Some Fan
Nov 29th, 2003, 03:05 AM
It is at first hard to tell why Mariah Carey made this a two-CD release. None of the material is new, and as always the music serves as a backdrop to the singer's multi-octave pipes.
Several tracks on the first CD sound as though the remix process entailed adding stale house beats and club sirens, which night-lifers have been listening to for decades.
"Anytime You Need a Friend -- C&C Club Version," "Fantasy -- Def Club Mix," and Jermaine Dupri's version of "Always Be My Baby" all fail to offer a fresh alternative to the original recordings.
But the album has its moments. The melodic drumming during "Heartbreaker" is quintessential Junior Vasquez. Ol' Dirty Bastard's extended rhyme on the second installment of "Fantasy" is equally fine. And the layered East Indian drumming during "My All/Stay Awhile -- So So Def Remix" reveals an astute, progressive production team.
These hints of good taste indicate Carey called in a stable of style-makers for studio assistance. In fact, more than two dozen producers share the album credits. It's this vast pool of talent and influence that makes "The Remixes" worth a second or third listen.
Resource(s): Denver Post
Several tracks on the first CD sound as though the remix process entailed adding stale house beats and club sirens, which night-lifers have been listening to for decades.
"Anytime You Need a Friend -- C&C Club Version," "Fantasy -- Def Club Mix," and Jermaine Dupri's version of "Always Be My Baby" all fail to offer a fresh alternative to the original recordings.
But the album has its moments. The melodic drumming during "Heartbreaker" is quintessential Junior Vasquez. Ol' Dirty Bastard's extended rhyme on the second installment of "Fantasy" is equally fine. And the layered East Indian drumming during "My All/Stay Awhile -- So So Def Remix" reveals an astute, progressive production team.
These hints of good taste indicate Carey called in a stable of style-makers for studio assistance. In fact, more than two dozen producers share the album credits. It's this vast pool of talent and influence that makes "The Remixes" worth a second or third listen.
Resource(s): Denver Post