Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 226

Alice Deejay ‎– Who Needs Guitars Anyway? album review

Alice Deejay ‎– Who Needs Guitars Anyway? is one of the most futuristic sounding electronic Euro house albums of the 21st century. Because who needs guitars anyway? This is the future where electronic keyboards and synthesizers have replaced musical instruments. The album is a great example of Euro house and Europop from the late 90's/early 00’s. Many Euro house along with Europop albums had incorporated the sounds of Euro house, synth pop, trance, dance, and electronic music. This was typical for popular Europop albums that were released during that time.

The album uses a fusion of manufactured electronic synth pop, upbeat dance-pop oriented lyrics, Euro house, and dance beats over trance soundscapes. If you ignore the repetitive dance-pop oriented lyrics, you will actually enjoy the electronic Euro house sound in the songs on this album. Listening to this album will be a mind-opening trance experience. There is something about trance and Euro house songs that are life-changing. These songs can do numbers on the dance floor or at a lounge. Each song is a guaranteed hit and a banger. Euro house can’t get any better than this. The album is a mind-opening life-changing trance experience that will change your world and how you view things.

Sadly this was the only album from this group of a young Dutch female DJ’s out of The Netherlands. That is because the group decided to call it quits in 2002 after the trance cow had milked out of hits thus cashing in and calling it day. What Alice Deejay left behind was a classic legendary masterpiece of a Euro house album that still gets play to this day.

Alice Deejay’s album was successful as the album stayed at #1 on the Billboard Charts from 1999 to 2002. Nearly each of their singles stayed in the single digits on the Billboard Charts for several months.



Back In My Life is the retro yet futuristic sound upbeat Euro House opener of this album that will make you want to dance and groove on. The song uses retro sounding Atari synths blended in with modern electronically processed beats which have such high energy. Now what stands out about this song are the retro sounding Atari synths, high energy beats, and the clear vocals.

Back In My Life got heavy rotation on the radio and in clubs from 1999 to 2002 in The Netherlands and the United States among other countries but was successful especially in Europe. The song was a smash hit all around the world and is still played in clubs today. Back In My Life hits deeper emotions than any of the other contemporary 90s trance songs out there at that time. This song will bring back those good memories.

The song Back In My Life is about Alice wanting the man she once loved to come back into her life and be by her side. She wants her which she once loved to come back into her life and be by her side because that is where he belongs. That is where she thinks he belong. Alice will never stop or give up. Her love is much too strong. Alice is standing here in the rain crying out her final tears. Calling out his name again. She remembers when her told her he didn't want anybody else but her. Alice is that same girl. That's all he needs to see.



Better Off Alone was the upbeat trance laced Euro house song that did numbers on the dance floor, radio stations, and skating rinks from 1998 to 2002. Better Off Alone ruled the late 90's and early 00’s from the years 1998 to 2003. This song is a great example of Euro house and Europop from the late 90's/early 00’s because it incorporated Euro house, dance-pop, and electronic. This song will definitely make you want to dance.  The song is a mind-opening life-changing trance experience that will change your world and how you view things.

In terms of emotion, this song has a blend of sadness, happiness, uncertainty, and loneliness. The emotions of this song as real as it gets. The song deals with loneliness and desolation in a sense.

Some of you house heads may remember that Better Off Alone was recorded in E Lydian using the E kay as the tonic note. B was not played as a note despite the song being written in B major. The song is set a fast tempo of 137 BPM and is set in common time in 4|4 using four quarter-note beats per measure.

The song was memorable due to its repetitive dance-pop lyrics which were as follows.: “Do you think you're better off alone?/Do you think you're better off alone?/Do you think you're better off alone?/Do you think you're better off alone?/Talk to me, ooh/Talk to me/Talk to me, ooh/Talk to me” Now these words were in that one simple line that said it all. “Do you think you're better off alone?” This made the emotion very real and deep.


Celebrate Our Love is about Alice celebrating her love. She also celebrates her love of music in this song too. This song definitely should have been a single as the Europop sounds and dance beats were used. This is another example of Europop and Euro house from the late 90’s.

The sun is already shining. Alice can see it's gonna be a perfect day. We're gonna party ’till the music fades away. Celebrate our love. Now she knows that we're together in perfect harmony. Peace and love is what we dream of. Forever we'll be free. So we celebrate our love. So come on, let's celebrate!
 

The Lonely One uses trance synths which follow upbeat drum patterns over repetitive pop lyrics. Beautiful, uplifting, motivational, and charismatic are four words that can be used to described this song. Alice teaches us we do not have to be lonely in this lifetime. The song is a mind-opening life-changing trance experience.


