Happy May to everyone.  Once again, time seems to be whipping by as the month of May just seemed to pop up on me.  Ok, time for some random thoughts.  

Trying to get back into the swing

For about a week now I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things, but I’ve had a little – if any – luck with this.  I’m massively behind on my RSS reading (yes, I hate that), I haven’t had any energy to cook (I’m so sorry, yeswecook.com) and there is plenty I have to take care of at the office.  Basically, I feel a bit behind.

I’m going to try to use this weekend, once again, to get back into a pattern of reading/posting/cooking.  I hope to be successful at this one.

The Orb’s New Album

A few months back I posted a bit of exciting news about The Orb, they have a new album coming out this July title “Baghdad Batteries”.  Well, thanks to Resident Advisor we now have access to the tracklisting:

1. Styrofoam Meltdown
2. Chocolate Fingers
3. Baghdad Batteries
4. Raven’s Reprise
5. Dolly Unit
6. Super Soakers
7. Suburban Smog
8. Orban Tumbleweed
9. Pebbles
10. Woodlarking
11. OOPA

What I really like about this album is the Thomas Fehlmann addition.  I really like the minimal aspect he adds to Orb work. 

The Prodigy Tours North America

For you North American Prodigy fans, you’ll have a chance to see them once again.  The Prodigy will be stateside in the month of May on a mini-tour in order to promote “Invaders Must Die”

Let me just say this… DON’T GO.  The Prodigy, by far, is the worst live performance I’ve ever had the chance to see stateside.  Sure, they pack every venue in the rest of the world – I’m sure they will do so here – but their show is surprisingly uninspiring.  They have the whole “rock star” mentality just doesn’t seem to fit here any longer and cannot be justified by their work (any longer).

Let’s face it, they are a shell of who they used to be. Unless you have a desire to relive the old days, I strongly suggest you pass on the show.

The Rookie

I’m sitting here typing with “The Rookie” on in the background.  The feel good story about a man who makes it to the majors as a 38 year old relief pitcher.  I don’t have a review to write… just impressed how strong the emotion in the movie is.

Fiat is the new Chrysler

As I am sure you know by this point, Chrysler is now in bankruptcy.  Funny thing is you wouldn’t know that from reading their press release. They decied to focus the first portion of their “news” on a partnership with Fiat.

By partnership I mean that Fiat will buy the majority of Chrysler assets.  Oh, yea, that and the company gets an additional 8 Billion from the government to go into bankruptcy.  Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Here is what I would like to know, it’s the two questions that I’ve consistently asked:

1)If Cerberus, Chrysler’s parent company, is not willing to put any more money into the company why – WHY – should the the government?  The parent company obviously sees no value in the Chrysler brand(s), why should anyone continue to support it?

2)The second Daimler Group saw how bad the brand was they ditched, took a loss, and went on with life. What is Fiat thinking?  Are they looking at this as an opportunity to gain a foothold in the U.S. market?  Are they looking for the intellectual property the company has?  Are looking to suffer like those that came before them?

I don’t care what anyone says, this will not end well.  People must adjust to the fact that this brand (except for the Jeep assets) need to fade into history.

Ok, I’m off…

As promised, though a day late, a track-by-track review of The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die

Invaders Must Die
Rating: 5/10 

When this track was selected for promotional use, I was highly disappointed.  The track reminded me of a cross between something off of “Always Outnumber…” and “Fat of the Land” mainly due to the thin sounds produced by the synths on the track, as well as The Prodigy sampling their own work.  While up-beat and aggressive, the track has an empty feeling that I cannot shake.

Omen
Rating: 7/10

In your face and somewhat haunting at times (like at 2:00 mins into the song) .  I didn’t think I would say this, but I actually enjoy the early rave-like synth used to start off the song.  This brings back memories of “Experience” material.  This is the second track to use a more acoustic sound to the kicks and snares – not the typical 909.  The lyrics are also catchy too… in an aggressive way.

Thunder
Rating: 6.5/10

Starts off with a simple break beat that kicks into an gritty and almost over the top beat that seems to lend itself to the vocals. I could easily see this song being a huge hit – especially live.

Colours
Rating: 3/10

Again, I feel the production values of “Always Outnumbered…” coming though, and the lyrics do not work well for me.   This track feels like it was intended for another album or an individual release as the vocal work is all over the song… actually, one could look at this as The Prodigy trying to do a “conventional” song in their style.  While I like the grit and distortion, the majority of the song is unimpressive.

Take Me to The Hospital
Rating: 3/10 

Hello Charley or Everybody In the Place… for the initial lead.  It sounds like Liam decided to sample his back catalog, change things up a bit, and use it for a new song.  The lyrics seem very, very pointless but there is a the good old take a sample and change the pitch into something new, much like they’ve done before (Out of Space).  Again, I feel like this song was trying to be a commercial release instead or proper song. Unimpressive.

Warrior’s Dance
Rating: 8/10

Starts by easing you into the song with the seemingly off pitch lead, add in some vocals, but once the beat kicks in you have quite an experience. There are shades of Meat Beat Manifesto’s Radio Babylon as the song takes off.  Almost a mixture of big beat and typical mid-90’s “rave”.  I’m actually very impressed by this song.

Run with the Wolves
Rating: 2/10

Not typical Prodigy – actually sounds very Punk with heavy beats over it.  Keith Flint is all over this track and really doesn’t come off all the impressive.  I mean, I really don’t have much to say except that it’s a forgettable track.  No hook, nothing impressive.

World’s On Fire
Rating: 6/10

Another song that I can see as a HUGE live track.  Impressive break beat and use of distortion on the backing synth.  Keith Flint actually fits very well on this track.  The lead synth sounds very thin, and the return of mid-90’s rave synth is all over this as well.  

