WORK THIS, RELOADED is a dance music CD intended as background music for aerobic exercise purposes, or so I gather. DJ Ron sent me this when I asked him for some upbeat music to make me feel like dancing (with respect to Leo Sayer). 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. Hopefully you can decide whether or not it's a CD you want to try from my notes.
As a whole I would give this CD a score of 3. The BPM increases in each successive song so you're forced to exercise faster, if indeed you're exercising. (There's no cool-down at the end, however). The second CD had more above average songs than the first and is the one I play more often when I'm dancing in the kitchen with my children (baby and preschooler). In several instances, the songs on these CDs reminded me of music from the 80s and early 90s, moreso than other house and club music DJ Ron has shared with me over the years, so I'd say, for a child of the 80s like me, the collection has an almost retro feel to it. The individual songs are:
Disc: 1
1. Flashdance - Deep Dish - This song has a fun riff and did not make me think of Irene Cara and legwarmers, which is a good thing despite the current and insane resurgence of 80s fashion.
2. I Watch You - Lee Cabrera - This song had more of a disco feel and wasn't as enjoyable as the previous.
3. Filthy Gorgeous - Scissor Sisters - Funkier and also disco-y. Falsetto vocals might not appeal to all. My kid (as opposed to my baby) definitely gave this one a thumb down.
4. Dancin' - Aaron Smith - Average to above average dance song. As opposed to the last one, this one the kid particularly enjoyed... so it appeals to 5 year olds. Is that a compliment?
5. Salsa House - Soul Purpose - Fun but monotonous, which is like exercise itself when you think about it.
6. Will Love Again - Taras - Reminded me of a pop music / Cher remix. I wasn't as inspired to keep my body grooving on the kitchen-dance floor to this song.
7. Everywhere - Moustache - And again, not as inspired to dance. I actually started doing the dishes even though it wasn't my turn!
8. Give Me Your Love - Carl Cox - This sounds like the stuff I heard in clubs in the early 90s, which brought back some less than pleasant memories of my heedless youth. Well, better than memories of the 80s, I suppose. And the aforementioned legwarmers. Which, yes, I wore.
9. No Ordinary Love - Sherrie Lea - This wasn't very upbeat for a work-out CD song -- maybe you were supposed to take a breather during this one?
10. False Light - Marco V. - This had a harder, new wave sound, and reminded me of my husband's Pet Shop Boys CDs. We all danced to this one. Well, me and the kids. The husband doesn't dance.
11. So Special (Euphoria Club Remix) - Judge Jules - This was a nice segue from the previous, with the same edgier feel (compared to the blander house tracks earlier in the CD). I rated this one above average.
12. Breathe - One More Angel - I also recently reviewed an anthems and rarities CD for DJ Ron, so when I say this song sounds more "anthemy" I actually feel like I know what I mean, and hopefully you do, too. But it also reminded me of Debbie Gibson. I know, I keep showing my advanced age and lack of coolness.
Disc: 2
1. Discopolis - Lifelike - Any of you remember Rockwell? Reminded me. I found this song a kicky start to the second CD, though, and exercising to it was more entertaining.
2. Dreams - FNP Vs. Gabrielle - This above average dance song seemed familiar to me, but for a change I'm not going to tell you what it reminded me of. Mostly because I couldn't put a finger on it.
3. Ends Of The Earth (Mike Rizzo Global Club Mix) - Sun - Girl-groupy. Not as wiggle-inducing as the previous two songs but not below average, either.
4. Put Your Hands Up - Stoneyrow - Average.
5. Free Your Mind - Oscar G. - The baby smiled when this one was on. Not sure why because I found it average and a little generic.
6. Watch The Sunrise - Axwell - I liked the saucy Latinesque beat in this song, and the baby did, too. The kid, on the other hand, complained that we needed to turn on the TV.
7. Vaporized - Girls On Film - Very danceable! The kid was drawn away from the TV to jump around in the kitchen with me and the baby.
8. Liberation - Matt Darey - This song had a new wave feel (there I go with my antiquated musical jargon again) and was more monotonous than previous songs.
9. Grizzle - Smithmonger V. Kobi - The beats boomed more. Does that make sense? I couldn't tell if they were saying "Grizzle" anywhere in the song, though, which is disappointing, because that's a funny word.
10. Monotone - Marcel Woods - "Monotone" is a self-fulfilling prophecy here. Sort of like titling your tune "Boring House Song That Sounds Like Early 90s Techno." Maybe you could do the jump rope part of the workout here?
11. Advanced - Marcel Woods - I can see Mr. Woods favors the one-word titles. This song did advance the tempo from the previous Monotone, so that was good.
12. Narama - DT8 Project - Fast-paced. I found the vocals interesting, since they weren't in English. I told the kid they were singing about how children should clean their rooms.
