Customer Reviews

Anthology 1992-2002

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Two discs of pure techno heaven. However, some prodigy fans will hate this because most of the tracks are repetitive, but isn't most music repetitive?
Oh and as requested, I want to recommend another instrumental CD, a killer instrumental CD, by Mr.Deviant called "Techno Obsession". It's a killer mix of power rock and hard dance music. Check it out if you don't fear any conspiracies.

This is an excellent retrospect on the band Underworld. It's a million times better than the Chemical Brothers dissapointing hits collection. Disc 2 of this collection contains all the hits that fans from "Born Slippy" on will recognize and enjoy having on one disc, but the stellar disc here is disc one. Disc one contains some very rare tracks including some I have heard on old rave compilations that were presented in edited form, here you get the uncut versions. Tracks like "Bigmouth" and "Dirty" will bring back some old school rave memories for sure. Disc one is Underworld in their experimental stage, before they found their winning songwriting formula found on the "Beaucoup Fish" CD.
This set is worth every penny, and I agree with another reviewer here that mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession" is a killer hard dance CD worth picking up too : )

This is not only a greatest hits collection, it's a collection of Underworld music that is making it's debut on CD. The stand out disc of the 2 is disc one which contains remastered classics from Underworld. The standout tracks are Rez (first time on CD), Bigmouth and Dirty which are both previously unreleased tracks. It's great to hear the early techno tracks from this group that in my opinion, revolutionized what people thought dance music should sound like. Disc 2 features two Underworld classics, an original cut of Cowgirl (you may remember this one from the movie Hackers) and Pearls Girl, my personal favorite Underworld track that is very difficult to find. Underworld creates techno and dance music the way it should be, each track is a long and ever evolving journey into the subconscious. If you've never given the group a chance, this is the place to start. Good techno like this is tough to find, if you dig this CD I must also recommend the Chemical Brothers greatest hits and mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession". Both of those CDs belong right up there with this one by Underworld.

Unless you have been following the English band's entire career since its formation in the early-90s, and through its radical transformation from rock to ambient trip-hop to intelligent dance music, and hence have every single they've ever made, '1992-2002''s variety of the band's stylistic trends should provide an enjoyable retrospective glance at Underworld's classics.
The highlights on Disc 1 are definitely the trippy 1994 hits 'Mmm Skyscraper I Love You' (with otherworldly lyrics - '..and I see Elvis, and I hear God on the phone...'- and a muted, eerily perpetual beat); 'Dirty Epic' (the complexity of this dub track rivals the best of Orbital and q-ziq); and 'Dark & Long' (close your eyes, pretend the world just exploded and you're floating through space - the impact of this long and amazing track).
Those songs led to the opening track of Disc 2: the incredibly dark and energetic 'Cowgirl' astounds with its ever-increasing layers of rhythm and melody. 1994 track 'Born Slippy' is a modern dance classic, the monotonous lyrics have become the symbol of Danny Boyle's druggie hit 'Trainspotting'. The film's extended soundtrack belongs to Underworld's composition, which masterfully represents the addled mind of an addict. 'Push Upstairs', from Beacoup Fish, is a classy dance track, visualized very well in an amazing video everyone should check out - it dilutes the song's pretentiousness with fuzzy gorgeous landscape images; by itself 'Push Upstairs' wears itself out after three minutes. 'Moaner', on the other hand, benefits from its regularity - it starts off with an instrumental accelerating beat that doesn't let up until the last second, and then starts from the beginning with the supplement of emotionally charged lyrics. 'Moaner' would be a craze at any club.
The rest of the tracks do not particularly stand out, but they do emphasize the quality of Underworld's highlights. Complex and stunningly vivid, '1992-2002' is Underworld's reminder that they are one of the most complex and gifted trios in contemporary dance music.

I wish Underworld had simply released only the 1st disc, and charged less for the set. Disc 1 is great, as it offers several rare tracks; Big Mouth, Dirty, mmm Skyscraper I Love You, & Spikee. These songs are all great, and make the CD worth purchasing... or at least purchasing used. Disc 2, however, is less exciting. It contains 9 tracks, 4 of which are either identical or slightly modified copies of songs from Beaucoup Fish. CD 2 is basically filled with slight variations on songs that are already in any Underworld fan's collection. I wish that instead of re-releasing a bunch of songs that people already have, Underworld had released more rare material. If anything, I think that the original songs are better than the remixes. In general, the originals tend to have longer and more complex lyrics.

I love this CD Anthology. It showcases some of the Underworld's best songs. It also has some very hard to find tracks like the 12 minute plus Spikee, the beautifully sad & mellow 8 ball, the original version of Dirty and the harmonica driven Big Mouth. It also has classic Underworld tunes like King of Snake, Jumbo, Born Slippy Nuxx, Dirty Epic, Dark Train, and Mmm Skyscraper I love you.

Moaner, Born Slippy Nuxx & Push Upstairs are all unique versions. Each is slightly different than the album/single versions. This makes another reason to buy this CD set. All of the songs on this 2 CD set are wonderful. If you are curious about the Underworld, buy this Anthology.

If you enjoy the Underworld, this is a great way to experience their music. This is a wonderful sample of the music they have made over the past decade. Put this CD in, sit back and let it take you where it takes you. The Underworld doesn't create songs so much as they create beautiful art that you can listen to.