Piranha 
Rating: 4/10 

Another song trying to have a punk sound with heavy beats and off key synths. At least with this song there is a hook someone can sing to.  Not as bad as Run with the Wolves, but nothing impressive either.   By this point in the album the use of samples and re-samples rave stabs and synths is getting old an tiresome.  Frankly, there was a reason producers moves away from using that sound.  Tho, the is a nice use of filtering some beats.

Stand Up
Rating: 10/10 

At first I thought I was listening to Fatboy Slim, but no…. This song heavily samples Manfred Mann’s “One Way Glass” and in doing so produces one of the most laid back, uncharacteristically Prodigy songs ever.  Add in the brief use of the 303 and you have my favorite song of the album. Hands down the best track.

Overall thoughts:
Overall Rating: 5.5/10

It’s good to see the group back together but Liam’s need to experiment with new technology and past styles, while creative, doesn’t provide for an exciting Prodigy experience.  This is not a “run out and buy” album, but tracking down “Stand Up” is a must.

The new Prodigy album, Invaders Must Die, is out in the UK.

I haven’t heard it yet but the reviews seem very positive. Has anyone actually gotten their hands on it and, if so, what do you think?

2/24 8:04 PM UPDATE: 

I just purchased the album.  I will have a track by track review posted within the next few days.

Ok, now I have more hope for the new Prodigy album “Invaders Must Die”.  Check out the video for their new single “Omen”.

Far better than their last song, which is also goes by the name of “Invaders Must Die”.

Rock on!

I’m still not a fan of the new song, even set to film.  Ah well… still hoping the new album will be a return to old. .. but here is the new video so you can decide on your own.

Thoughts?

Here is a 23 min Prodigy concert I found on pandora.tv – interesting watch if you have some time to burn.

I’m not giving up on the new Prodigy album just yet.  My initial reaction of the first track, which goes by the same name as the album, was extreme disappointment.  I felt as if there was a lot of hype but little substance to the track.  Overall, it seemed “thin” and uninspired.

Truth be told, I didn’t much care for “Firestarter” when it was first released either.  I enjoy it now, but initially, it didn’t rock my world.  I still believe Firestarter doesn’t fit with the overall feel of “Fat of the Land”, and that is why I am not giving up on The Prodigy’s new album.

Well, there is some new information coming out about the album.  Let’s start with the track listing:

“Invaders Must Die”

1. Invaders Must Die
2. Omen
3. Thunder
4. Colours
5. Take Me To The Hospital
6. Warrior’s Dance
7. Run With The Wolves
8. Omen’s Reprise
9. World’s On Fire
10. Piranha
11. Stand Up

But what I find even more interesting is that Dave Grohl, of Foo Fighters fame, is providing some drum backing.  That will be very, very interesting to hear…

Finally, you can take a listen to the Prodigy’s Keith Flint talk about the new album. As with the other press going around, Flint points to the Prodigy of old:

It’s been written, Liam’s written a lot of this album. It’s buzzing, high energy and how The Prodigy used to write, and that’s got a sound about it.

We’ll see if the hype is actually worth it…If the first track is any sign, we may simply be victims to the hype.

Aside from the fact that today was the last day before two days off, I was looking forward to download the new Prodigy track “Invaders Must Die”.  

Yea, I know, kinda sad.  Hey, it’s the little things in life, no?

I get up from my nap and download the new the new track from theprodigy.com, waiting for a kick ass music listening experience, but I somehow received a major letdown.  No, that doesn’t do it justice.  I was supremely disappointed.  Like the Cubs losing the playoffs in the first round disappointed.

What I had been expecting from this new track was a sound much like The Prodigy of old – from the “The Fat of the Land” days – but the song I ended up listening to sounds like a rejected track from their last album “Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned”.  Simply put, the track sounded very “thin” and uninspired.

One thing I did notice about the track, The Prodigy ended up sampling themselves.  They pulled a beat and synth from “Funky Shit”.  So, I guess they did end up providing the old FotL sound… but for all of 8 second.

Go download the song and judge for yourself.  I just hope the rest of the album isn’t like this.

Update: The LA Times also seems a that the song is underwhelming.  The members of Beatportal agree as well.

The Prodigy, showing the actually do get the music business, are giving away their new track – Invaders Must Die – for a week starting on 11/26.

Interestingly, the album by the same name is only 40 minutes long (so says the new press release). I am really starting to anticipate this new release.

It almost seems as if The Prodigy dropped off the face of the earth after they took the world by storm with “The Fat of the Land” back in 97 (Oh, god, it has been that long?!?) Yes, “Always Numbered, Never Outgunned” hit number one in the UK for a week but it failed to make a wave in the US market.

Well, they are back with their 5^th studio album “Invaders Must Die” , due on March 2009. From what I have seen thus far, there is a lot of hype building around the release – especially since all original members are involved with the album.

I love the Prodigy, always have, even when most thought I was a nut for doing so back in the early 90s, but I will say this, I don’t see the live show appeal.

When I had the opportunity to whiteness them, no one opened for them and they came on stage over an hour and a half late and were total dicks. (Telling the crowd to fuck off on several occasions, saying they didn’t want pussies cheering for them). Maybe they were having a bad day… dunno.

Another aspect could be due to the venues they plan in the United States. I mean, playing to a stadium on 70,000 people in the UK versus a crowd of 1200 in a small club provides a totally different experience.

So, in honor of a new album I give you three classic Prodigy videos

THE classic – the song that got things moving for the Prodigy – Charly

Next up is truly a treat, the CGI video to One Love!

And we end the the most controversial video the Prodigy ever put out – Smack My Bitch Up

They knew how to push buttons with their work, all levels of their work… I can’t wait to see what comes next.