Search - Freemasons :: Shakedown

Amazing dance disc set

W. Greely | Walpole, MA United States | 05/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't usually buy DJ or dance mixes, but after hearing much of Freemasons stuff online and in the clubs, I thought I'd give this one a try. I tried looking at downloading it from iTunes, but they don't have the whole album and the mixes I wanted. Suffice it to say, I've been listening to these discs for the last 4 days straight, over and over, and the tracks, while addictive at first, just get better and better. If you are a fan of dance music, then this is the album for you!"

Easily the album of the year...

CVAM1985 | VA | 03/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a long-time fan of dance music, but had not heard of the Freemasons until tuning into XM radio 2 years ago. Their tracks and remixes are frequently played on the dance stations, and I liked every single one of them, so I decided to purchase their entire CD (a rare occurance for me).



Despite some very minor dissapointments, I could not have been happier with my purchase. Every single track on these two discs is a fantastic, heart-pumping catchy wonderfully-mixed piece of music.



As with all artists there are similarities between tracks - but in the case of the Freemasons, this is a great thing. Each track blends wonderfully with the previous one, making sure you never miss a beat.



I am partial to their remixes, but the original tracks are just as fantastic. My absolute favorite tracks include:



*Atlantic+Pacific (A brilliantly arranged instrumental - Not sure why these are split into two tracks, they're essentially one long song)

*Mesmirized (A remix of a rather boring Faith Evans song, which turns it into an anything-but-boring dance anthem)

*Nothing But a Heartache (A Freemasons original - the catchy hook gets stuck in your head for days)

*I Wasn't Kidding (A remix of which I've never heard the original, but after hearing this version, I don't think I'd care to hear any other version. The funky guitar riff makes this one to listen to over and over again)

*Love on My Mind (Another Freemasons original - One of the most-played tracks on dance radio, with good reason)

*Boy Meets Girl (I'm not sure if this is the Freemasons or not, the disc does not specify...It lists the artist as Walken. Nonetheless, it's a great "Freemasons-esque" track that will be sure to get you dancing)



Only criticisms:

*The mix of Shine by Luther Vandross (one of my favorites) they included here is too fast for my tastes. It really takes away from an otherwise brilliant remix

*Ring the Alarm by Beyoncè is not included. If you can purchase it separately I suggest you do so...It (like Mesmirized) takes a rather bland R&B song and injects new life into it. It really is a top-notch track that is sadly missing from this collection

*Rain Down Love, while decent, is not as strong a track as the others. There are two versions included on this CD - neither one particullarly shines. If you can find the mix that blends it with Boy Meets Girl, snatch it up.



All-in-all, if you have ANY interest whatsoever in dance music, do not hesitate for a second and purchase Shake Down by the Freemasons. You won't be dissapointed....don't let the price scare you away, it's worth it and thensome.

"

Brilliant Import Dance CD!

Joel D. Arndt | University Heights, OH USA | 04/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is bar none one of the best dance compilations I have ever heard. As another reviewer put it so succinctly, it's the "bomb" and never lets up on the Hi-NRG until the last cut on the second cd which is a slowed down version of Siedah Garrett's "Rain Down Love" (After Hours Mix).



Freemasons have an incredible talent in melding some of the best of the 70's, 80's and 90's dance sounds with new r & b and pop songs that create mixes which sound totally fresh and contemporary. For the most part the vocals are very strong and the result is a blend that's very danceable, but still melodic which makes this an enjoyable listening experience as well. The flow and transition between cuts is seamless and I believe this is due to the fact that all of the songs have either been produced or remixed by the same production team, so the "vision" is consistent throughout.



The extra dollars for this import are well worth it as you will find some of the biggest hits from the dance floor over the last couple of years all in one place here including Beyonce's "Deja Vu", Luther Vandross' "Shine" and Freemason's "Love On My Mind" with vocals by Amanda Wilson, an excellent reworking of Jackie Moore's classic "This Time Baby" among many, many others. Just check out the track listing.



I recommend this release very highly. Put it on at your next party and everyone will be up on the dance floor asking what you're playing.

"