Motown Remixed

[Mr Beefy]

For those of you expecting or hoping for anything remotely resembling the brilliance of the Verve Remixed series (like I was), Motown Remixed is a MAJOR disappointment. I can see now why WOXY.com has completely ignored it's release.

The majority of the disc basically consists of nothing more than a great compilation of Motown classics stripped down to the vocals and adding some basic beats with a drum machine. Not enough deviation from the original tracks. Nobody seemed to want to take one of these songs and make it their own.

The only songs that come remotely close to having flashes of being inventive is "Papa Was A Rollin Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Remix)", "Smiling Faces Sometimes (Futureshock Main Ingredient Mix)", and "Quiet Storm (Groove Boutique Remix)", and even those don't seem to be all that fresh or innovative. Other remixes like "War" and "I Just Want To Celebrate" are ok, mainly just because of how good the originals are.

Overall, I don't think it's that bad of a disc for the eight bucks sale price at your local Target, but I definitely wouldn't pay any more than that for it. If you are looking for a great compilation of Motown classics, spend a few extra bucks and get something like "Motown: The Classic Years" or one of the other gazillion Motown anthologies out there.

[mike]

Originally Posted by Mr Beefy

For those of you expecting or hoping for anything remotely resembling the brilliance of the Verve Remixed series (like I was), Motown Remixed is a MAJOR disappointment. I can see now why WOXY.com has completely ignored it's release.

The majority of the disc basically consists of nothing more than a great compilation of Motown classics stripped down to the vocals and adding some basic beats with a drum machine. Not enough deviation from the original tracks. Nobody seemed to want to take one of these songs and make it their own.

The only songs that come remotely close to having flashes of being inventive is "Papa Was A Rollin Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Remix)", "Smiling Faces Sometimes (Futureshock Main Ingredient Mix)", and "Quiet Storm (Groove Boutique Remix)", and even those don't seem to be all that fresh or innovative. Other remixes like "War" and "I Just Want To Celebrate" are ok, mainly just because of how good the originals are.

Overall, I don't think it's that bad of a disc for the eight bucks sale price at your local Target, but I definitely wouldn't pay any more than that for it. If you are looking for a great compilation of Motown classics, spend a few extra bucks and get something like "Motown: The Classic Years" or one of the other gazillion Motown anthologies out there.

I wouldn't say we've completely ignored it. We just received it late last week. I've spun the J5 (that's Jackson 5, y'all) / Z-Trip mix & I think that's pretty snappy but on the whole I kind of agree with you. It's not that it's awful, it's just not nearly deconstructed enough for my taste. My guess is that this'll be aimed for the Urban market where tampering too much with the originals may not fly as well.

MST

[Mr Beefy]

Originally Posted by mike

I wouldn't say we've completely ignored it.

When it doesn't even make Shivvy's list, I consider it ignored...

[shivvy]

hehe -- I just forgot that the street date was this week. We get SO much stuff in that sometimes it gets confusing about when it actually hits stores. I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole disc yet, but I'd imagine that there are a few things I'll spin on Xtrabeats.

[Hell Toupee]

Originally Posted by Mr Beefy

For those of you expecting or hoping for anything remotely resembling the brilliance of the Verve Remixed series (like I was), Motown Remixed is a MAJOR disappointment. I can see now why WOXY.com has completely ignored it's release.

The majority of the disc basically consists of nothing more than a great compilation of Motown classics stripped down to the vocals and adding some basic beats with a drum machine. Not enough deviation from the original tracks. Nobody seemed to want to take one of these songs and make it their own.

The only songs that come remotely close to having flashes of being inventive is "Papa Was A Rollin Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Remix)", "Smiling Faces Sometimes (Futureshock Main Ingredient Mix)", and "Quiet Storm (Groove Boutique Remix)", and even those don't seem to be all that fresh or innovative. Other remixes like "War" and "I Just Want To Celebrate" are ok, mainly just because of how good the originals are.

Overall, I don't think it's that bad of a disc for the eight bucks sale price at your local Target, but I definitely wouldn't pay any more than that for it. If you are looking for a great compilation of Motown classics, spend a few extra bucks and get something like "Motown: The Classic Years" or one of the other gazillion Motown anthologies out there.

I agree with this assessment 100%, with only one song omitted from the great list: Rick James' 'Mary Jane'.

I think 'War' is the worst of the lot, personally, but that Mocean Worker version of 'I Just Want To Celebrate' is GREAT to drive to.

Overall a pretty decent remix album of Motown, just without much 're' in the 'mix'.