New Basement Jaxx

Uk Wuk! Promo copy finally! Cracking now!

This has been on Luisterpaal for a little while but I've honestly been afraid to listen. Crazy Itch Radio did little or nothing for me, and while I love "Raindrops" that is a deeply troubling set of guest vocalists.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE THE 'LUDES

I like this a lot more than Crazy Itch Radio.

The Yoko Ono track is the first time I've heard a vocalist manage to match B.Jaxx for turn-on-a-dime maximalism, and the Kelis track is a nice reminder of Kaleidescope/Wanderland/etc.

― etc, Monday, August 10, 2009 2:34 PM Bookmark

"Supersonic"! The Yoko track is complete insanity, but let us not forget that one.

I didn't like this very much when I listened :-(

yah same -- i only listened once & like nothing was grabbing me ... kinda think matt p's review was almost too generous to it, out of obligation

do still love raindrops tho

Interestingly, I feel like they're still pushing themselves, still trying to screw their fizzy hysteria tighter and tighter, but it long ago passed the point ("Supersonic", basically) where anything of actual value would be achieved by this.

They seem pretty disinterested in crafting actually good dancefloor grooves now.

I keep lolling at the cell phone ad that uses "Raindrops" whenever it comes on.

"Supersonic" only works for me when played at deafening volume on headphones; generally when the Jaxx goes into abstract groove territory, I like it a lot more when they go more minimal, a la "Fly Life". Otherwise I really like their take on pop music, which is why I ended up liking Crazy Itch Radio so much despite hating "Hush Boy" ("Take Me Back To Your House" is a top-ten Jaxx track for me).

haha why on earth did you hate 'hush boy' out of curiosity?

This new one is terrible. The best track is the "Sleep Walk" homage, and that's a problem.

And, yeah, "Take Me Back" is the only thing from their last album that's survived on my iPod.

haha why on earth did you hate 'hush boy' out of curiosity?

The Grover voice on the chorus is deeply irritating and the general vibe of the track is too staid to be funky enough to overcome that irritation.

Yeah, "Hush Boy" is awful. Hate the vocals, music isn't anywhere near interesting enough to overcome that.

(haha actually if "Supersonic" had a memorable snare in the beat I would probably dig it a lot more)

u guys are weirdos .... & there are a bunch of good tracks on that lp .... but whatever i guess this has been gone over before

The Grover Fozzie voice on the chorus is deeply irritating excellent

really love Supersonic too

i think the best track on Scars is probably one of those mellower Latin/Brazilian-sounding ones at the end - can't get excited about the Kelis and Santigold contribs much at all

I like "Hush Boy" much more than the overly cutesy "Take Me Back To Your House", though it did take me a while to warm fully to the former after previous 1st singles had been so startling.

Like Scars a lot more than I thought I would, but this and Crazy Itch strike me much more as straight pop albums than dance albums. Not at all a bad thing, but there's something about it that feels funny.

Sam Sparro's vocals are annoying on Feelings Gone.

Sam Sparro is annoying? Gee golly whiz.

Well, I enjoyed his album, so I don't typically find him annoying.

This album is pretty ropey stuff - why on earth would you go to all the trouble of getting Kelis on a track and then give her something that weedy to work with?

count me in as another baffled crazy itch lover - this album is beyond dismal though.

I also love the Robyn track on CIR, esp. the part where it breaks down with the slow horns and ramps back up all klezmery and awesome.

it really is almost darkly impressive on this the way every appalling guest they bring in is just the most savagely extreme sabotaging of every relevant jaxx element you'd previously enjoyed, one by one. tender guitarry moment - lightspeed champion! rococo tuba romp - paloma faith!

ha so this is their "fuck you, fans" album?

okay I'd forgotten that I actually fucking love the song "Scars"

Am I the only one who LOVES this new album? Top ten placement of the year, easily.

Masterworks, all:

Scars
Raindrops
She's No Good
Feelings Gone
Twerk
Day of the Sunflowers (We March On)
Stay Close
Gimme Somethin' True

The singles don't stand up to the Remedy/Rooty era (aside from "Raindrops," maybe their best EVER) but those albums were packed with filler as well. I think Scars is their most consistent this side of Kish Kash.

"Raindrops," maybe their best EVER

whoa, there

The singles don't stand up to the Remedy/Rooty era (aside from "Raindrops," maybe their best EVER) but those albums were packed with filler as well. I think Scars is their most consistent this side of Kish Kash.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, October 12, 2009 10:02 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

haha this post makes no sense -- convinced ilxor is a sock

I'm serious! Most of the filler tracks on Scars hold up just as well as "U Can't Stop Me" or "Don't Give Up" or "Broken Dreams" or "I Want U," if not better.

There is really no filler imo in either Remedy or Rooty.

Most of the filler tracks on Scars hold up just as well as "U Can't Stop Me" or "Don't Give Up" or "Broken Dreams" or "I Want U," if not better.

These are all classic tracks, you should be ashamed ilxor.

The idea that Remedy has filler and/or "drops off" in the second half is totally a bizarro myth with no basis in reality.

only wack track on Remedy is "Same Old Show"

'same old show' is amazing!

sorta spins me out that remedy is 10 years old.

"where did our youth go", etc

"only wack track on Remedy is "Same Old Show""

Rev this is the wrongest thing i've think I've seen from you.

Sorry, it makes me feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. My dislike of it is very physical.

If that makes sense.

It does, but at the same time I think "Same Old Show" is basically a purified hit of what was so amazing about basement jaxx circa 1999. I sort of feel like they've forgotten how amazing a vibe and friction you can generate just by looping a few carefully selected elements over one another.

'Same Old Show' is probably my least favourite track on 'Remedy' fwiw tho Tim otm about why its a good club track (not quite as much as 'Set Yo Body Free' and a few more of their earlier deep club tracks tho - but then these probably wouldn't have worked as well on the album for that very reason)

tbh if the Jaxx released an album that was 45 minutes of "Samba Magic" I would wholly and unreservedly call them the greatest musical act I'd ever heard

maybe u should check the airto song it samples?

I am and it's awesome!

Somehow I never heard "Samba Magic" until I sought it out yesterday and it completely owned me.

ftr the Airto sonf deej mentions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zUNmoKU9UE

song, even

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDfDp-e9t0w&feature=related

btw, annoying clipping aside this is pretty awesome; like this lady's vocals a ton