The Cosmic Game

Thievery Corporation

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Eighteenth Street
• ASIN: B0006ZXJ3E
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,641 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
There's always been a psychedelic edge to Rob Garza and Eric Hilton's Thievery Corporation project. 2000's Mirror Conspiracy is a downtempo classic precisely because of its druggy expansiveness; sober listeners and saucer-eyed trippers alike could find common ground. Similarly esoteric and nocturnal, The Cosmic Game floats around the room on a wave of mystic beats and guest vocals from Perry Farrell, The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, and David Byrne. Garza and Hilton are less devoted to non-electronic sources here than they were on The Richest Man in Babylon or The Outernational Sound, though their fascination with dub rhythms and world music remains intact. A fair amount of armchair travel is involved as you go from the late, late-night, beach-club-in-Jamaica sound of "Amerimacka," to the Brazilian percussion of "Ambicion Eterna" and "Pela Janela." But more than anything, the record feels like a return to the duo's own ethereal sonic roots. It's a nice blend of their music over the last half-decade for longtime fans, and a hazy glide down the rabbit hole for newcomers. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description
The most fully-realized Thievery set to date, their fourth studio record packs an all-star punch, with cameos by FLAMING LIPS, PERRY FARRELL, DAVID BYRNE, and more of their usually lovely futuristic bossa/lounge/downtempo sound. Check out ThieveryCorporation.com to launch soon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thievery steals my heart., February 22, 2005

By	C. Mclemore (Law School) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album is a bit of a departure from "The Richest Man in Babylon," but I doubt you'll miss the change. The emphasis is back on world beats and smooth electronic sounds. Gone are the haunting vocals of Emiliana Torrini (from Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes), but there are some great appearances by other artists like Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction) and The Flaming Lips. For my money, this album is not as beautiful as previous entries in the Thievery discography, but it is a nice downtempo album that emphasizes the duo's talent at making music and not just making sounds.

If you're looking for a repeat of "The Richest Man in Babylon" you might be initially disappointed, but don't let that deter you from picking this album up. If you're a longtime Thievery fan, then you know what to expect and this album delivers in gold.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars: Grows on you, March 11, 2005

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Thievery Corporation's 2005 release, "Cosmic Game" is one of those albums you gotta play a few times to fully get into. The truth is the duo combine quite a few more elements in here than in previous productions. There's the Middle Eastern and Oriental feels blended in with the classic bossa-based and chillout Thievery element, along with a fair amount of Reggae-based beats. The final mix sounds like Deep Forest-meets-Faithless-meets-Groove Armada, in some way, if that description makes any sense to you.

It's one refreshing album that will make you feel happy. Some of the songs do convey a sense of interstellar trip, so I guess the name was pretty well chosen. By all means, give it a chance. It truly grows on you.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I say THAT'S music!, March 21, 2005

By	foghorn leghorn (Barnyard, USA) - See all my reviews

Indeed, sir, there I was moseyin' out of the Barnyard Starbucks, when I hyear some pulsatin' beats droppin' out of a passing car. But not just yer regular chill beatz: these were drippin' with the very finest world-beat, coolin' down the block. I mean, my caramel latte suddenly became an ICED caramel latte, dig? So when I find out my crew the Thievery Corporation has a new CD out, I done wang-dang-doodled my way over to get me some. And hoo boy! This done hear hit me where I live! Perhaps a bit more poppy than 'Richest Man in Babylon,' but dang if I can't get enough of 'Warning Shots' (which sets the dance floor on fire where I dj), or Perry Farrell's turn on 'Revolution Solution.' TC have a way of turning the people ON to WORLD FLAVA, and I got no problem sayin' that WORLD FLAVA don't taste like chicken! A great CD, no doubt!