The title track Who Needs Guitars Anyway? is a cheerful electronic instrumental which uses synth pop and dance beats. The song serves a wonderful breakbeat tool for DJ’s.


Will I Ever is another one of the group’s song which charted in the single digits on the Billboard Charts despite not being as successful as Better Off Alone or Back In My Life. The song uses an electronic soundscape backed by synths and dance beats which follow a rhythm. Alice wonders if she will fall in love. And if she does, will it be with you? The song explains Alice’s uncertainty of who she wants to fall in love with.

She doesn't dare to let it show. Therefor you will never know what she really feels on the inside. How she lays awake at night. Alice wonders, “Will I ever fall in love? And if I do, will it be with you? Will I ever fall in love? And will you be the one for me?”

Alice guesses it's all in her head. She will be alone instead. Dreaming of a night with someone and all the things they would do.


Elements of Life uses high energy powered dance beats over an electronic Euro house soundscape. The song is a cheerful electronic instrumental which uses synth pop over dance beats. Elements of Life is similar to the title track Who Needs Guitars Anyway?.

Not too many people know this fact but Elements of Life was used in the 2002 short film "The Last Race".  The song was used during the first race when the Acura Integra was racing against that red 5.0 Fox body Mustang.

The song was also used in the 2001 film The Fast and The Furious. Elements of Life appeared during the first race where a Honda Integra GSR competing against Johnny Tran in his RJ de Vera (Honda S2000). The scene where they were racing against each other. Some might not remember that Johnny Tran had supercharged his Honda S2000 prior to the first race.


Fairytales is much different than the other songs as this song uses a much darker sound and is slower in tempo. The song sounds similar to background music you would hear playing those Final Fantasy games. The song has a fantasy vibe.

Here are the lyrics used in this song.

(Divine...fantasy...like a dream...never ends...)
Fairytales are in my head, and in my head they start
To tell you bout the deepest thoughts that live inside my heart


Waiting For Your Love is a sad love driven by that high energy Euro pop sound. The song is driven by high energy powered electronic beats of course. The group manages to use a perfect balance in terms of emotions as the song is loving and sad at the same time.

Alice is waiting for your love. She doesn’t want to loose that feeling. She is laying in her bed crying. Waiting for your love. She asks to be given one more chance. These lyrics are what make this song loving and memorable.: “I’m waiting for your love/Never wanna lose that feeling”

[Bridge]
I'm waiting for your love
Don't wanna loose that feelin'
I'm waiting for your love
Let me hold you in my arms


No More Lies serves as a part 2 to Better Off Alone. The song uses such intense trance synths and Euro pop beats. No More Lies deals how we are living in a world of illusion and dreams. The truth is just an illusion. Why is it so hard to believe that we're living in a world of dreams? The truth is just an illusion. There'll be no more lies. That is if we don't deny what our love means now.


I Can See (See It in Your Eyes) is one of the deeper hypnotic trance songs by the group that uses such deep emotion. You can feel the emotion too as the rhythm progresses.

You can tell there is deep emotion in this song by reading these lyrics.

[Verse 2]
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever makes you cry
Whatever takes to hold you
My dream is still alive
Every time I see you laughin'
Every time you're passin' by
Every time I hear you talkin'
I feel there's something in the sky

[Chorus]
I can see, see it in your eyes
I can feel, yes, it feels so nice
I can tell, my love is strong
Touch me now, you are the one
I can see, see it in your eyes
I can feel, yes, it feels so nice
I can tell, I love you over and over
And over and over and over


Everything Begins With An E is another electronic instrumental that will take you on a musical journey. Trance fans and house fans will definitely love this song. The song uses a melody which follows dance beats. The melody comes back to the final beat during the very end. There are so many emotions you can feel on this song. You can feel a sense of positivity, brightness, new birth, and spiritual uplifting.

Everything Begins With An E sounds similar to a Vengaboys song. That’s because the song uses the same production team which produces songs for the Vengaboys who are Danski & DJ Delmundo. Some of the music used in this recording used on the track Vengaboys - 48 Hours.


Got To Get Away is another one of the fast paced yet darker trance songs on the album.

Alice has got to get away and move on with her life. She was afraid. So she kept her feelings inside. They shared love. Sadly he didn't come back to her. It crushed her heart to know that he is never coming back home. He just left her standing in the rain. Emotions swept away to nothing at all. It will never get the same. Those were the days that she was losing control.

He’s got her burning up. Alice tells him, “I’ve got to let you go.” That is because she is loosing control of herself. Losing control is not good.


Alice Deejay is the techno laced closer of the album which uses thick dark techno synths. The piano is what makes this song dark at times.

4/5****!!

