Reviews
Basement Jaxx
The Singles
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Add to del.ico.us.Review Date: 2005-07-29
Greatest Hits, Best Of, Very Best Of, The Essential, The Ultimate Collection, is there really a truly excellent greatest hits collection? There always seems to be somebody who complains about every one. Unless they’re four or five CD box sets, there is at least one song missing that should be there – where is “Jungleland” on The Essential Bruce Springsteen for example. Also, no matter how good a greatest hits collection is, it is never considered a ‘proper’ album (the exception seems to be Bob Marley’s Legend), and can never appear on year-end ‘Best Of’ lists. They also tend to include one or two new songs to pull in the hardcore fan, and many times these new songs just flat-out suck. However, these collections do have one major positive factor: it saves you buying all the artists’ albums to get the songs you want. This means that you don’t have to buy that crap Rolling Stones album just to get that one hit song from it. Also, for an artist you just have a passing interest in, greatest hits packages are a perfect solution, as they save you from buying numerous albums which will merely collect dust on your shelves (and take up shelf space, which could be used by that new Sufjan Stevens album). Basement Jaxx is one of these artists which I just have a passing interest in.
Most greatest hits packages are released in winter to cash in on the Christmas market. Basement Jaxx release theirs at the beginning of summer. Why? Well, if you listen to the album (or any of Basement Jaxx’ albums) then you’ll realise. This is perfect summer music, perfect going out music. In fact much of the album is perfect music. Album opener “Red Alert” is classic Basement Jaxx, featuring one of their many female guest vocal performances – here by Blue James. That probably is the best thing about Basement Jaxx – great dance melodies and beats accompanied by excellent female guest vocals. That said the songs which have male vocals aren’t too bad either. Any artist would love to have a song as good as “Where’s Your Head At? in their repertoire.
Lisa Kekaula performs vocal duties on “Good Luck” – the best dance track ever to include a string orchestra. And when Basement Jaxx performs live, they do actually have a string orchestra. This is not like usual dance music – Basement Jaxx transcends the genre, and includes elements of many others. Each song is different, and this makes them stand head and shoulders above their peers. Track three “Romeo” was included in Pitchfork’s Top 50 Singles 2000-2004, and it’s no wonder. The song is absolutely excellent; and if there is any DJ who doesn’t have it in their collection, they should be sacked immediately.
Most greatest hits packages contain one or two new songs, and The Singles is no different. One of these, “Oh My Gosh”, proves Basement Jaxx definitely isn’t past its best, and can still produce oh-so-excellent dance tunes. The songs’ rapped verses are truly excellent, and from this performance, female rapper Skillah really is one to look out for in the future. The same can’t be said for the other new track however, “U Don’t Know” is a failed attempt at dance-rock.
“Bingo Bango”, “Where’s Your Head At”, “Jus 1 Kiss”, and especially “Rendez-Vu” are Basement Jaxx at its best. In fact, these songs are mainstream dance music at its best. From “Bingo Bango”’s samba-groove to “Where’s Your Head At”’s punk-funk-dance, some of the tracks on this collection are nothing short of incredible. Only some of them though: Many of the newer tracks tend to be weaker. The guest appearances by Dizee Rascal and JC Chasez on “Lucky Star” and “Plug It In” respectively will not linger in the conscious for long. A lot of artists try to move their music in new directions, but Basement Jaxx really doesn’t need to do this. They had already pushed the bounds of mainstream dance to the limits, and they really don’t need to take them any further. When you’re this innovative, you really don’t need to be any more innovative.
Songs to Download: “Romeo”, “Rendez-Vu”, “Good Luck”, “Red Alert”, “Jus 1 Kiss”, “Where’s Your Head At”, “Bingo Bango”, and “Oh My Gosh”.
Score: 7.6
The first half of the collection is worth the admission price alone, but the second half leaves the listener wanting more from the first half. Maybe it really would be better to go back and buy their earlier albums…This is a great going out album, because hopefully, you’ll be nearly-drunk by the second half of the album, so you won’t notice that the songs aren’t as good as the previous ones.
- Ronan Hunt-Murphy