OK, here is my review of the new Faithless album.
I hope you'll like it.
Any feedback is welcome...
Album review:
FAITHLESS – THE DANCE
“
It’s truth: The Dance…Never Ends!”
Album info:
--> Released: 16 May 2010 (UK)
--> Genre: Trip-hop, Dance
--> Peak position: #2 (UK)
--> Singles (from the album):
1.) Not Going Home (#42 - UK)
2.) Tweak Your Nipple (Not released yet)
--> Tracklisting:
1. Not Going Home
2. Feel Me
3. Crazy Bal’heads
4. Comin Around
5. Tweak Your Nipple
6. Flyin Hi
7. Love Is My Condition
8. Feelin Good
9. North Star
10. Sun To Me
11. Scandalous (only available in “Tesco Version” of the album)
12. Happy (only available in “Deluxe Version” of the album)
Review:
Finally, after 4 very long years, Faithless have released their 6th studio album, simply called “The Dance”. After a calmer and not so successful predecessor “To All New Arrivals”, nobody believed they are capable of doing something big anymore. People who are not Faithless fans even thought they are nothing more than a history now, because after the great success of their greatest hits (“Forever Faithless” – released back in 2005.) they were hardly present on any radio and TV stations. But, they are back now…and, I’ll be brave enough to say that they never sounded so damn good! I mean, every album they’ve released had it’s own unique atmosphere. It’s not that they have messed it badly with any of them, it’s just that some of them are more or less good. In the end, they are all their babies…and they should be proud on what they have created. Their mark will never be erased from the music history.
“The Dance”, brand-new and fresh release from Faithless offer us again a blend of styles which has somehow become a tradition of the band. There are slower and faster songs with interesting vocal collaborations full of blistering and epic melodies as well as great lyrics. Everyone will have it’s own highlights, but certainly most of the fans will choose one of the three anthems (“Not Going Home”, “Tweak Your Nipple” or “Sun To Me”) as their favorite track, but for me it HAS to be “Tweak Your Nipple” with it’s mega epic melody and uplifting rhymes from the Maxi. It’s clear as the blue sky that they want to be popular again, but also they are doing this for the fans, because they know that in the end, it’s the fans that keep this band still alive and so motivated.
Also, I would like to mention the good structure of the album. Strongest tracks have been put in the right places (at the beginning it is “Not Going Home”, in the middle it is “Tweak Your Nipple” and at the end of the album it is “Sun To Me”), while between them there are some slower songs (exceptions are “Feel Me” & “Feelin Good”) which makes the whole album interesting, strong and just perfectly structured all the way, and you never feel bored… Good job!
So, after four year without any new material, Faithless is back. They are stronger than ever before, fully motivated, with many interesting and fresh ideas in their head and ready for the new chapter which is marked by creation of their own label “Nate’s Tunes”.
Yes, it’s definitely good to have them back!
Track by track review:
1.
Not Going Home – The 1st single from the album as well as the album opener is a huge dance anthem which will surely lift you from your chair or bed. It’s return to their roots, to the more dance/electronic sound which lifted them from being none to the global dance stars. I really adore this tune because it is huge and has that magical Faithless touch. Also, worth mentioning are cool Maxi’s lyrics (“It’s not over, I’m not going home, till I can take you with me, I’m not going home…”). Last time Faithless have produced such an anthem was long time ago with “We Come 1” (2001), so it is more than great to have new dancefloor anthem made by Faithless. OK, I’ll stop now and give this track no more and no less than pure 10!
RATING: 10/10
2.
Feel Me – I was and still I am shocked with the fact that this track is so underestimated both by the fans and the critics. It’s hard for me to understand that, especially because I think that this one is actually one of the album highlights. “Feel Me” is a bomb that explodes several times…it is so moving piece of music which builds up and up and up…and becomes crazier every single second. It is true that there is no Maxi, but that really doesn’t mean it’s necessary a bad thing. The song features Blanchmange singer Neil Arthur which is a great choice, because he has so powerful and crazy voice. This tune is the best rework ever done by the Faithless in my humble opinion. Absolutely orgasmic!
RATING: 10/10
3.
Crazy Bal’heads – Chill out reggae paradise…that’s description of the shortest tune on the album. The start is beautiful and gives you a perfect carefree summer feeling. You’ll know what I mean when you hear it… Here we have a guest vocalist Jonny 'Itch' Fox and Maxi Jazz in relaxing summer atmosphere. The track reminds me on “Fatty Boo” to some degree, but is much better. Very nice and cool tune for hot summer days (and nights of course)…
RATING: 9/10
4.
Comin Around – This truly beautiful and sad track features Dougy Mandagi from Australian alternative rock band The Temper Trap. It is one long journey through the beauty of music, words, voice and imagination. Dougy has that incredible voice full of emotions and secret meanings. The song itself is full of melodies and it will take you some time until you realize how rich this piece of musical art is. It is a good example of a track that grows on you every time you listen to it. Interesting and very well produced. I am already looking forward to the next meeting with this magical song…
RATING: 9/10
5.
Tweak Your Nipple – Forget “Insomnia”! This is better! Absolute highlight of the album! Amazing drop of energy! I really can’t stop praising this magnificent track!!! Wow! It’s so huuuuuuuuuuuge! Since the beginning of the track it’s obvious that it is something big. The way how it builds up is awesome. The lyrics are great in this one…they are so motivating! And the main melody…it is something special. It is soooooo unique and so Faithless. To say it’s magnificent is not enough. It’s f.u.c.k.ing damn EPIC!!! It gives you that beautiful feeling of freedom and it is as powerful as the main melody from “Insomnia”. I am 100% surprised with the quality of this track and just after few listens it has become my favorite Faithless track ever!