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DJ Jes ‎– High Life EP EP review

DJ Jes ‎– High Life EP is one of the dopest upbeat hard house EP ever! This hard house EP is laced with technological sounds that are too far ahead of this time. Techno synths over dance beats are what you can expect to hear on this release. DJ Jes leans toward the hard house sound on this EP. High Life was way too far ahead of its time when it was released. Almost nothing can hold a candle to this house release at all. Each song is worth listening to and not worth skipping at all.

Tribal house meets hard house and techno on the song Furiously Pumpin. This song uses an incorporation of tribal house beats and dance beats. Just listen to the cymbal kit.

Good Urb uses an intoxicating atomic sound that is seriously good to get high to. The song title says it all of course unsurprisingly. Perfect for an acid trip.

Lethal Injection is fill with that hard house sound with an over-looped vocal sample and intoxicating dance beats. Techno synths over dance beats are what you can expect to hear. You can feel the rush and the buildups as this song progresses.

Speed Ball is an upbeat hard house song laced with techno synths and dance beats. The synths are warped and will make you feel wiggly. The snaps, claps, and kick drum are what make this DJ Jes song infectious and compelling to listen to.

5/5*****!!

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Boo Williams ‎– Summer Love single review

Boo Williams ‎– Summer Love is a rhythmic breathtaking fish deep house single with such fresh drum patterns and polished electronic synths. These songs can do numbers on the dance floor or at a lounge. These are his best songs. This digital single included beautiful melodies of what are 4 of the most emotive tracks from his 2001 album Universal Limits.

Summer Love is an instrumental which uses a combination of fresh drum patterns and polished electronic synths. The sound is sublime and quite good. Now those polished electronic synths are what will make you feel wiggly inside.

Midnight Trance uses a mixture of deep house, dance, and trance. His song will put you into a hypnotic trance whether intoxicated or not.

The Message uses much softer deep house beats over relaxing electronic synths from a keyboard. This song has that laid back lounge vibe and will also put you into a hypnotic trance. This song is something smooth to listen to. The Message explains what music is and the history behind music.

5/5*****!!

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Trinidadian Deep ‎– Deep Love EP EP review

Trinidadian Deep ‎– Deep Love EP is another overlooked electronic EP laced with calming relaxing deep house sounds. Ron Trent did a great job producing each song as always. The music was created out of a dream about love. That is why you have a song such as Sweet Gal on the EP. This EP was released on the Italian label Neroli in 2012 and was issued on 12” vinyl.

Sweet Gal uses such calming shakers and a soft piano that is not sustained. The piano notes also make this song calming. This instrumental is a deep house ensemble. Instruments used on this song are drums, a piano, and shakers.

Mama Yemeya uses a touch of soul with a mature sound. The song uses Afrocentric based sounds as well and is also one of his more amazing spiritual songs. The song is such beautiful work since Ron Trent was the producer. Instruments used on this song are drums, a piano, and shakers.

My Eshu is one of the more garage house based songs on the EP as this song uses more electronic based synths. It’s always good to hear Trinidadian Deep and Ron Trent experiment with different styles and sounds.

5/5*****!!

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Trinidadian Deep ‎– Dem Jump single review

Trinidadian Deep ‎– Dem Jump is known for using such unique production and lighter electronic sounds than what you would hear on your typical electronic single. This single uses a mixture of deep house, garage house, trance, and world music. This single was released on the Italian label Neroli in 2014 and was issued on 12” vinyl.

The title track Dem Jump is known for using such unique production. A mixture of deep house and world music is used. A marimba compromises as the percussion section. Ron Trent did the production.

Eyes Closed uses more trance based sounds with the synths and shakers. This song is quite different than any Trinidadian Deep song or your normal Trinidadian Deep song. One thing is for sure is that this electronic song will put you in a deep trance.

5/5*****!!

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C-Swing - Urban Kinetics EP EP review

C-Swing - Urban Kinetics EP is a unique mellow downtempo hip hop EP filled with breaks and beats which is a perfect tool for DJs. Sadly this EP is quite difficult to find as this release was pressed up as a limited edition. So buy this EP if you can. Boom Bye Bye is a mid tempo jazzy hip hop song backed by a jazzy horn and heavy boom bap beats. The vibe is slow for a mid tempo jazzy hip hop song though. Angel is one of the more calming songs on the EP laced with an electronic trance sound.

3/5***

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Joose - Joose album review

Joose - Joose is your average R&B/Soul album with your typical love songs. While the songs are long and somewhat memorable, the album copies the R&B/Soul theme of using romantic songs all over the place. Which is why this album doesn’t really stand out and is short of something spectacular. Unsurprisingly the group only had one album and this was their last album. Overall the albums average at best.


