CD / DVD Reviews

2003 CD Reviews (99) 2006 CD Reviews (391) 2004 CD Reviews (393) 2007 CD Reviews (238) 2005 CD Reviews (442) 2008 CD Reviews (181)

Amanda Blank - I Love You
Amanda Blank's I Love You - CD Review of I Love You by Amanda Blank

David Guetta - One Love
David Guetta's One Love - CD Review of One Love by David Guetta

Anjulie - Anjulie
Anjulie's Anjulie - CD Review of Anjulie by Anjulie

Armin Van Buuren - Universal Religion: Chapter 4
Armin Van Buuren's Universal Religion Chapter 4 - CD Review of Universal Religion Chapter 4 by Armin Van Buuren

Miike Snow - Miike Snow
Miike Snow's Miike Snow - CD Review of Miike Snow by Miike Snow

Sander Kleinenberg - This is Sander Kleinenberg 2
Sander Kleinenberg's This is Sander Kleinenberg 2 - CD Review of This is Sander Kleinenberg 2 by Sander Kleinenberg

Alan Connor vs Mike Melange - I Love the Sunshine
Alan Connor vs Mike Melange's I Love the Sunshine - Single Review of I Love the Sunshine by Aland Connor vs Mike Melange

Natalie Powers - Shattered Glass
Natalie Powers' Shattered Glass - CD Review of Shattered Glass by Natalie Powers

Mika - The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Mika's The Boy Who Knew Too Much - CD Review of The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Mika

Annie - Don't Stop
Annie's Don't Stop - CD Review of Don't Stop by Annie

Space Cowboy - Digital Rock Star
Space Cowboy's Digital Rock Star - CD Review of Digital Rock Star by Space Cowboy

Cascada - Evacuate the Dancefloor
Cascada's Evacuate the Dancefloor - CD Review of Evacuate the Dancefloor by Cascada

deadmau5 - For Lack Of A Better Name
Deadmau5's For Lack of a Better Name - CD Review of For Lack of A Better Name by deadmau5

Kristine W - The Power of Music
Kristine W's The Power of Music - CD Review of The Power of Music by Kristine W

Serge Devant - Wanderer
Serge Devant's Wanderer - CD Review of Wanderer by Serge Devant

Basement Jaxx - Scars
Basement Jaxx's Scars - CD Review of Scars by Basement Jaxx

Scott Hardkiss - Technicolor Dreamer
Scott Hardkiss' Technicolor Dreamer - CD Review of Technicolor Dreamer by Scott Hardkiss

Argy - Focus On: Argy
Argy - Focus On: Argy

Tiesto - Kaleidoscope
Tiesto's Kaleidoscope - CD Review of Kaleidoscope by Tiesto

Kleerup - Kleerup
Kleerup's Kleerup - CD Review of Kleerup by Kleerup

Yves Larock - Manego
Yves Larock's Manego - CD Review of Manego by Yves Larock

Owl City - Ocean Eyes
Owl City's Ocean Eyes - CD Review of Ocean Eyes by Owl City

Calvin Harris - Ready For the Weekend
Calvin Harris' Ready For the Weekend - CD Review of Ready for the Weekend by Calvin Harris

Dada Life - Just Do the Dada
Dada Life's Just Do the Dada - CD Review of Just Do the Dada by Dada Life

Immogen Heap - Ellipse
Imogen Heap's Ellipse - CD Review of Imogen Heap

Lolene - Sexy People
Lolene's Sexy People - Single Review of Sexy People by Lolene

Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz! - "Numb"
Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz!' Numb - Single Review of Numb by Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz!

David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland - "When Love Takes Over"
David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland's When Love Takes Over - Single Review of When Love takes Over by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland

Miss Kittin & The Hacker - 'Two'
Miss Kittin & The Hacker's Two - CD Review of Two by Miss Kittin & The Hacker

3BE featuring Kelly Barnes - Rewind
3BE featuring Kelly Barnes' Rewind - Single Review of Rewind by 3BE featuring Kelly Barnes

Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz! - "Numb"
Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz!' Numb - Single Review of Numb by Jan Wayne vs. Raindropz!

