Pela Janela (Through the Window) featuring Gigi Rezende
Sol Tapado featuring Patrick de Santos
The Heart's a Lonely Hunter featuring David Byrne
Holographic Universe
Doors of Perception featuring Gunjan
Wires and Watchtowers featuring Sista Pat
The Supreme Illusion featuring Gunjan
The Time We Lost Out Way featuring Loulou
A Gentle Dissolve
The most fully-realized Thievery set to date, their fourth studio record packs an all-star punch, with cameos by FLAMING LIPS, PERRY FARRELL, DAVID BYRNE, and more of their usually lovely futuristic bossa/lounge/downtempo ... more »sound. Check out ThieveryCorporation.com to launch soon.« less
The most fully-realized Thievery set to date, their fourth studio record packs an all-star punch, with cameos by FLAMING LIPS, PERRY FARRELL, DAVID BYRNE, and more of their usually lovely futuristic bossa/lounge/downtempo sound. Check out ThieveryCorporation.com to launch soon.
"This album is a bit of a departure from "The Richest Man in Babylon," but I doubt you'll miss the change. The emphasis is back on world beats and smooth electronic sounds. Gone are the haunting vocals of Emiliana Torrini (from Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes), but there are some great appearances by other artists like Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction) and The Flaming Lips. For my money, this album is not as beautiful as previous entries in the Thievery discography, but it is a nice downtempo album that emphasizes the duo's talent at making music and not just making sounds.
If you're looking for a repeat of "The Richest Man in Babylon" you might be initially disappointed, but don't let that deter you from picking this album up. If you're a longtime Thievery fan, then you know what to expect and this album delivers in gold."
4.5 stars: Grows on you
Manny Hernandez | Bay Area, CA | 03/12/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Thievery Corporation's 2005 release, "Cosmic Game" is one of those albums you gotta play a few times to fully get into. The truth is the duo combine quite a few more elements in here than in previous productions. There's the Middle Eastern and Oriental feels blended in with the classic bossa-based and chillout Thievery element, along with a fair amount of Reggae-based beats. The final mix sounds like Deep Forest-meets-Faithless-meets-Groove Armada, in some way, if that description makes any sense to you.
It's one refreshing album that will make you feel happy. Some of the songs do convey a sense of interstellar trip, so I guess the name was pretty well chosen. By all means, give it a chance. It truly grows on you."
I say THAT'S music!
foghorn leghorn | Barnyard, USA | 03/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Indeed, sir, there I was moseyin' out of the Barnyard Starbucks, when I hyear some pulsatin' beats droppin' out of a passing car. But not just yer regular chill beatz: these were drippin' with the very finest world-beat, coolin' down the block. I mean, my caramel latte suddenly became an ICED caramel latte, dig? So when I find out my crew the Thievery Corporation has a new CD out, I done wang-dang-doodled my way over to get me some. And hoo boy! This done hear hit me where I live! Perhaps a bit more poppy than 'Richest Man in Babylon,' but dang if I can't get enough of 'Warning Shots' (which sets the dance floor on fire where I dj), or Perry Farrell's turn on 'Revolution Solution.' TC have a way of turning the people ON to WORLD FLAVA, and I got no problem sayin' that WORLD FLAVA don't taste like chicken! A great CD, no doubt!"
Ecclectic mix
Jonathan | Trinidad, W.I. | 03/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"with so many different artists collaborating on this cd, i don't know where to begin
i must say though, that having the flaming lips open with ' marching the hate machines into the sun' was a great beginning..
retaining a classic 'theivery' feel, you can really get the 'world music' vibe, with hints of reggae, indian, alt rock , etc
each track is well produced, and at the risk of sounding like a fanboy, there's none that i woudl skip over; the cd was just mastered so well that they all flow into each other
they've always been on my radar ( since i first heard the french version of lebanese blonde ) but this is my first disc from them, and i have no regrets"
Making it look easy
encyclomuse | Farmington, CT United States | 01/30/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After owning this album for many months, I am still quietly amazed. Can an album be political, spacey, aggressive, relaxed, serious, sexy, rocking, jazzy, trippy, and funky...yet flow and blend together seamlessly? It can, and The Cosmic Game makes it look easy. Like true gourmet chefs with a nice supply of exotic spices and ingredients, the masterminds at Thievery Corporation have crafted an amazing delicacy.
My first impression, like that of many reviewers, was that this was business as usual for these guys. But there's something to be said for that. This group challenges itself to constantly enrich and inform its aesthetic, reaching further and expanding its repertoire of styles and source material. The fact that it doesn't look like they're trying is a testament to how good they are. This album builds on what they've learned, ambitiously stretches, and ultimately succeeds.
Garza and Hilton are nothing if not adventurous. They continue to enrich our lives with their masterful synthesis of rhythm and music. The Cosmic Game is another of their recipes definitely worth sampling."