and overall programming on the part of Jr.

Readers of the reviews on this site should be advised that people tend to be a bit fanatical about Junior (perhaps myself included). That works both ways: some people will be tempted to say his CD is good no matter what's on it; others may have followed his career from Soundfactory days or earlier, and may be unable to get over the fact that his sound has changed.

People who go to hear him at Twilo every single week should not expect this CD to be identical to hearing him live -- given the fact that he spins for 12 hours or longer at a time and has the machinery of lights, smoke, and shirtless boys at his back, this would be an unreasonable standard despite the promise of the CD title. I do think that this project comes VASTLY closer to that goal than most CDs in the same format, including Junior's own previous releases; and this release has the additional merit of containing several tracks that are in current club play and/or are available here for the first time on CD.

If I could change one thing, I would make CD1 a little less vocal oriented, since his live sets do include a large amount of nonvocal house, and since some of that music is vastly more difficult to find on CD. But that criticism is not worth a deduction from his well-deserved 5-star rating: CD2 builds to a finale that has to be heard to be "Believed."

As some who first heard Junior in the earlier 90's at the original Sound Factory all the way through to his brief stint at the Palladium I can definitely attest to the fact that he has given way to the commercial techno music that is taking over the New York club scene. Junior has always been able to move a crowd with his soulfoul vocals as well as with his hard banjee house, and let's not forget his flair for the dramatic. But it is obvious with this CD that Junior has either lost the drive to be one of the worlds house music pioneers or he has just simply sold out to the commercial wave of bland straight forward hard techno. Not very hard to play.

Junior isn't the god all his disciples claim he is. But he is a competent DJ - which is why I bought this album just like I did the other two.

The first half of Disc 1 is good. Then towards the end it gets a bit too tribal for my taste. An occasional tribal track is OK - but he has like 4 in a row and it gets to be too "pots and pans."

The second disc is lots of whining-diva [stuff]. And some of them really get annoying. Though Nomad's "With You" is a great track.

Overall - I wish there were more variety on this disc. Some trance would be nice, but Junior doesn't usually play alot of that. So I can't blame him for not including much. ....

I found that while junior keeps me jamin' at twilo weekly, the cd did not keep my attention at all.There is no doubt about junior's talents when it comes to inventing new beats,however the vocals part of the cd set was lacking as his vocals usually are.The vocals should be left to victor c. and peter r.Junior should stick to what he does best.Twilo saturday nights.That is where i find him to be successful.I did not enjoy his last attempt at a cd either.

OK, I will skip the "Junior is the best" part, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEED TO ARGUE ABOUT IT ANYMORE TODAY...And those who disagree, they need to go and get some Ministry of bad sound to quench their thirst.

This double album is a blessing, it provides everything we need today...Energy, harmony, fantasy and energy again. It proves that the Drama queen who created a whole universe of sound, is larger than any ordinary DJ, Junior is aging to his best,hE is like french wine...

If your a fan, Let yourself go to each little detail, every little sound is made of layers and layers of creativity and inspiration.The opening is for those who know YMO, Yellow Magic Orchestra from Japan- an ex band with R. SAKAMOTO- remastered with the Midas touch, the rest flows naturally...

The second CD, demostrates that Vasquez Production is going to work like HELL. I am strong is the proof. Then the closing, it is the apogee of Drama and everything we expect from Junior, Vernessa Mitchell is blended softly between two layers of timeless anthems, the first being Moving up, and the last but not least Jocelyn Brown delivering the most beautiful message of faith and self respect.

Not to mention about Byron Stingly song in the middle of CD 2, a pure art piece written by Monsieur Stevie WONDER, programmed by Danny, yes the one, and mixed-as if this was not enough- by Junior himself...So please, those who did not see these subtle small things, let them visit Twilo on Friday, because they deserve it.Praise the DJ.

Well..I expected a lot more out of this cd then what i got. If you want to compare this cd as actually being at twilo and hearing junior spin...DON'T. I expected a little more of a twilo experience to be on this cd. If you're looking for a cd with all vocals and weak beats..then this is your choice. But if your looking for deep house and trance.. look elsewhere. The first two song on the first cd make it seem that this is a good cd, but unofortunately, it goes all downhill from there. And the second cd.....ugh. Don't get me wrong, i love junior, but he could have done a lot better.

This is an amazing collection of remixes, and I can't recommend it highly enough! I had never heard of Junior or Twilo before coming across one of the songs playing in a NY clothing shop while I was visiting NY for a week!! I just had to have the CD, and managed to get the details from the clerk... Contrary to many of the other reviewers, I actually prefer CD2 which has more vocals.. If only we could get Junior live over here!

...If I had I would have never bought this album. Its not the house that im looking for. In fact its all techno to me. The only house track, and I skipped a lot cause it could not hold my attention, was "Equilateral" by Dubtribe which could have been mixed better. I had my hopes up on the second DC when I heard "Let The Music Play" but was again let down. Read the other reviews for yourself they pretty much explain it...

This is truly one of the best CD's I have purchased or listened to in the last year. The music resonates deep into you and the vocals are uplifting. It is rare that you come across such flawless mixing of house music with a softer edge that keeps you entranced through both CD's. Definitely a must buy!