Earlier in the '90s, if the beats were funky, the scratching ferocious, and the rapping mediocre (or nonexistent) you could bet pound notes to crumpets you were listening to U.K. hip-hop. While U.S. hip-hop had gotten s-l-... more »o-w and low (the better to accommodate its increasingly acrobatic wordplay), in Britain rock-the-house values still persisted. So now that fresh beats and turntablism have made a comeback stateside, old-skool Brit revivalists like the Wiseguys (a.k.a. Touche, a.k.a. Theo Keating) suddenly sound of the moment. On The Antidote, his sophomore effort, this wiseguy comes correct with an album that splits the difference between Fatboy Slim and Black Eyed Peas. The first single and second track, "Ooh La La," which accompanied a popular Budweiser commercial in Britain, boasts a chunky beat and a simple, mindless hook, setting the pattern that the rest of the album follows. It's a surefire formula, and Touche does it better than most--though a bit more of the fervid scratching that animates the leadoff track, "Re-introduction," might have made this Antidote even more soothing. --Jeff Salamon« less
Earlier in the '90s, if the beats were funky, the scratching ferocious, and the rapping mediocre (or nonexistent) you could bet pound notes to crumpets you were listening to U.K. hip-hop. While U.S. hip-hop had gotten s-l-o-w and low (the better to accommodate its increasingly acrobatic wordplay), in Britain rock-the-house values still persisted. So now that fresh beats and turntablism have made a comeback stateside, old-skool Brit revivalists like the Wiseguys (a.k.a. Touche, a.k.a. Theo Keating) suddenly sound of the moment. On The Antidote, his sophomore effort, this wiseguy comes correct with an album that splits the difference between Fatboy Slim and Black Eyed Peas. The first single and second track, "Ooh La La," which accompanied a popular Budweiser commercial in Britain, boasts a chunky beat and a simple, mindless hook, setting the pattern that the rest of the album follows. It's a surefire formula, and Touche does it better than most--though a bit more of the fervid scratching that animates the leadoff track, "Re-introduction," might have made this Antidote even more soothing. --Jeff Salamon
Toni G. (ToniG) from WATERFORD, CT Reviewed on 8/11/2006...
Great tech dance music
CD Reviews
Wow wow wow! Downbeat awesomness
E. Boeder | San Francisco, CA | 06/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like Fatboy Slim, you probably will like this cd. But if you like Kruder & Dorfmeister, you probably will love it. The whole cd isn't like "Start the Commotion"; it's better. Jazzy, funky, rappy downbeat chill grooves for a hot summer afternoon. Cruise with the top down, have a sip of water, and realize with talented artists out there bringing it like this to their audiences, life is good! thank you thank you"
Misunderstood?
B. Gotsch | 08/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really like this refreshing album and I am very surprised at all the negative reviews.
I have to wonder if the negative reviews come from Americans who are unfamiliar with the British dance scene. This album is very colorful, with all sorts of diverse elements. The hip hop is styled towards what I consider "real hip hop", which is sample-based hip hop. You know, funk and soul samples? Breaks? I suppose that a person who considers 50 cent to be a shining example of hip hop will find this hip hop disapointing.
What I love about this album is that it is filled with samples. Samples of Indians chanting, samples of Easy Listening Music, classic rock samples, classic hip hop samples, etc. Its like the artists went to a thrift store and bought up a bunch of vinyl records, which I'm sure they did, and then they just sampled odd bits here and there. I consider this to be resourceful and clever.
I knew before buying this album that it was characterized as "big beat", a type of dance music prevalent around 1997+ in the UK (Fatboy Slim). Big beat was just a newer, faster version of hip hop, which had always been popular in the UK.
If you look at the late '80s and early 90's UK dance scene, you will find all sorts of eclectic music such as this being mixed together. Hip hop following a reggae tune, following an acid house tune, etc.
If you bought this cd because you liked a 10 second sound bite on a commercial, then I guess you get what you deserve. You want all the songs to sound just like that 10 second sound bite? How boring..."
I miss the Wiseguys (...and I didn't even know they were aro
Marla Bodi | San Francisco, CA | 10/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Seriously, this is twisted. I'm a knowledgeable music fan, but I don't consider myself informed on the forefront of music; and, like most people, I end up listening to a lot of the same stuff over time --although I have been told I have "big ears", and I do enjoy a wide range of music. I wasn't even aware of the the existence of the Wiseguys until --and, oh, this is so sad ...take pity, please-- I was captivated by the music used on HGTV's "Holmes on Homes", which was based on the Wiseguys' "Start the Commotion".
I couldn't stop humming and thinking about that song, so I finally watched a couple of Wiseguys videos on YouTube, and that was it. I was hooked. I bought this CD so fast my fingers got whiplash.
And it's a GREAT CD ...these folks have been split up for years, long ago moving on in their separate directions. I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention when they were together/touring, but I'm glad I bothered being curious enough to seek out the tune and find out more about the group so that my ignorance was at least partially expunged. I am in love with the songs on this CD! It's obvious that these are some excellent musicians/songwriters, lovely variety, and the arrangements are exceedingly well done. "Start the Commotion" is just 'another great song on the CD' to me now, I love it so much
Check it out - if you like this type of music (and especially if you assume you don't!), listen and consider purchasing. It's a fantastic piece of work; and it's now also (however sad it is to consider) on the way to achieving collectors item status."