Post by mpgfan on Feb 11, 2008 6:48:43 GMT -5
I posted this review somewhere but thought i'd post it here and see if anyone else has bought it. I'm referring to the 2nd disc in this review. Some opinions have changed a bit and i'll note that after the original review.
So did anyone pick this up? I just got it after purchasing it via amazon and I have to say it's...interesting to say the least. The remixed versions of the songs are very uneven. Some sound great and others only mediocre. At least what's good is VERY good.
Now the producers were limited to only using the original music elements found in the old recordings and sessions so at least the sound is authentic to the period and what Marvin was using at the time. Also included are different vocalizations and ad libs that weren't in the original release.
The best remix IMO was on "anger" Marvin actually used vocals that were more personal to his situation at the time rather then a sermon on the effects of anger on people in general. There was that authenticity to the message which was missing if you dig deeper then just listening to the music on a superficial basis. Another great thing is that the producer enhanced the "WHAT'S GOING ON" era vibe of the original song throughout the beginning of the track which gave it less of a sermonizing feel but once again a deeper introspection not found in the original release.
"Time to Get it Together" was kind of up and down but what gave that remix a positive review from me is the use of ad libs and stripping the music out of some sections that gave it an eerie feeling. Once again Marvin laid down a different vocalization that made the song even more personal then it was in the original release.
Last but not least is "you can leave but it's gonna cost you" the first 2 minutes of the remix sounds eerily contemporary.
Overall I have to give the "new" material a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.
So here's what's changed. I've really fallen in love with the remixed "everybody needs love" Marvin's voice is just SPECTACULAR! It's so crystal clear and full of emotion that it transcends the music and flows into the realm of spiritual music. You got to hear it to believe it.
Let me expand on my thoughts on "you can leave but it's going to cost you". The singer's name was escaping me who I wanted to compare the first 2 minutes to but it kinda reminded me a little of what John Legend would do. The song has a very funky upbeat sound which totally offsets the lyrical content. I do think that if this remix was released back in '78 it'd have been a massive hit.
My overall rating to the 2nd disc has jumped up to a 4 out of 5. It took a while for me to really appreciate what the producers did. The only thing that keeps it from achieving 5 stars is that I found they mainly tried to make this sound too much of a party album which compromises the original intent and feel of the original record. It's the 2nd most depressing thing Marvin ever put out but I just can't get the same kind of emotional angst out of this remix project that the original album had in spades.
So did anyone pick this up? I just got it after purchasing it via amazon and I have to say it's...interesting to say the least. The remixed versions of the songs are very uneven. Some sound great and others only mediocre. At least what's good is VERY good.
Now the producers were limited to only using the original music elements found in the old recordings and sessions so at least the sound is authentic to the period and what Marvin was using at the time. Also included are different vocalizations and ad libs that weren't in the original release.
The best remix IMO was on "anger" Marvin actually used vocals that were more personal to his situation at the time rather then a sermon on the effects of anger on people in general. There was that authenticity to the message which was missing if you dig deeper then just listening to the music on a superficial basis. Another great thing is that the producer enhanced the "WHAT'S GOING ON" era vibe of the original song throughout the beginning of the track which gave it less of a sermonizing feel but once again a deeper introspection not found in the original release.
"Time to Get it Together" was kind of up and down but what gave that remix a positive review from me is the use of ad libs and stripping the music out of some sections that gave it an eerie feeling. Once again Marvin laid down a different vocalization that made the song even more personal then it was in the original release.
Last but not least is "you can leave but it's gonna cost you" the first 2 minutes of the remix sounds eerily contemporary.
Overall I have to give the "new" material a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.
So here's what's changed. I've really fallen in love with the remixed "everybody needs love" Marvin's voice is just SPECTACULAR! It's so crystal clear and full of emotion that it transcends the music and flows into the realm of spiritual music. You got to hear it to believe it.
Let me expand on my thoughts on "you can leave but it's going to cost you". The singer's name was escaping me who I wanted to compare the first 2 minutes to but it kinda reminded me a little of what John Legend would do. The song has a very funky upbeat sound which totally offsets the lyrical content. I do think that if this remix was released back in '78 it'd have been a massive hit.
My overall rating to the 2nd disc has jumped up to a 4 out of 5. It took a while for me to really appreciate what the producers did. The only thing that keeps it from achieving 5 stars is that I found they mainly tried to make this sound too much of a party album which compromises the original intent and feel of the original record. It's the 2nd most depressing thing Marvin ever put out but I just can't get the same kind of emotional angst out of this remix project that the original album had in spades.