Lal Meri - "Bad Things"
Lal Meri's Bad Things - Single Review of Bad Things by Lal Meri

La Roux - 'La Roux'
La Roux's La Roux - CD Review of La Roux's La Roux

Felix Da Housecat - 'He Was King'
Felix Da Housecat's He Was King - CD Review of He Was King by Felix Da Housecat

King Britt and Ashley Beedle - Southport Weekend Volume 8
King Britt and Ashley Beedle's Southport Weekend Volume 8 - CD Review of Southport Weekender Volume 8 Mixed by King Britt & Ashley Beedle

Paul Manchin - 'Expression'
Paul Manchin's Expression - CD Review of Expression By Paul Manchin

Nadia Ali - "Fine Print"
Nadia Ali's Fine Print - Single Review of Fine Print by Nadia Ali

Moby - 'Wait For Me'
Moby's Wait For Me - CD Review of Wait For Me By Moby

Livvi Franc - "Now I'm That Bitch"
Livvi Franc's Now Im That Bitch - Single Review of Now Im That Bitch by Livvi Franc

Erika Jayne - 'Pretty Mess'
Erika Jayne's Pretty Mess - CD Review of Pretty Mess by Erika Jayne

Bad Boy Bill - 'The Album'
Bad Boy Bill's The Album - CD Review of The Album by Bad Boy Bill

Armin Van Buuren - 'A State of Trance 2009'
Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance 2009 - CD Review of A State of Trance by Armin Van Buuren

Frankmusik - 'Complete Me'
Frankmusik's Complete Me - CD Review of Complete Me by Frankmusik

DVJ Vision - Club Visuals 3 DVD
Club Visuals 3 DVD by DVJ Vision - DVD Review of Club Visuals 3 by DVJ Vision

Osunlade - 'Mix The Vibe: King Street Goes Yoruba'
Osunlade's Mix The Vibe: King Street Goes Yoruba - CD Review of Mix The Vibe: King Street Goes Yoruba by Osunlade

Marlon D - 'Nervous Nitelife: House Classics Remixed'
Marlon D's Nervous Nitelife: House Classics Remixed - CD Review of Nervous Nitelife: House Classics Remixed by Marlon D

Larry Tee - 'Club Badd'
Larry Tee's Club Badd - CD Review of Club Badd by Larry Tee

Madison Park - 'Another Yesterday'
Madison Park's Another Yesterday - CD Review of Another Yesterday by Madison Park

Utah Saints - "Something Good 09"
Utah Saints' Something Good 09 - Single Review of Something Good 09 by Utah Saints

Leah Renee - "iBF (Imaginary Boyfriend)"
Leah Renee's iBF (Imaginary Boyfriend) - Single Review of iBF (Imaginary Boyfriend) by Leah Renee

Bad Boy Bill featuring Alyssa Palmer - "Falling Anthem"
Bad Boy Bill featuring Alyssa Palmer's Falling Anthem - Single Review of Falling Anthem by Bad Boy Bill featuring Alyssa Palmer

Jason Antone - 'Start To Move'
Jason Antone's Start To Move - CD Review of Start To Move By Jason Antone

Roisin Murphy - 'Overpowered'
Roisin Murphy's Overpowered - CD Review of Overpowered by Roisin Murphy

Various Artists - A State of Trance: Collected Extended Versions Volume 4
Various Artists - A State of Trance: Collected Extended Versions Volume 4 - CD Review of A State of Trance: Collected Extended Versions Volume 4

Royksopp - 'Junior'
Royksopp's Junior - CD Review of Junior by Royksopp

Ono "I'm Not Getting Enough"
Ono's I'm Not Getting Enough - Single Review of I'm Not Getting Enough by Ono

