Stop me if you've heard this one before, but I'm an opinionated student who needs money. I've been a...
Stop me if you've heard this one before, but I'm an opinionated student who needs money. I've been a bit annoyed about two things recently:
1) People taking my opinions way too seriously and leaving long-winded irate comments in response.
2) People...
Member since:11.11.2000
Reviews:110
Members who trust:9
With the forthcoming release of Prodigy's fourth album, it might be worthwhile to cast our minds back to their most successful album to date: The 1997 best-seller "The Fat Of The Land."
The success of this CD lies with the two singles which preceded its release - "Firestarter" and "Breathe." Both similarly-crafted fusions of hard dance beats with punk/rock anrachic lyrics and general Keith Flint-fueled mayhem ripped up the singles chart on release. Prodigy took measured steps to keep themselves in the limelight by enticing the tabloids to whip up a storm over the video of the third single - the repetitive and unimpressive "Smack My Bitch Up."
All of this did much to help "The Fat Of The Land" fly off the shelves, but for many it would prove to be an unfulfilling experience. The subtelty and flair of "Music For The Jilted Generation" is absent from "The Fat Of The Land," and in it's place we find pointless shouting and a notably dubious semi-rap track "Diesel Power."
In spite of the attempts at using anger to propel some kind of furious energy, the whole album instead comes off as feeling limp and stale. It doesn't raise an eyebrow let alone assault the eardrum as you might hope it would. The only track worthy of repeat listening "Narayan," with a more up-tempo riff and dancefloor beat.
But that's it. It simply doesn't stand up to the hype. It's about as exciting as brushing your teeth. Let's hope album four might bring them back towards the delight that was "Music For The Jilted Generation" - a more satisfying sound, more recognisably Prodigy than this processed turkey.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I don't particularly think your verdict is fair, but it's thoughtfully presented, as ever. I found FOTL a thrilling, if sometimes unoriginal, delight..and still do. Listened to the album recently, in fact, and it still rocks. There is plenty on the CD to suggest why it was so successful, though the hype did kick in, I admit.
Nov 13th, 2000
(Apr 28th, 2001)
very helpful by (50%):
somewhat helpful by (50%):
![Ministry Of Sound Anthems (1991-2008) [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/406/prod_small-6791406.jpg)
![Gatecrasher's Club Anthems 1993-2009 [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/861/prod_small-7337861.jpg)
