The Chemical Brothers
We Are The Night
Astralwerks
7.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

The Chemical Brothers have long been considered among the electronica elite, a place inhabited by the likes of Fatboy Slim, Moby, the Prodigy, and the Crystal Method. But more than any of those other artists, the Chemical Brothers have managed to change their style throughout the last decade, surviving the Big Beat boom of the mid-90s before moving on to Grammy accolades. On their latest release We Are The Night, the Brothers pull out all their tricks, delivering a satisfying album of euphoric psychedelic electronica, quirky guest appearances, and danceable grooves.

One thing is definitely true about the Chemical Brothers: they create some of the most original dance music out there. We Are The Night is evidence that the Brothers have not lost their edge. In fact, they seem to have gotten their groove back, delivering an album full of plenty of body rocking club joints that are sure to appeal to their long-time fans. “Saturate” stands out among the high energy cuts, crackling like sunbeams across the morning sky. Filtered bass is surrounded by spastic drums that build into a delightful crescendo. This one is sure to be a major underground hit! Electro-tinged grooves permeate the percussion-laden “A Modern Midnight Conversation” and the Sexy Back flavored “Do It Again” featuring Ali Love. But the Chemical Brothers have always been about sonic experimentation and there is plenty of that on We Are The Night. The tracks that leave the biggest impact are the ones that combine downtempo electronica with psychedelic folk rock. “The Pills Won’t Help You Know” featuring Midlake is a gorgeous number that rides a solid snare drum over waves of building strings and electronic pulses. Similarly, the album closer “Battle Scars” with Willy Mason offers up a slightly rock edge amidst all the electronic bleeps. The Pharcyde’s Fatlip turns up on the nu-skool breaks of “The Salmon Dance”, a light track with more sense of humor than anything else on the album.

As one of the artists that rode the initial wave of electronica success, the Chemical Brothers continue to make quality music a decade later. We Are The Night is proof that innovation and experimentation is alive and well within the genre.

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Ciara "The Evolution" Review

Ciara
The Evolution
Label: Laface
8.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

Ciara literally burst onto the scene two years ago with her ubiquitous hit “Goodies” and it’s equally explosive follow-up “1, 2 Step”. These two tracks alone were enough to push her albums sales past two million, taking her from unknown to current queen of dance-pop. With her sophomore release The Evolution, Ciara would have us believe that she is all grown up and has evolved into a whole new style. While that isn’t exactly true, Ciara’s The Evolution does stand as one of the best dance albums of the year. Where 2004’s Goodies was loaded with a lot of middling filler tracks, this new album remains consistent in style and quality.

The Evolution is about as good as it gets in terms of dance-pop production and style. Ciara’s style hasn’t exactly evolved but it has been streamlined focusing on her strengths, namely the ability to come up with some serious club jams. Many of the tracks literally explode with such force and speed that they are sure to appeal to fans of electronica, breakbeat and drum & bass. Album opener “That’s Right” and “Bang It Up” are crisp productions that crackle with kinetic energy and furious sparks of percussion. The majority of the album takes the classic breaks and sounds of 80s hip-hop and electro but updates it with precise skill. The list of producers includes The Neptunes (“I Proceed”), Will.I.Am (“Get In, Fit In”), Jazze Pha (“Get Up”), and Lil John (That’s Right”), so the results are pretty much destined to be on point.

The entire release bumps with exciting beats and catchy hooks such as the irresistible “Make It Last Forever”, which references Ron Base’s classic “It Takes Two”. The album highpoint is the first single “Promise”, probably the best slice of sci-fi R&B since Aaliyah’s “One In A Million”. With its undulating mid-tempo rhythm and robotic effects, its stands out on an album that is full of many standouts. “Like A Boy” is Ciara’s attempt at depth, with lyrics that suggest she wants to flip the script on heartbreaking men. But Ciara isn’t about lyrical depth; she’s about booty shaking, so it’s no wonder that the only weak areas of the album are her forays into ballads. The handful of slow jams are disposable at best as are the brief interludes describing her “evolution”.

Despite the few throwaway ballads, The Evolution is a very strong release that delivers what the artist is known for: hot beats, killer hooks, and club bangers. With this release Ciara has pretty much earned her spot as the new dancing queen of R&B/pop.

http://www.ciaraworld.com