Jupiter Rising - The Quiet Hype
Jupiter Rising's The Quiet Hype - CD Review of the The Quiet Hype by Jupiter Rising

Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle - 'Inspiration Information Volume 2'
Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle's Inspiration Information Volume 2 - CD Review of Inspiration Information by Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle

Pet Shop Boys - 'Yes'
Pet Shop Boys' Yes - CD Review of Yes by the Pet Shop Boys

Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe
Depeche Mode's Sounds of the Universe - CD Review of Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode

Kaskade - 'The Grand'
Kaskade's The Grand - CD Review of The Grand by Kaskade

Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle - Inspiration Information Volume 2
Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle's Inspiration Information Volume 2 - CD Review of Inspiration Information Volume 2 by Horace Andy and Ashley Beedle

Kristine W - "Love is the Look"
Kristine W's Love Is The Look - Single Review of Love is the Look By Kristine W

JJ Flores & Steve Smooth - 'Amp'd'
JJ Flores & Steve Smooth's Amp'd - CD Review of Amp'd By JJ Flores & Steve Smooth

The BPA - 'I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat'
The BPA's I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat - CD Review of I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat by The BPA

Lady Sovereign - 'Jigsaw'
Lady Sovereign's Jigsaw - CD Review of Jigsaw by Lady Sovereign

Oscar G - 'Innov8'
Oscar G's Innov8 - CD Review of Innov8 by Oscar G

Incognito - 'More Tales Remixed'
Incognito's More Tales Remixed - CD Review of More Tales Remixed by Incognito

Lisa Shaw - 'Free'
Lisa Shaw's Free - CD Review of Free by Lisa Shaw

Heroes of the Dancefloor - "Torch"
Heroes of the Dancefloor's Torch - CD Review of Torch by Heroes of the Dancefloor

Ellee Ven's "Dangerous Diversion"
Ellee Ven's Dangerous Diversion - CD Review of Dangerous Diversion of Ellee Ven

Solange - "T.O.N.Y"
Solange's T.O.N.Y - Single review of T.O.N.Y by Solange

The Prodigy - 'Invaders Must Die'
The Prodigy's Invaders Must Die - CD Review of Invaders Must Die by The Prodigy

Oral Tunerz featuring Naan "Till You Drop"
Oral Tunerz featuring Naan's Till You Drop - Snigle Review of Till You Drop by Oral Tunerz featuring Naan

Oceanlab's 'Sirens of the Sea'
Oceanlab's Sirens of the Sea - CD Review of Sirens of the Sea by Oceanlab

Lily Allen's - 'It's Not Me, It's You '
Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You - CD Review of It's Not Me, It's Not You by Lily Allen

Darren Emerson - "Crash Jack"
Darren Emerson's Crash Jack - Single review of Crash Jack by Darren Emerson

Chris Cornell - 'Scream'
Chris Cornell's Scream - CD Review of Scream by Chris Cornell

The Bird and the Bee - 'Rayguns Are Not Just The Future'
The Bird and the Bee - Rayguns Are Not Just The Future

Alex Moulton - 'Exodus'
Alex Moulton's Exodus - Album Review of Exodus by Alex Moulton

Kelly Clarkson - 'All I Ever Wanted'
Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted - Review of All I Ever Wanted by Kelly Clarkson

Adam Nickey/Tiff Lacey - "Letting Go"
Not only does Lacey have the incredible ability to uplift any musical track to another level with her airy and dreamy voice, she also has worked with some of the most talented artists in the field including Headstrong, Matt Darey, and my favorite, ATB.

Andy Duguid - 'Believe'
I don’t get excited about much these days. Life is a little too complicated for all of that. So forgive me as I ‘bust-a-move’ to Andy Duguid’s artistic debut 'Believe,' which is in a word, incredible. And you had better be incredible when the street is talking about you like you are the next Tiesto.

