HOUSE NATION, Vol. 2 is a relatively consistent mix of anthems and club rarities that my friend DJ Ron sent me when I asked him for some upbeat dance music for exercising. In return, I agreed to review the CD from a "snarky mom" point of view, so the following text may not be what you're used to. I listened to the songs with my two children, one a baby and one a preschooler. Hopefully you can decide whether it's a CD you want to try from my notes.
As a whole I would give this CD a middle score of 2.5. The second disc, with the anthems, seemed a stronger compilation, as far as giving me the urge to exercise, than the first disc (with the rarities). The individual songs are:
Disc: 1
1. Lady (Hear Me Tonight) - Modjo - Boy-bandish with an empty house feeling until the bass refrain added depth. However, I was not forced to dance while it was on. Nor did I feel like a Lady who was So Right. The kid wandered off not too many stanzas into the song.
2. My Feeling - Junior Jack - This song was a little dull, like it should be laid behind something else. The baby and I danced to this until she spit up. The kid said it was "pretty good." It had a slow build but was worth waiting for the break.
3. You Used to Hold Me - Xaviera Gold, Ralphi Rosario - This reminded me of a Halloween song crossed with the 80's, with extra hi-hat. It frightened me when I realized I recognized it. Good Lord, was it popular in the 80s? I'm so old! When the vocalist said something about not being able to satisfy a cheese stick, that's when I had to fast forward. But I did put cheese sticks on the store list because we forgot them last time.
4. Feel the Drums [Sweaty Drums Mix] - M1 - Sweaty drums mix? We did not sweat. Nor did the baby spit up. I think this could provide a solid backdrop for something else because the synth refrain is cute, but it's not enough to carry the song.
5. LFO - LFO - A good companion song for the Sweaty Drums mix because they were drab, for house songs. I kept waiting for it to start, and I'm not sure it did.
6. Salsoul Nugget (If U Wanna) - M&S Presents the Girl Next Door - Lively, funky, with some good builds and breaks. While it was on I felt compelled to make disco fingers. The sound was fuller than the previous songs, more layered.
7. Get Get Down - Paul Johnson - Repetitive and uninteresting and made the baby cry. Or maybe that's because she was hungry. Who can tell with babies?
8. Make My Body Rock - Jomanda - Ironic that the song says for the DJ to get heavy on the bass and make my body rock, because it was more like, make my body sleep. House Muzak.
9. House Music Anthem: Move Your Body - Marshall Jefferson - Overstuffed with 70s jam piano. Hey, the Bob Seger Mix! But then suddenly Technotronic came to visit.
10. No Way Back - Adonis - Speaking of Technotronic... This mix was empty and needed more hi-hat. Or cowbell. I'd rather pump up the jam than realize there's No Way Back.
11. I'm Hot for You - Lil Louis - Vocals chanted "Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot" like they were trying to call up the spirit of the goddess Nefertiti. It sounded similar to other house music I've heard.
12. Right Back to You - Ten City - Is there a fine young cannibal living in Ten City? This song had more traditional lyrics (as opposed to a single chorus repeated endlessly) and is almost jazzy, but it's a little slow for dancing.
Disc: 2
1. Finally - Ce Ce Peniston - The piano recital mix? OK, not really, but there was mondo piano. This is a solid club hit but not sure this is a solid club mix.
2. Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) - Crystal Waters - It seems like this wasn't as funky as it could have been. It sounded draggy and scared the cat. Back in the day, if I were clubbing and this came on, I'd go powder my nose.
3. Show Me Love - Robin S - Definitely an "ultimate club anthem." This is a reliable mix of this song, which has lent itself to so many different sounds.
4. Your Loving Arms - Billie Ray Martin - It's got a higher BPM than a lullaby, which is good, but I always hated this song back in the day. Sorry, Billie Ray.
5. Livin' Joy - Dreamer - Everyone danced! That's not easy when you're holding a 25-pound infant and dodging two freaked-out felines. Very peppy.
6. Thrill Me - Simply Red - Any time somebody says "Simply Red" I have to yell "Holdin back the yeaaaars...." That being said, this song reminded me of smoothaise. Not bad.
7. Party - Kraze - This was danceable, but as the kid said, there was too much yelling. Which was a funny thing for the Yelling Princess to criticize, but there you have it.
8. Eighteen Strings [Full On Kitchen Mix] - Tinman - Fun and upbeat. We rocked out...in the kitchen! Love those two bad mice.
9. I'll Be There - Weekend Players - Another danceable one, although a bit bland comparatively.
10. Turn Around - Phats & Small - This anthem was so catchy I actually put the bag of chips down and shook booty. (Back away from the chips...)
11. House Nation - The Housemaster Boyz - This one was easy to tune out, which isn't a good thing. The kid said she didn't like it, but that might be because I wouldn't let her watch Rachel Ray's 30 Minute meals.
