Customer Reviews

United Djs of America 19: John Kelley

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

 

 

United DJs of America/ Vol. 19 keeps the energy flowing from start to finish as it takes you on a funky tribal/ tech-house journey. It's one of the better mixes in the series and is comparable to the classic Josh Wink, Doc Martin, & Frankie Bones volumes. It's awesome how John Kelley has grown and evolved as a DJ over the years. I can't understand why he's not a bigger name DJ than he his, like John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, Timo Maas, & others. He definitely deserves to be because he's a much better DJ than most of them. If you like this style of house than give this CD a listen, you won't be disappointed.

If I had to describe John Kelley's sound, it'd be driving tribal-tech - not that I want to spout a new genre tag or anything. Faster than house, funky without being frenetic and filled with energy, his annual music mix always makes for one of the year's better releases; check the first Highdesertsoundsystem for a peak performance.

On United DJs of America Volume 19 the slick Timo Maas-style techno of 2000's Highdesertsoundsystem 2 gives way to the now en vogue progressivey/tribal/house finding a pleasant meeting ground for numerous DJs. Appropriate then that stalwarts of that sound Peace Division lead off with the two opening tracks, and fortunate that the pounding, rhythmic "Beat of a Drum" still moves despite being about worn out. Drumscape, a Steve Lawler fav, further add some grit with their powerful "Peptide Bass."

Tastes may quibble in the middle, when four straight hard-loops tracks hammer the set home, but the main fault with United 19 lies in the timing. Late out the gate, many of these tunes have been commercially available for some time. Hatrais "Spaced Invader" (some quick calculations here) now appears on 245,481 albums in the past year alone. Still recommended - as a mix it's undoubtedly worthy - but about six months past the buzzworthy date. 3.5 stars

John Kelley continues to evolve and push out challenging yet accessible undergound sounds. This CD has more of a live element to it in terms of how the mixes build up energy. Deep, dark, funky, hard, yet infinitely danceable and listenable. Coming to you direct...One of the best mix albums of 2001. Blows most other more touted DJs away and certainly a nice fresh and different addition to the United DJs of America series.