BradElectro - 'Pinstripe Late Nite'
The gateway city of St. Louis, Missouri gives us one of the latest purveyors of electro-funk, donning his gangster thread in the form of Pinstripe Late Nite. His name is Brad – or BradElectro as he likes to be known, now hailing out of Oakland, Cali with nothing but his mid-western accent left and his formula of success that gives hope to all of us who have large vinyl collections and a computer. All he needed to get started was some music sequencing software.

Cazals - 'What of Our Future'
While the Cazals may appeal to some listeners with its 80s-inspired infusion of synths and rock, the musical experience comes off as generic and a bit tiresome after a few tracks into the album. Phil Bush’s thin raspy vocals lack any real depth or range and seem to lack the edge needed to support the somewhat lacking lyrics.

Darude - 'Label This!'
It is probably safe to say that if you are reading this review, you have probably heard of Darude at one point or another in the past decade. Darude became an international sensation in 2000 when he released the single "Sandstorm" which became a worldwide smash; there was no escaping its power and influence and it seemed to pop up in every club and dance station around the world.

Dave Aude featuring Sisely Treasure - "Grass Is Greener"
"Grass Is Greener" is Dave Aude's third single from his record label, Audacious Records. Featuring Sisely Treasure's vocals, it resembles "Common Ground," released in October 2006. Equally catchy and well-produced, it hopes to be as successful a hit as its predecessor. The single, available on many digital download sites (BeatPort, Masterbeat, Perfectbeat, TrackItDown, iTunes) has been awaiting its release for well over two years.

Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - "Dance Wiv Me"
Dizzee Rascal, born Dylan Mills, has been assaulting the UK charts for years with his eclectic mix of hip-hop, R&B, garage, and electronica. His most recent siege has been "Dance Wiv Me," which reached the coveted #1 spot in the UK on downloads alone.

Ferry Corsten - 'Twice in a Blue Moon'
Understandably, when Twice In A Blue Moon came out, I wasn't chomping at the bit to pick it up. But I eventually got my hands on it and gave it a listen, and I can happily report that this album is vastly more engaging, to MY ears, than his previous effort. Less stadium anthem-y than his previous work, but Twice is such a gorgeous and cohesive group of songs that it is hard to remember "Punk" or "Watch Out."

Ladyhawke - 'Ladyhawke'
Ladyhawke is somewhat of a musical enigma. Music of her caliber and style would easily storm the charts and rule the radio in a fair and just world. This is not that world. Thankfully, those of us with discernment in our nature and our ear to the ground have been eagerly awaiting something just as this. Classy, humble, and sleek, Ladyhawke's self-titled debut album is one of 2008's sleeper hits.

Lesley Roy - "Unbeautiful"
Lesley Roy is a fresh artist from Jive records, hailing from Dublin. At 21, her gravelly and raw voice is a departure from the sugary-sweet norm, sounding more like Pink/Avril Lavigne/Kelly Clarkson combined with Melissa Etheridge than anything else. Her debut album, Unbeautiful, features a streamlined power pop sound, fast-paced and angst-ridden.

Lovers Electric - 'Whatever You Want'
Australia is the new place for music these days, it seems, as the country is pouring out fantastic electronic and pop music by the buckets. The latest (and one of the best) offering from the land down under is 80s throwback/synthpop duo Lovers Electric. Eden Boucher provides the vocals (and some fun instruments) with an edge that hints at full awareness and emotional attachment to the lyrics.

Mark Farina - 'Mushroom Jazz 6'
Mark Farina has sorted through and handpicked recently released tracks suited to circle and fill out his Mushroom sound. Downtempo, hip hop, jazz, ambient, and funk are the primary ingredients, with other spices mixed in to fare listeners to their destination in a casually decadent fashion.

