Customer Reviews

Walking on Pennsylvania Avenue

This double-CD compilation of Washington D.C. artists gets an A for awesome and an E for eclectic. It plays like a schizophrenic on barbiturates, like a toadstool on ecstasy.

Many of the tracks are remixes; some are meltdown/remold sessions of bands' offerings and some are your average re-workings of a house track. Again, all of the remixers and original artists are from D.C. Well, the old proverb that when you work with less, you come out with more may be true.

WOPA manages to articulate house, jungle, and downtempo sounds with startling fluidity throughout. The fusion is accomplished through the consistently phat basslines, well-produced horns, and funky beats that drive the remixes. Original tracks from the techno phenoms Saeed & Palash and house mainstay Deep Dish provide the backbone of the `upbeat' disk. The most notable feature of this, Open Source Music's first offering, is the potential diversity of audience. The depth of aural stimulation is really quite an accomplishment - and truly more surprising is the integrity maintained by the OSM remixers regarding their work with the bands' material. Since my own personal taste shies from vocals, I prefer the instrumental work, although I have to say that the vocal work is quite well done. Check it out for yourself at

I give the music a 4 out of 5 with a +.5 for the AIDS benefit factor adding up to an overall score of 4.5 in the floor routine. The vault is next...

A label who isn't afraid to get out there and try new things. That is clearly what Open Source Music set out to accomplish with this inspiring 2 CD set, Walking on Pennsylvania Avenue.

By remixing local acts like Babyfat, Chaise Lounge, Blinded Camels and more; by including top acts like Deep Dish, Slant, Saeed & Palash, duo Christopher and Hakim (aka, Tamaka) have stayed true to their mission to deliver a comprehensive slice of DC electronica.

The album is tight and the music is fantastic as much for its quality as for its diversity.

Inside the CD booklet, OSM also describes its partnership with Metro TeenAIDS to help DC youth by promoting AIDS education and awareness. Part of their CD sales are donated to this cause. Bravo!

OSM's newest release is Tamaka's debut, Sundown. Look for it on Amazon.com!

Look up their website for info about the local artists, future releases and soundbites.

For the first time, I've heard music that combines a 21st Century orchestra that pleases the Generation "X"ers & "Y"ers. Absolutely a MUST HAVE!

For the first time, I've heard music that combines a 21st Century orchestra that pleases the Generation "X"ers & "Y"ers. Absolutely a MUST HAVE!

Disc 1 starts off with a mellow and chill track by Babyfat - Walkin' Thru. Before you know it your singing along and the song can't get out of your head. All the tracks on this disc are sweet and smooth. Disc 2 is a little more upbeat. One track in particular stands out: Fragil by Jeremy Lodeon. This song is latin music with a twist. The voice is amazing and the music will make you start moving no matter where you are. If you have a party going on anytime soon, all you need to do is pop this baby in your player and I guarantee you'll be rockin the house all night long.

Finally DC has a CD to be proud of.