My What a Big Beach You Have!

For fans of EDM and rave music, Fatboy Slim are the top of the collective heap. Although the band has sold a slew of albums worldwide and racked up numerous hits, it’s their insane live shows that have put them on the map as the best that electronic music has to offer. The fifth installment of live albums is upon us and features a rave from June 1^st and 2^nd 2012. Not just any massive rave though, this one tops them all by being the first to take place in a football stadium, boats a 600 square meter LED wall, and a massive stage show that had the audience of 40,000 eating out of the hand of Fatboy Slim at every turn.

The first thing to mention here is that this is a CD/DVD combo and without the DVD it won’t be nearly as enjoyable. The wildly impressive part of this is watching the insane crowd and how they interact with the band, almost as separate pockets of people joining together at random times (usually when the band calls for hands up in the air or when a big hit comes in to play). While I haven’t seen the DVD in its entirety, my digital promo came with some clips and it’s flat out unbelievable that one man, his computer, some pyro, and an LED screen can lead a congregation this size for such a long rave. It’s exhausting just watching the clips! There is no doubt though that the people are there for the party, Fatboy Slim was not let down by his fans.

The music here loses a bit without the visual, unless you are a diehard fan of this style of music. In my opinion, EDM is a participatory sport so it’s complicated to just listen to it. That said, the opening bit with the intro, “Where’s Your Head At?,” and “Praise You” kicks off the double disc in an awesome way, reminding everyone why Fatboy Slim is a premier force and giving the casual listener what they want right from the get go. The highlights for me include “Praise You,” the beautiful, uplifting sound of “Strings of Life (Supernova Remix),” the unstoppable bounce of “Clubs,” and the aforementioned opening set.

Just thinking about what a feat it is to pull off something like this impresses me. On top of that, it’s a great collection of songs and a stunning live show. I dare say that this is an album that could win over even someone who didn’t have a particular taste for this style of music. Is the music overshadowed a bit by the performance? Absolutely. Is it infectious to watch so many people have a great time anyway? Definitely. Fans of the other Big Beach Bootique albums will likely find this one to be the top of the mountain and those with just a casual knowledge of Fatboy Slim are just as likely to enjoy it. 

Oh So Mellon Collie!

Originally released in 1995, this massive double-album set literally launched the Smashing Pumpkins into the great halls of rock and roll. This reissues comes in multiple formats, including 4 LP vinyl collection, a box set featuring five CDs and a DVD (including alternate takes, lost songs, and a full live show from the era), and a standard reissue double disc that revisits this staple of nineties rock music (which is what is reviewed here). This is the most recent offering in a revisiting of the band’s legendary catalog.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness isn’t quite The Wall or the White album, but it’s very possibly the closest we will ever come to an album like that again. With very little “filler,” this expansive album holds as strong today as it did when it took the world by storm in 1995. I’m actually surprised and impressed by this because, due to its overexposure, this isn’t the Pumpkins album I come back to when I need a fix.

This remastered version has a bit brighter sound overall. The most noticeable change for me is that the guitars just seem sharper all around. Whether acoustic or electric, each note sort of hangs there with a clarity that you don’t get with the original. It almost feels less grungy in a way. The songs that benefit the most are the epics like “Thirty-Three,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Beautiful,” not to mention the crystal clear sound of the fan favorite “We Only Come Out at Night.” The rockers get a little pick me up as well, but not quite as much as the crescendo songs. “Zero” and “Ode to No One” are like buzzsaws of angst. Heck, even “1979” and “Stumbleine” have settled in nicely overtime, despite being the album’s weakest tracks by far.

The best part here for me are the liner notes. Written by mainman Billy Corgan, they tell the story of a completely dysfunctional band that become functional for one shining moment and produced an album that has very few peers. The notes for each song bring a whole new twist into the tale of the Pumpkins of long ago and subtly explains why all good things must end someday. These liner notes are easily worth the complete price of admission in my book.

Overall, this was and is the Pumpkins at their very best. It’s crazy to think about this album creeping up on its twentieth anniversary but it’s powerful nature is confirmed by this revisiting. If Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness were released today, it would still rise to the top of the pack and the newfound clarity of sound will surely please the band’s rabid fanbase.

On a final note, spending so much time with this album again has forced me to look at how similar it is in many ways (particularly in spirit and grandeur) to the band’s latest offering Oceania. If you have been away from the band for awhile but love this album then I would highly suggest checking out Oceania as soon as possible.