Mark Tara - 'Lola'
Once upon a time there was a musical that I never heard about called Damn Yankees which inspired Mark Tara to compose "Lola" as an homage. “The record Lola was actually going to be more of a spiritual record”, Mark explained to me, “Hence the bonus tracks "The Beginning”... (Which I think should have lead the album because its fantasy-driven lyrics really get your attention)

My Dear Disco 'Dancethink LP'
It sure is wonderful that we have the past in music to inspire our future. Without such musical staples as disco, new wave, and alternative rock, My Dear Disco would have had no solid foundation for their gorgeous sound. The band is comprised of members Play, Stop, Eject, Rewind, Fast-Forward, Pause, and Record. They have actual names but those are far more fun. The septet hails from Michigan.

Plushgun - 'Pins and Panzers'
Thank God for The Postal Service. The band brought us emotive and soft vocals with introspective and heartfelt lyrics over gentle and moving electronica, but that isn't all. Not only did they deliver the music impeccably, setting the standard very high, but they also made it mainstream, thus opening the gates for like-minded bands to follow in their footsteps.

Rudenko - "Everybody"
After his massive radio hit, "Summerfish,, (Leonid) Rudenko returns with "Everybody." Ministry of Sound America brings this fantastic song to the US market, but to what reception? In a post "Let Me Think About It" dance world, it really is possible to tackle the American club with an infectious and energetic track.

Seria - 'Paradise EP'
Tampa, Florida based Seria's debut disc whets out palate with three tasty tracks. The first single, “Paradise”, was produced by Jesse Saunders who has taken her under his wing. The moving dance track “Body Heat” and an R&B-style ballad “The Same Old Song” finish off the EP. The legendary Saunders has inspired Seria the songstress and opened her eyes to the idea of working with other song writers. “Body Heat” is the most pleasingly playable for DJs, pretty dope and danceable too.

Studio Apartment - "The Rising Sun"
King Street has been around since just about the beginning and still can crank out the jams. This full-length album follows that pattern. Studio Apartment is a Japanese production duo… who knew!

Taxi Doll's - 'Here and Now'
"Waiting" was a major addition to any dance fan's collection in 2006. Compiled with a bevy of mixes, the track was played incessantly on dance radio and in clubs across the country. "Waiting" even reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart and at least #27 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart!

The Black Ghosts - 'The Black Ghosts'
While the Black Ghosts may not be as well known as many other artists out there, it is safe to say you have at least heard of one of their songs if you have gone to see the movie Twilight. It is not a surprise that they would have been chosen for such a movie since their music does seem to border the lines of dark and giddy at the same time while being occasionally perverse.

The Whip - 'X Marks Destination'
Despite that you've never heard of them, The Whip has been pumping out a succession of singles starting in 2006. Well, now's the time to take notice, since the band has re-released their rollicking track, "Trash," and released their debut album, X Marks Destination.

Trona - 'Sound System'
Trona is a bit old school, in the sense of "old-fashioned" in the world of techno, and with a limited sound bank. Even though any breakbeat dance CD is going to pique my interests, not all dance compilations can tweak my ears to the pleasure point. Trona seems to rely on antiquated choppy analog production rather than newer, more synthesized sweeping soundscapes.

Various Artists - 'Fuse Presents Deetron'
Pumping with versatile and entertaining dance music producer beats is the latest in the Fuse cavalcade of party music, 'Fuse Presents Deetron.' There are approximately seventy-eight minutes of non-stop groove music going on here! It is all hands on the dancefloor inclusive and stylistically sufficient for your every boogie need.

Various Artists - 'HedKandi Summer Mix 2008'
HedKandi is one of the leaders in dance music compilations. Every time you turn your head you'll find another new release. This one is Summer Mix 2008, which has two discs.

Various Artists - 'NovaTunes 1.8'
The concept is in the name with these eighteen songs of varying moods. The is something for almost everyone on this album that doesn’t pretend to be something that it isn’t. From reggae grooves to classic Dinah Washington with worldly sounds and arrangements, Nova Tunes 1.8 is a delightfully healthy musical smorgasbord.