As the end of 2003 approaches, Underworld release their first compilation. Sixteen tracks separated on two discs. Eleven of the tracks have appeared on previous studio albums, while the remaining five have never appeared on a studio album at all (until this one). The compilation starts off with "Bigmouth", which makes prodigious use of the harmonica following along side a sycopated beat and a thumping bass. Later on, there's "Spikee", which is 12 minutes, 30 seconds long. A chugging "locomotive" melody is the best I can describe it, which is why I like it so much. On the second disc, there's an extended version of "Push Upstairs" (with additional lyrics)which I think is better than the original version found on "Beaucoup Fish". That, in turn, is followed by an extended version of "Moaner", which isn't that much better than the original (they should've left the last three minutes off, if you know what I mean). Still, "Moaner" is a great track. These are some of the highlights of "1992 - 2002". My only complaint is that "Dinosaur Adventure 3D" wasn't included. After all, it was released as a single (then again, it was released in 2003, hence, that's why it wasn't included). In any case, this compilation is a good start for the casual listener, and even if you aren't, you should buy this anyway for the five tracks not released on any prior album.

Big Mouth: This and Dirty were the first two singles released by Smith, Hyde, & Emerson, under the name of Lemon Interupt. Big Mouth features a 'crazy' harmonica riff, and some elements that would be used in Dark & Long.

Dirty: Would later be remade as Dirty Giutar (and Dirty Epic). Personally I'm not quite feeling this one as much, perhaps because I've got the Dirty Epic version pounded into my brain.

MMM Skyscraper I Love You: The second single released by the trio as Underworld MK2 (following Mother Earth), and later appeared on their debut Dubnobasswitmyheadman album. 13 minutes long: my favourite part being when the chords from the beginning re-emerge at about the 8 minute mark.

Rez: This track was once available with Born Slippy.nuxx on the Second Toughest in the Infants double CD. A similar sounding song to Cowgirl, hence the two of 'em were combined on Underworld Live - Everything Everything.

Spikee: Another awesome early single by the trio, this is one of the group's most 'trance'-like tracks. If there's an Underworld fan without this track in their collection, pick up 1992-2002 immediately!

Dirty Epic: My personal favourite Underworld track, with some of my favourite Hyde lyrics too. On the Dubnobass CD, Dirty Epic fades into Cowgirl. Here, however, both tracks are separate.

Dark And Long (Dark Train): A trance remix of the opening track off Dubnobass. Personally I far prefer the dark and brooding original. This track is widely available on the Born Slippy.nuxx single and the Trainspotting Vol 2 soundtrack.

Cowgirl: A huge fan favourite, and with good reason. A unique classic. The 3rd selection from Underworld's fantastic debut album.

Born Slippy.nuxx: Y'all know this one. However this version is slightly different; the second half of the song is shorter than on the full version. I enjoyed hearing this version.

Pearls Girl: The only selection from my personal favourite Underworld album, Second Toughest In The Infants. Contains the unmistakable 'circling helicopter' intro. I would've liked to have seen Rowla or Cherry Pie (from the Pearls Girl EP) included on this compilation as well.

Jumbo: A standout track from the Beaucoup Fish album, which is well represented in this collection.

Push Upstairs: This is a slightly longer version of the B. Fish album track. It contains the 'missing' verse which was included on the Push Downstairs track, plus a longer intro, etc. To me, Push Upstairs sounds more natural in this form.

Moaner: This track appeared on the Batman & Robin soundtrack, and then a year later on Beaucoup Fish, with the last 3 minutes chopped off. Included on 1992-2002 is the long version.

Shudder/King of Snake: The 4th cut taken from Beaucoup Fish. Still, get the album, its good!

8Ball: Appeared on The Beach soundtrack in 2000. A really underrated track in my opinion. I love the climax! (Feel happy)

Two Months Off: Represents Underworld's latest album, 100 Days Off, released by Hyde and Smith as two-piece. The album's disappointing by Underworld's own standards, but this track's pretty good.

Underworld deserves more than just a listen. So here it is in 2003, an anthology of some of their most well-know tracks and otherwise unreleased or unheard rare tracks.

The set is split into two discs - Disc 1 features the rare tracks while Disc 2 fills up with the familiar tunes. Disc 1 with its 7 unreleased or rare tracks is well worth the price of the set itself. The first two tracks Bigmouth and Dirty which were unreleased before and from 1992 already sound like Underworld is destined for bigger dancefloors and things to come. These 2 highly charged electronic/dance tracks lead things off and soon enough the undeniably splendid Mmm Skyscraper I Love You shows up in its full glory followed by another triump which is the original version of Rez. The action just doesn't stop until Track 7.

On Disc 2, you'll get a disc of non-stop greatness which also celebrates the best of Underworld's music in the last 11 years. the most illustrious of all must be the 1996 wonder Born Slippy Nuxx which still sounds as fresh and invigorating as it was way back then. Incidentally, it has been remade for 2003 with additional remixers on baord. Pearls Girl, Jumbo and Push Upstairs then lead the trail. Another track worth mentioning is their 2000 contribution to The Beach soundtrack, 8 Ball. This track is good enough to stand on its own but when fused into the movie, things couldnt have been more perfect. Finally, the sole track from last year's Hundred Days Off is Two Months Off which marks Darren Emerson's absence on an Underworld album. But still the track retains the energetic elements that have made Underworld a trademark in the dance arena.

Overall, 1992-2002 may not have all of underworld's crowning glory on there but does enough justice by giving us their best and the rest.

This is my first Underworld album. I love it! If you've been thinking about buying it, just do it. love it love it love it.
You won't be disappointed.