Search - DJ Shadow :: Endtroducing (Dlx) (Dig) (Spkg)

Reintroducing Endtroducing

Chris Wren | Chicago, Illinois | 06/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record has been immortalized in the past few years as the crate-diggers and backpackers bible. Every single year, with another list marking the best of the past 10 years, 50 years, and maybe even millenium, Endtroducing has become a musical canon. Whether this allegation is factually true, it has become a canon for an entire generation of people who bought turntables instead of guitars. And rightly so: This disc is THE essential record for sound collages. The rampant sampling of the eighties reached the nineties with such cynicism that with the release of this record changed an entire generation's idea of what a song is supposed to be like. For the youth of today, the music they listen to is inevitably tinged with the influences of this record. DJ Shadow had taken sampling to a point where only keyboards could replicate the intricacy in which he used records.



That being said, Endtroducing stands the test of time, firmly implanting itself in popular cultures lexicon of important records. Endtroducing has far exceeded even the largest expectations: perfect production and album arrangement greeted by overwhelmingly positive reviews and an ever-growing fan base. Some people consider the record an emotional masterpiece, others an aural marthon, and some even think of it as turntablism at its finest. Quite frankly, it is truly the first musically post-modern piece of music in the recording art industry. While certainly neither the first to sample nor investing in a large amount of samples, the direction, focus, and articulation of a generation can be surmised within the record. It is the death and rebirth of the recording industry all at once. Josh Davis captured it perfectly: funk becomes ominous, break-beats become convulsive, instruments are used sparingly, and scratching becomes welcomed. It is a record that cannot be overlooked and cannot be forgotten. Now commemorated in this deluxe edition, we finall get to look at Shadow from the lens by which he viewed the parts that made up his record: antiques destined to die unless someone revives them.



The second disk of redos and remixes is like butter on toast. It may not be the most essential thing to have yet it grants further insight into the scope and variety this record can/would represent. From the decidedly dancable overhaul of "Organ Donor" to Cut Chemist's mayhem of "Number Song," the variety of perspectives and directions the album could have taken is immediately apparent. It is the kaleidascope from which to view the world of Endtroducing, granting variety and intrigue to the many pieces that make up this grand collective.



Coupled with a live performance at the end of the disc, Endtroducing is finally given the proper platform which it deserves. For fans who have all the vinyl, it can be a redux and a compilation by which to listen to some of the most defining music of the decade. For the unassuming viewer, this record is immediately accessible and mandatory. You're cutting yourself short by missing out on this Deluxe Edition."

A True Modern Day Classic

Grizsly | Yonkers, NY | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album already has it's place in the annals of electronic music. DJ Shadow knows his stuff, and it showed IMMEDIATLEY with the original release of this debut album.



With the deluxe addition, there's a new disc of remixes and B-sides and demos. For any real Shadow fans, it's a must have. There's a fine remix of Bulding Steam With A Grain Of Salt, the song many consider to be the best from Endtroducing. There's also a great Gift of Gab remix of Midnight In A Perfect World, with some nice lyric poetry. And at the end of the disc is a twelve minute mini set of Shadow live, which is hot as hell.



If you've never heard of the Shadow, do yourself a favor and pick up this deluxe edition - it's oh so worth it.



Producing. . ."

Excellent

Chris Nielsen | FL | 06/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rating: A+

While many bands and artists strive for utter perfection, fitting into the mainstream, or just plain and simple making one song on an album that becomes a chart topper that helps sell millions of copies of an album, DJ Shadow takes the laid back path letting his albums build steam like a grain of salt, and pick up followers along the way, as each album invites even the most astray and wary listener to delve into the magic and pure bliss that his audial landscapes permeate. By all means and shapes, this is one of the greatest albums released in the 90's, if not all time, due not only to the fact that Shadow basically took sampling, made it a science, showed everyone what they could really do with this artform, and then let his work speak for itself, the work of a true artist. From the beginning of the album, to its bittersweet conclusion, we are granted a brief trip through the imagination and mini-movies that Josh Davis has commited to record, as each track stands on its own two feet and each song blends together so well that you would think this was his fifth or forth album, just because of the overall production and clarity that each track permeates. The deluxe edition only strengthens this already A+ album, with a great introduction from the upcoming 33 1/3 book coming out in August which is dedicated to this highly regarded and fantastic album. In addition Shadow comments on each track on the second disc giving us brief insight into te demoes, and preproduction attempts at the earlier versions of the songs on the album. This is Shadows best album in my honest opinion, although truly you have to get all of his masterpieces to truly appreciate his ever evolving style of music, whether The Private Press, PreEmptive Strike, Endtroducing, or Unkle is concerned, all are classics in their own right. Listen to this album in the depths of your darkest room and let your imagination wander, I dare you to say that this is not a classic album in the truest sense, those that don't know about Shadow will never know what they are missing out on; too bad for them."