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Fatboy
Slim
Better Living Through Chemistry
label:
astralwerks / skint
released: 09.23.97
our score: 4.0 out of 5.0
buy it: here
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Fatboy Slim
(Norman Cook) has a long history in the electronica dance scene,
15 years to be exact. He's went under such names as Fried
Funk Food and Mighty Dub Katz, Pizzaman, and more. However,
being from the U.K., he wasn't really heard of by the mainstream
in the U.S., until his first album, Better Living Through Chemistry.
The first
time I saw him was on MTV's AMP with his rock and roll electronica
song "Going Out Of My Head." The whole video follows
an 80's boombox as it is passed from one group of people to another.
It's a trip, just like the whole album.
Better
Living Through Chemstry ranges from the high energy of "Going
Out Of My Mind," to the laid back style of "The Weekend
Starts Here." "Everybody Needs A 303" is
a showcase for the Roland 303 Groovebox, which is one of the most
used pieces of equipments for today's electronica artists (after
the 808, which is no longer in production, was replaced by the
505).
"Give
The Po' Man A Break" steps up the dance energy again, with
a funky beat and electronic sounds. This energy continues
onto the next track entitled "10th And Crenshaw."
Cook manipulates the simple samples sweetly (say that 10 time
fast!). "First Down" is more of a straight forward
dance track. It has some smooth and perfectly fitting jazz sample
laced throughout. It is a really fun track, and anyone with
any sense of dancing couldn't resist getting up and shakin' their
groove thang. The tenth track is one of the strongest, and
not just because of the title. "The Sound of Milwaukee"
is a funky, driving, dance song, with quirky keyboard samples.
It's hard to describe how fun the song is. The 11th track,
entitled "Michael Jackson," is another rock n
roll dance tracks.
Although Cook
wasn't even going to record Better Living Through Chemistry,
and when he did it took less then week, it is packed full of fun
and energy. I didn't even get to some of the songs because
I wanted those to be a surprise for when you get it....I'd highly
recommend picking it up.

If you
liked Better Living Through Chemistry...
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| Tracklist:
1.
Song For Lindy
2. Santa Cruz
3. Going Out Of My Head
4. The Weekend Starts Here
5. Everybody Needs A 303
6. Give The Po' Man A Break
7. 10th And Crenshaw
8. First Down
9. Punk To Funk
10. The Sound Of Milwaukee
11. Michael Jackson
12. Next To Nothing
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