One more reason why I like this track so much is except it’s endless beauty, the fact that it helped me to pass the hardest class on the faculty. It gave me hope, motivation and will. And I succeeded!
Hands up in the air my dear friends, feel the sweat around your body and listen to the screams of thousands and thousands of excited fans…and here it comes…the one and only: Mighty Faithless with “Tweak Your Nipple”! Pure genius!
“So drop your pebble in the mainstream, start a ripple…it will buzz you like a TWEAK ON YOUR NIPPLE!“
P.S. One last thought: It has been announced that “Tweak Your Nipple” will be released as the 2nd single from the album. Honestly speaking, I’m sure that it will not have some great commercial success because of many factors (today’s music industry, illegal downloads etc.), but in normal conditions I would be disappointed if it wouldn’t be as successful as the “Insomnia”, “God Is A DJ” and “We Come 1”.
RATING: 10/10
6.
Flyin Hi – Sweet! This song starts so gently and sweetly, like a lullaby. Then Maxi, the coolest and nicest rapper in the world, enters with his unique rapping. He is almost whispering…both the melody and his words are touching your heart. It is so beautiful, like a paradise. I like his lyrics so much in this song. They are so great! In the middle of the track there is an opera-like female sample which gives me the chills every time I hear it. After that, the song slowly rises, like a sun in the early morning. The tempo is becoming faster and faster, and here we go again…some of the coolest Maxi’s rapping can be heard in the rest of the track. My dear reader, the last two and a half minutes are so cool that you can’t resist moving your head and feet up and down.
RATING: 10/10
7.
Love Is My Condition – Beautiful, magical, magnificent! Who is singing here? Is that an angel? This voice cannot be from a human being…it must be a creature from heaven singing this. I feel like I’m out of my body…I’m flying…and I feel so great. I’m free…everything around me is just beautiful. Am I in paradise? Those melodies and this tender voice have captured me completely…it’s a wonderful feeling. Mia Maestro, Argentinean classical singer, has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard. Check this out, and probably you’ll feel the same as I do…
RATING: 10/10
8.
Feelin Good – Another highlight of the album! So fresh, perfect like a crystal, and amazing like a morning sun. The main melody is brilliant, damn good in other words. It’s the first of the two Dido collaborations on the album, and I must admit that both of them are great, even I dare to say they are the best Faithless feat. Dido tracks ever. Great stuff!!!
RATING: 10/10
9.
North Star – Oh, I love this one…Dido sings so beautifully here…her talent is shown very well. It’s a slower song with Maxi’s rapping, Dido’s angelic voice, great melodies and more. In the end it becomes kinda more upbeat with some nice melodies. It is very dreamy and beautiful song.
RATING: 10/10
10.
Sun To Me – The last track on the album (on normal/regular version) called “Sun To Me” is probably after “Tweak Your Nipple” my second favorite song from album “The Dance”. It is one amazingly brilliant and powerful epic masterpiece! Although we’ve heard “dub version” of it a long time ago, this new album version is so much better in every possible aspect. It has full lyrics from Maxi which are of course brilliant, and the whole track is improved. Just like “Not Going Home”, “Feel Me”, “Tweak Your Nipple” and “Feelin Good” this track will also make you wanna dance and scream with your hands in the air. It is a great way to finish the album.
P.S. It will probably be one of the future singles from this album (it would be a shame if it isn’t).
RATING: 10/10
11.
Scandalous (Tesco Version of the album) – The first bonus song that can be found on “Tesco’s Version” of the album and in the rest of the Europe as the “normal version” is this kinda tribal song with classic rapping skills from the one and only, Maxi Jazz. It’s very cool song with it’s own mood. I especially adore the great “tribal” sample in it. Respect!
P.S. I think that this song could be great as some in-game music, or even film credits.
RATING: 9/10
12.
Happy (Deluxe Version of the album) – The second bonus track that can be found on “iTunes Deluxe Version” of the album in the digital form, and on physical “Deluxe Version” of the album available through “Faithless Official Store” is this raping-like-a-God tune. It starts with police sirens and then turns into wicked Maxi rapping madness backed with crazy melody. It is as good as the old Faithless classics “Baseball Cap” and “Dirty Ol’ Man”. I missed such Faithless tracks so much, and it is a great pleasure to have something so good again. I’m in love with it…
RATING: 10/10
Final thought: It’s still hot and new, so it’s not the best time for big conclusions, but I think this album deserves to share the same place on the shelf as the legendary “Reverence”. “The Dance” is the best Faithless creation since their debut album, if not the best. Also, it definitely is my album of the year as well as one of the best albums I’ve ever heard in my life. Keep on the good work Faithless!
Recommended for: All true Faithless fans and lovers, and the rest of the people who are still enjoining in good and quality music not spoiled with stupidity of today’s music business. This is the real thing.
Top 3 songs:
1. Tweak Your Nipple
2. Sun To Me
3.Not Going Home
Positive aspects of the album: The best Faithless track (“Tweak Your Nipple”), anthems are back, epic melodies, many great lines from Maxi, great collaborations, fresh and quality produced tracks with lots of passion and love put into them.
Negative aspects of the album: I’m trying and trying, but I can’t find any negative thing about this album. OK, they should put all 12 tracks on 1 CD, because now you have to buy two versions of the album to have all tracks.
Final rating: 10/10
Written by: Matija Mustac a.k.a.The Chaser
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