i learned about MBM from my friend. this was the only cd he had from them. no clue where he got it from. he didnt either. its as if it just magically appeared. oh well. he had a SERIOUS system with amazing bass. and odd as this music is to the casual, mainstream listener, its great for us. this was my first mbm cd too. i hadnt heard anything like some of the other reviews mention beforehand [save the first and second track of this actual cd [[helter skelter 97 / its the music]]]. when i got it, i must have listened to the whole thing through at least 3 times [it was late at night when it arrived in my hands and i wouldve listened to more, but i was really tired.]. to this day, it hasnt lost any of its touch. i didnt know it was a remix album when i bought it, but hey, it doesnt really matter to me. i highly recomend this as a starting place for new mbm fans. this is a great cd, and given the prices here on amazon for it, its near inexcusable for a fan of electronic music to pass this up.
A great introduction to the music of Meat Beat Manifesto This was the first MBM CD I got (October 22nd 1998, I'll never forget) and is still one of my favorites. It has excellent remixes (Helter Skelter, Original Control/I Am Electro) some dramatic reinterpretations (Beach Blanket Bimbo Land, which is absolutely astonishing) and it's also the only place you get get the classic MBM track Radio Babylon. In short, this is an excellent place to start if you are curious about Meat Beat Manifesto.
My first MBM cd Original Fire was my first MBM cd, and when I saw it used ... I just had to get it. What a deal that was. At the time, the only MBM I've heard was the remix of the Perfect Drug and Closer he's done for NIN. I LOVED both of those tracks, so I had to get a cd from them instantly. And I did. Helter Skelter '97 is a great way to start out the cd. It brings the energy to both the music and the listener, a hard thing to do but Jack's wizardry pulls it off. Needles to say, it's a great track. It's the Music is taken from the single that was released in 96 (which is hard to find). Not only is it a great track, but it has a much more mellow mood than Skelter, yet it retains some aggression. Amazing. I Am Electro sounds like Original Control 2, but just a little different. I prefer Electro anyway. I Am Organic is a quick, yet catchy track. A nice bassline flows throught and the drums will instantly get those feet tapping or those bodies dancing. Radio Babylon, pratically the one that put MBM into the public's eye, is another great track. One would never think it was from 1989, as it sounds like nothing that was being done at the time. Excellent. I Got the Fear pt.5, is not only my favorite pt. of I Got the Fear, but perhaps my favorite song on Original Fire. Featuring EXCELLENT bass work, there's a dueling of instruments within the song, and it's just pure genius. The crazy noise at the end of the song is also great. It's very remensicent of the stuff on Armed Audio Warfare and Storm the Studio. Being a fan of Skinny Puppy, this was right down my alley. Yet another excellent track. The remix of Asbestos Lead Asbestos is leaps ahead of the original in this reviewer's eye (or ear). It's just much more energetic, in your face than the original cut. Both are great, indeed, but I prefer this remix. The remix of It's the Music is a straight forward drum jam that only Meat Beat Manifesto can give you. Luke Viberts remix of Radio Babylon is also very good. I'm a huge fan of Luke's work as Plug, so if you like Plug, this will be right up your alley. Not as good as his work as Plug, but still worth a listen. The Orb's version of Radio Babylon is so different than any other. It's a all out electronic dub jam, and it's a great listen from start to finish. I'm also a Orb fan, so this song was no problem for me to like.
Overall, I recommond this to anyone who's interested in listening to Meat Beat Manifesto. This is the excellent introductory cd. It gives a nice story of his older stuff (I Got the Fear, Radio Babylon) to his newer stuff (Asbestos Lead Asbestos, It's the Music). So, do check this cd out, I doubt you'll be disappointed. There's no harm in checking this out, anyway, It's Just the Music.
Is it the music? I guess it is. "It's the music" (both mixes) is the best track by far. It's best digested with a lot of bass in your system. Other tracks are alright. The Orb's remix is a good finish to the disc because it has the effect to take one down gradually. The only track that I would say that isn't good is track three or the "I am Electro." All in all the disc offers a good array of remixed material.
I PRAISE THE REMIX OF "ASBESTOS LEAD ASBESTOS"! For 1 long year, I was always wondering what the hell they were saying in the original "Asbestos Lead Asbestos", but the remix now hands me the words...thank God for it! I also like Radio Babylon remix by The Orb and Helter Skelter '97. BUY THIS CD if you love MBM...wait, if you love them you already have it. Just get it.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
