Search - Death in Vegas :: Back to Mine

Death In Vegas - Back to Mine ... a treasure box!

J. Adams | Music City, U.S.A. | 04/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, okay, okay, don't listen to the joker who says to save your money on this one, cause he's wrong! If you are a fan of the Back To Mine series or just like very, interesting, well mixed, with a bit of thought behind them, comp albums then this album is by and far worth your precious dough. If you love music, and I'm talkin' about all kinds here, because this CD has got it all... Death In Vegas have out done themselves. This album is loaded with pearls! If you are a fan of the beat, this albums with satisfy, if you are a fan of the groove, this album will satisfy, if you are a fan of songs that will break your heart and then turn around and make you realize you love life just because of music, this album will satisfy. I'm tellin' you! Every song on this album is worth the price alone:
1- The Upsetters 'Cloak & Dagger" - just a chill reggae beat that'll slap a grin on your face as soon as you hear the flow. Sweet and slow with horns... yes, please!!
2 - Fad Gadget - 'Back To Nature - oh, another great track from the minute it starts, totally awesome 80's track that'll have you singin' Back to Nature by the end. Clever and catchy... and a terrific beat.
3 - Gene Clark & The Godsin Brothers 'Only Colombe' - alright, Gene Clark's vibe is felt on this album twice, once here and later with Dillard & Clark, yet on this one you get the up beat Clark, sounding a bit Dylan-ish, with Only Colombe, a great song and the beat, oh my god, this is a old school song don't get me wrong, but it has such a great beat and flow to it... and the piano. If all songs were like this, music would solve the worlds problems.
4 - Nina Simone - "My Sweet Lord" Simone covers George Harrison's classic and makes it totally her own. You'll feel like your right up front for Sunday gathering, but Church music, to me, rarely reaches this level, but you'll be praising right along with Nina. Great song for a sunny day!
5 - Songs: Ohia - 'Soul' The gem of this treasure chest that Death In Vegas has given us is in this song, Soul by Songs : Ohia. Not much is said about this song in the albums liner notes, which rock by the way, and I couldn't find this song on any of Songs: Ohia albums. (I'm not that familiar with Songs: Ohia however, yet that is no more) Death In Vegas put it out for us and thank you, because this song has such beauty to it. The vocals are heartbreaking and the backing is simple and perfect. This is one song that truly gets better every time you hear it. I hope you feel the same because I can't imagine anyone listening to this song and not feel anything. Another song that could change the world.
6. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - 'Nashville Blues' Remember, all types of music are on display here and this is great pickin' and playin' music from the NGDB, a toe tapping tune... no vocals needed, the music says it all.
7. Dillard & Clark - 'Polly' Another Gene Clark song and this time is country Clark, yet it doesn't matter, this song is a diamond. I know I've said it already, but this is another song that will break your heart and fall in love. Songs don't get much better. Dillard & Clark only had two albums, but this one song cements their legacy in my mind. Musical bliss.
8. Sam Gopal - 'The Sky Is Burning' Delving further into the musical basement, Death In Veags come up with this psychedelic tune that is as chill as the day Gopal recorded it. Another great groove that puts you right back in the day. The lyrics are from another world! A+9. Bo Diddley - 'Elephant Man' - Hey, Bo Diddley!!! No not that song, this song kicks the crap out of that song and every song and person that never gave Diddley the proper respect. If this tune was on the radio today it would be #1 without a doubt. Don't be surprised to hear this in a car commercial or some advertisment someday. A pumping tune. Bo knows.
10. Cowboy Junkies - 'Sweet Jane' - Oh, and Death In Vegas brings it down, oh so slow and so sweet with Sweet Jane by the Cowboy Junkies, it's also in Natural Born Killers by the way cause when I first heard it I wondered where it was from as well). But the Junkies do Lou Reed more justice than maybe neccessary, or perhaps they even out do him, you decide?
11. Au Pairs - 'Headache for Michelle' ... and right back to the funk with this one. Out of his head!! (you'll get it) Great drums, guitars and the vocals, oh man, this lady has got soul! Feel her pain and groove with her. She will seduce you, no matter!
12. Piero Piccioni - 'Psychedelic Mood' A dope beat with the a nice organ piece flow and guitar. A swingin' tune that'll make anyone nod their noggin'.
13. Joy Division - ' Decades' Just start clapping your hands now and playing air keyboard cause this song will control you. Classic Joy Division. Again the beat... the beat, awww!
14. MMM - 'Donna' This is as much techno you'll get on this album, one song, and when one song's this good, you don't need any other. Gets awkward at the end, but hey, it's techno. Read the liner notes on this one, interesting to say the least!
These songs should be delt with from beginning to end! Once this album is in your view, buy with confidence! Once this album is in your head, you'll never be able to shake it.
You will thank Death In Vegas one day, and now so shall I, thank you, Death In Vegas, thank you!"

Looking for some obscure beauties?

Benjamin Lyons | bundaberg australia | 07/20/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If the back to mine series has one great positive it's that it brings some forgotten (but not necessarily old) greats out of the closet. Songs:Ohia's "Soul" and MMM's "Donna" are two great examples here. The two tracks are distant cousins in the music world but they make this compilation worthwhile. While "Soul" truly gives a white man hope of recording something plaintive and genuine, "Donna" is fantastic at tearing down the estate it was (supposedly) made in. Sierra Oscar... we have a noise complaint on....!



The Back to mine's are running out of ideas by the time Death in Vegas get to do their version. Evidence: it is not surprising to see some Lee Perry dub with the Upsetter's "Cloak & Dagger". The cynic would use this as another example of some white boys looking for creole street cred. but hey aren't all cynics disillusioned romantics?



By track two and fad gadget it gets back to the ethnic centre of where Death in Vegas come from and one of the UK music scene's strengths, i.e no wave music with lyrics delivered with "dire dire dire" all over them. But that's a good thing.



In all there is a good smattering of genres/artists across this comp: Dr Nina Simone has better stuff but she's always great but those two aforementioned tracks remain head and shoulders above the rest (even Joy Division and that is no mean feat in these days Joy Division hysteria!).

"