927. Since I Left You

Since I Left You
The Avalanches
2000

Tracks

1. Since I Left You
2. Stay Another Season
3. Radio
4. Two Hearts In 3/4 Time
5. Avalanche Rock
6. Flight Tonight
7. Close To You
8. Diners Only
9. A Different Feeling
10. Electricity
11. Tonight
12. Pablo's Cruise
13. Frontier Psychiatrist
14. Etoh
15. Summer Crane
16. Little Journey
17. Live At Dominoes
18. Extra Kings

So this is apparently an example of plunderphonics, which is a genre of music constructed through sampling and remixing. Which would be much more interesting in a club setting, but we must reconcile ourselves with the fact that it's apocalypse now. 

But ahem, moving onto the album. It was impressive the range of sampling that took place, but I still wasn't blown away. I guess any kind of collage album is going to suffer from a lack of cohesion. 

Still pretty good, but perhaps not greater than the sum of its parts.

RATING: 3/5

659. Club Classic Vol. 1

Club Classic Vol. 1
Soul II Soul
1989

Tracks
1. Keep on Movin'
2. Fairplay
3. Holdin' on Bambeleda
4. Feeling Free
5. African Dance
6. Dance
7. Feel Free
8. Happiness
9. Back to Life
10. Jazzie's Groove

This was a fabulous blend of genres and proves that dance music doesn't have to be electronica that can only be enjoyed with copious amounts of drugs. This was a mix of funk, R & B, rap, reggae, dance, and it worked well.

I particularly enjoyed the different vocals on this album, and it was interesting getting an acapella track. I usually associate acapella with groups of white women named the "Pitch Slaps" or something else equally cringey, but this was actually really cool.

So a solid entry, even if I am eager to be finished with the 80s.

RATING: 4/5

15. Dance Mania

Dance Mania
Tito Puente
1958

Amanda: This was very different than the other music we have listened to so far.  It is the kind of music that you tango or mumba to.  I, of course, can't do either (in high school gym class once I was pulled aside by the gym teacher because I couldn't spin).  Still, I enjoyed listening to this album, and if I had been wearing a puffy skirt, I would have probably tried to dance.

I liked this a lot better than some of the crap we have listened to lately.  Still, not my favorite genre nor will you find these tracks on my iPod.

RATING:

Brie: This is Tito Puente's best selling album. Dance Mania, Vol. 1 is comprised completely of, what else, dance music. Puente was a Puerto Rican-American, which shows on this album. You can also hear Afro-Cuban beats, and jazz styles.

I agree that this is better than a lot of the music we have been reviewing lately. The first track, "El Cayuco", made me want to have a dinner party. I found that I prefer the all instrumental tracks to the ones that have vocals on them. I just found the voice a bit annoying. Basically, all of the songs are fun to dance to, and that is as far into a review I can currently go. I cannot do the mambo, but maybe if I could I would have much more intelligent things to say about this. I liked it, but it's not my favorite.

RATING: