Search - Fat Boy Slim & Paul Oakenfold :: Essential Selection 1

Great mixing, but not the best

albert andrade | LA, California | 05/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For listeners who can appreciate a dj as an artist, this cd highlights the mixing skills of Oakenfold and Fatboy Slim. The two cd set offers up a choice in style and content. Trance is Oakenfolds' signature sound and he showcases his skills well in this mix. Although if you want to hear him at his best I suggest Global Underground:New York. Any cd you pick up from Oakenfold will definitley quench an electronica fans thirst. He's the master, I think, of build ups in tempo and what I like to call "ocean splash" sounds. Fat Boy has a much different style than Paul. Fat Boy is more in to the Big Beat sound and uses more recognizable tunes to please the listener. Chemical Bros.-Underworld-Groove Armada just to name a few. I saw him dj at the Hollywood Palladium and he had the heads going nuts. If you like this cd I would also suggest picking up FBS's first album:Better Living Through Chemistry."

Two genres, two discs, two different moods

Mark Emanuel | St. Louis | 09/28/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, if you've never been exposed to electronic music, buy this double CD set. It is a rarity among dance mix compilations since it includes two popular but very different styles of dance mixed by two of the biggest DJs in the world. Almost all other dance mix sets contain one style exclusively, so this album is truly a 2-for-1 deal.
If you happen to be an electronica guru, this compilation may not whet your thirst for innovation. The first CD, Fatboy Slim's big beat mix, sounds dated, despite being fairly high energy. True, there are it's fine points, such as the few tracks in the middle of the mix that create an enjoyable climax, but as a whole the mix sounds old and worn. Unless you're a truly big Fatboy Slim fan, his mix probably will have you hitting the "skip" button on your CD player over and over again to escape the repetition of annoying beats.
As for the Oakenfold mix, it's the reason I gave the album 4 stars. Stand-alone, this CD is one of the best trance mixes to come out just before the trance genre began to flood with exhausted, overplayed, producer driven stagnation. Some critics have panned the Oakenfold mix claiming the song selection was second rate. I could not disagree more. Most of the songs are wonderful selections on their own right, utilizing pure emotion. The CD begins with a surrealistic soundbyte of a New York Thanksgiving day television weathercast, which quickly builds into an energetic hill with the likes of "The Spirit" and "Free". The 3 song climax is among the best I've ever heard, and one that can't be missed. Of note is Solarstone's "Seven Cities", which literally makes the listener feel as if he/she is truly on an emotional ride. The closing two songs on the mix are a wonderful cool-down, of note is "Viola" which is one of the best late night driving songs ever.
Overall I think it's a ...investment well worth the cost."

A decent attempt

Neil Wright | Richmond, Va | 05/18/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The thing that inspired me to listen to this cd is the mere artists involved. Paul and Fatboy themselves rank among the best dj's in the business. However, after listening to the two cd's (one designated for Fatboy Slim; the second for Paul Oakenfold), one can clearly distinguish the two tastes. Don't get me wrong, the Fatboy mixes were not too bad, but Oakey does a marvelous job on his cd. I would much rather have the chance to purchase Disc 2 separately because simply put, Paul Oakenfold is a genious at what he does. Check this cd out if you're into Fatboy Slim, even though the tracks don't last long enough to build a tight beat of any sort. Definately check this cd out if you are an Oakenfold fan of any kind. This is worth having just because his talent graces the trance filled tracks of disc 2. 3 stars for me, but Oakenfold may just take it up to 4 or even 5 ...you be the judge."