The song and hit single Forever In Love explores the concept of eternal love.

Each and every night, you wish upon the stars that you will always stay with the one you love. No matter what both of you may go through. Nothing can tear your love apart. You’ll be forever in love. You’ll be like the heavens above for eternity with that person. That love will last forever more.

Holding them close every day and each night for always. To wake and see them in the morning light is how you dreamed it could be. There's no better way.

For as long as the sun shines in their eyes and as long as the stars keep on shining bright, you will want them by your side. You want that person in your life for the rest of your days. You will love them for the rest of your life. Your love will last for eternity. Always.


The song Always is known for its piano instrumental. The chorus follows the piano instrumental. Here this song is about enjoying a moment and wanting to share a life with someone you love eternally.

It’s the last time to look into their eyes. So you want to savor and enjoy this moment for the rest of your life. You never thought to tell the person you love the way you feel. You thought they would never go away. You thought they would never go away from you and your live. So you tell them now exactly how you feel.

You are over joyed they came you way. You end up falling love with more each and every day. So you beg them to stay with you. Their love is all you need. There's so many things you wanna say. You wish this were another time another place where both of you can share a life eternally. You beg them to stay with you because you can’t live your life being here on your own.

These lyrics explain that life is too short to spend alone and that time is too short in life to spend alone. You wish you have someone in your life.

There's so many things I wanna say
I wish this were another time another place
Where we can share a life eternally
Don’t leave me here alone
Don’t go
Cause I can’t live my life being here on my own


The Rain is one of their most poetic and sophisticated songs on the album which stands out as the song searches for a way to soothe perpetual pain and for change. The lyrics in this song use comparisons. For example, laughter without tears is a comparison.

Here are some examples of poetic lyrics used in this recording.: There is no rose without a thorn/No rain without a storm/There is no laughter without tears/No wisdom without years”

In this crazy world we must choose to win or lose. We'll taste the tears of each defeat. That is bitter and sweet thus becoming a bittersweet feeling. These lyrics explain that we must choose our own fights and battles to take on in life.: “No wisdom without years/In a world gone crazy/Torn between the roads/That we must choose/Win or lose”

Each day another boy and girl sets foot into this world. One succeeds by reaching their full potential and the other one fails by falling behind. Where is it written in the stone that any child should walk alone and out on their own? The lyrics search for change and finds a way to soothe the perpetual pain children face in this world.

Each day another boy and girl sets foot into this world
One reaches out to touch the sky
One never learns to fly
Where is it written in the stone
That any child should walk alone
Out on their own?
If no one tries to end this game
I find a way to ease the pain
Tell me who's gonna stop the rain?

How many rivers must we crosse before we learn
That the flood is rising high
And the bridges all have burned
Each time another dream is washed into the sea
It's another piece of you
It's another piece of me

Sure as the blood runs through your veins. Sure as the falling rain. As the days grow colder they become more bittersweet. Here are the bittersweet lyrics which explain how the days grow colder.

Sure as the blood runs through your veins
Sure as the falling rain, oh yeah
The bitter and the sweet, yeah, oh yeah
As the days grow colder
Wonder if we'll ever see the sun
When winter comes, yeah
If no one stands to take the weight
If no one answers to the blame
Tell me who's gonna stop the rain?


Your Love Is So Nice is a nice love song by the group. The song explores admiration and sweetness of love of a person’s kindness.

These lyrics explain the struggles working class people face. People of the working class sometime get overdue on their rent. Sometime they have a hard time paying off a car note.
 
I woke up this morning feeling a mess
'Cause my rent was overdue and my car note was next.
Seems the only thing or time comes every month my way,
So I think I'm gonna lay right here for the rest of the day.

You needed to talk to someone because you felt so alone. Then all of a sudden she knocked on you door, standing there just like an angel. She made everything alright for you when everything in life was going wrong.

Here these lyrics explore the admiration and sweetness of love.

Oh, I adore you
Girl, you brought me joy where there was pain
You gave me the reason to smile again
When it was all wrong, you made it alright
And I'm so happy that you came to see me
Your love is so nice
You made me some breakfast and you called me in sick
Pulled the shades on my windows and pretended
That it was a Saturday night
You held me so tight
What did I ever do to deserve you?
I love you
Girl you brought me joy where there was pain
You gave me the reason to smile again
When it was all wrong, you made it alright
And I'm so happy that you came to see me
Your love is so nice

You filled my heart with pure delight
Ever since you came into my life
You let me know you would be
Only there just for me
So, I want to say I appreciate you for
All the love you send my way
I'm thankful for all the time
You give me
Your love is so nice

3/5***