Search - Various Artists :: 21st Century Disco: Cool Funky House & Twisted Disco

MoS do up a tasty disco treat

Richard Diaz | 07/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What's the deal?
Uber-label Ministry of Sound dumps a truckload of cash on the doorstep of today's hottest disco makers, merely rounding up every smash tune from this year and last in the process. It's blatant dance commercialism for the masses, and darned if the results aren't just sparkletastic. Highlights?
No messing around, dropping X-Press 2's huge David Byrne sing-along anthem "Lazy," the glitter-gonzo "At Night" from Shaketown, all piping synths and sugary soul, and KMC's fine "I Feel So Fine" in the first ten minutes. Disc one's stonkin' brilliant in fact, a showcase of happy-clappy disco with serious production polish. "Point of View," "21st Century," and the heady thob of "2 People" join the throng, with proven winners "Another Chance" and Kings of Tomorrow's gorgeous "Finally" getting another go. Lowlights?
Disc two has some hits, notably Jakatta's 60's psychedelic-pop "So Lonely" and Octave One's uplifting Latina-beats "Black Water," but the rest sounds mindlessly lightweight. Pretender Jamiroquai emulates funk rather than making it, Mirwais's "Naïve Song" is just wonky, "Alfie's Groove" lards out the cheesy riffs, and novelty hit "Sunglasses at Night" feels out of place. Bottom Line:
Doesn't matter if disc two's a bit duffer, 21st Century Disco'll still have you dancing in your boots through the summer. And at twenty tracks per disc, the hooks drop and get a move on, fast paced fun as it should be. Bonus points for DJ Anonymous Engineer and the bang-up mixing efforts."