Different than Lazy Dog
04/19/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Lazy Dog fans will better appreciate this mix if they approach it with fresh ears, independent of their Lazy Dog experiences. This is a bit more thoughtful and will not instantly have you dancing in the way that the Lazy Dog sounds do. The Buzzin' Fly mix will more likely make you groove than sweat. These are not the typical deep house tracks with painstaking builds and predicitable climaxes, rather these songs are a bit more subtle and warm, getting their energy from smooth production and lyrics. Not every track is memorable but standouts include Musica Feliz, Believe, and Stronger Man. Stronger Man may well be on its way to deep house classic status, with the most incredibly sexy piano and saxaphone. Give these discs a few listens and try to appreciate this for what it is, which is not Lazy Dog 3, but Buzzin Fly 1."
Dissapointed
04/09/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)
"As a deep house lover and a great fan of Ben Watt's former outfit Lazy Dog, I approached this new project and album with great enthusiasm and expectation. I was very dissapointed to finally receive these discs and hear only a semblance of the jazzy soulful house music that Ben previously mixed. The first disc is primarily lounge/downtempo styled music with lyrics and vocals that leave much to be desired. The second disc which contains several singles is a step up but it still fails to provide those deep tracks that just move your body and your spirit. The first mix of Musica Feliz is the only track that really gets me moving.
Ben is clearly trying some new things with this music and moving in a new direction, perhaps away from the Lazy Dog style sounds. I failed to hear the originality and inspiration in these new songs that previously drew me into his older work. Although I am dissapointed, I will continue to keep an eye on the Buzzin' fly releases and hope for a return to some of that true deep house magic."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1